Category: North Edinburgh News

Week of events planned to celebrate pioneer of medicine

On 12 August, 1865, an 11-year-old boy named James Greenlees was rushed to Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GRI) after being run over by a metal-wheeled cart, which crushed his left leg.

Undergoing surgery then meant a 50/50 chance of survival. However, that day, he was operated on by the house surgeon, a 38-year-old Englishman named Joseph Lister, who was developing a new antiseptic technique to reduce the appalling mortality rate.

Lister cleaned the dirt from the wound, operated on the fracture and applied a dressing of carbolic acid. There was no infection, no sepsis or gangrene and the wound began to heal. After six weeks, the boy was discharged, leg intact and fully recovered to return to his grateful family.

Now more than 150 years on from pioneering work that led to the discovery of antiseptic surgery, the life and legacy of Joseph Lister is being celebrated by The Friends of Glasgow Royal Infirmary (FOGRI) a new charity, set up in May 2020 to celebrate the history of the place where Lister’s work took place, Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

The charity’s Chairperson is Prof Ross Lorimer, a retired Professor of Cardiology at GRI and former President of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (RCPSG).

#Listerweek, in association with the RCPSG, will be the charity’s very first event and it will be held virtually and be freely available to anyone who is interested. #Listerweek runs from 22nd to 26th February with daily presentations, a virtual exhibition and a Twitter takeover from the acclaimed author and medical historian, Lindsey Fitzharris.

FOGRI plan to organise several more events to highlight the incredible history and accomplishments associated with GRI. #GRIwomensweek, expected to be held in the spring and in association with The Friends of the Necropolis, will commemorate key female figures in the hospital’s history including Rebecca Strong, Ellen Brown Orr and Bella McDiarmid.

John Stuart, who started his nurse training in the GRI and who recently retired as Chief Nurse after a career of almost 40 years, is one of the founding members of the charity.

He said: “The hospital is the oldest in Glasgow and many Glaswegians have a connection to GRI. Celebrating Lister seemed an obvious choice for our first event because his discoveries have had such an impact on healthcare and he made them whilst working at GRI.

“Lots of people use Listerine mouthwash but most will not make the connection – it is named after Lister, the father of antisepsis. Lister revolutionised surgery throughout the world. There are many notable figures who have worked within these walls and we wanted to bring people together by sharing the accomplishments associated with GRI over the 226 years since it opened – and who better to start with than one of our most famous sons?”

John, together with three of his colleagues, Dr Morven McElroy, Dr Hilary Wilson and Dr Kate Stevens came up with the idea for #Listerweek. 

In this current climate where life is drastically different, a shared love of the GRI campus and history has created a strong sense of camaraderie within the hospital and beyond. They hope that the feeling of friendship and teamwork will endure for many years to come and that a common love of the GRI buildings and history can continue to bring everyone together. All four relish the opportunity to share the fascinating tales of GRI in days gone by with the wider community.

Dr Morven added: “We are lucky in many ways because we can still come to our work. Our work is a privilege – we get to spend time talking to people, learning about their lives and helping them. Every year, when new members of staff begin their careers, they enjoy hearing about and seeing the history within GRI.”

You can register for the #Listerweek presentations on The Friends of GRI website: http://friendsofgri.org/  

They will also be available on YouTube and Twitter. You can follow the charity on Twitter @friendsofgri

Pictured (left to right): Dr Kate Stevens, Dr Hilary Wilson and Dr Morven McElroy at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Celebrating 90 years of Scottish hostelling

HOSTELLING Scotland (Scottish Youth Hostels Association) celebrates it’s 90th birthday today (13 February 2021).

To mark this major milestone, the self-funded charity is introducing all babies born in the month of February 2021 to the wonderful world of hostelling by offering them a free lifetime membership (worth £150).

Since 1931, the organisation’s mission has been to make more of Scotland more accessible to more people, especially young people, which is as relevant today as it was then.

The new, young lifetime members can look forward to a future of travel with friends and family, staying in great value, affordable, flexible and welcoming hostel accommodation in some of the best locations throughout Scotland.

Margo Paterson, CEO of Hostelling Scotland, said: “As we reflect on our most challenging year since 1931 and celebrate being 90 years young, we are determined that 2021 will be a year of positivity and hope, celebrating our hostelling family’s past, present and future.

“Hostelling Scotland is delighted to enable a new generation of hosteller to experience travel and adventure across this beautiful country of ours, exploring new places, making memories and friendships to last a lifetime.

“Any child born in February 2021 is eligible for a free lifetime membership, which includes loads of additional member benefits. All you have to do is sign them up on our website before the 31 March 2021.”

https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/free-lifetime-membership-for-babies/

Like the young hostellers of the 1930’s, the new lifetime members (and their families) will have the freedom to learn about Scotland visiting places of historic and cultural interest and explore its stunning countryside, environment and natural heritage.

They will be able to take advantage of the many additional benefits, from retail and visitor attraction discounts to exclusive member promotions. When the world opens up again, they will also have access to more than 4,000 hostels in many countries around the world with dual membership of Hostelling International.

Hostelling Scotland prides itself on being the largest participant in the youth hostel market in Scotland. As a membership organisation with over 8,000 lifetime members, it has 33 youth hostels and 27 affiliate hostels. 

In recent years the network has welcomed up to 380,000 guests annually with a turnover of £9m and an estimated annual contribution to the Scottish visitor economy of £25m.

The Covid-19 pandemic has hit the organisation incredibly hard, the worst crisis it has faced since it was established in 1931.

An 89 per cent drop in annual operational income has resulted in a massive swing, from a £1.4m operational surplus in 2019 to a £2m operational loss in 2020.

Margo Paterson added: “2020 has been the most challenging year in the organisation’s history but we feel confident there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“We are delighted and thankful for all the messages of support and as we recover from this crisis; we look forward to welcoming our guests to our youth hostels once again when the time is right and it is safe to do so.”

Teach children about love and friendships on Valentine’s Day

Why Valentine’s Day isn’t just for grown-ups

Former primary school teacher Oli Ryan of education resources experts PlanBee says that while adults tend to focus on romantic expressions of love, February 14 is an ideal opportunity to show children how to demonstrate compassionate love and kindness to friends and family:

What is Valentine’s Day?

Valentine’s Day is a saint’s day in the Christian calendar when the martyrdom of a Saint Valentine is celebrated; Saint Valentine was buried on February 14.

Who was St Valentine?

It depends who you ask, and which St Valentine you’re talking about. There are 11 saints named Valentine according to the Roman Catholic Church. Most commentators agree, however, that Valentine’s Day celebrates Saint Valentine of Rome, a priest who ministered to persecuted Christians living in the Roman Empire.

DID YOU KNOW …

         Britons are predicted to spend more than £900m on Valentine’s Day in 2021 (statista.com)

         Men tend to spend more than women on Valentine’s Day (statista.com)

         Unsurprisingly, most lovers intend to celebrate at home this year – getting a takeaway or cooking a meal, and watching a movie together (finder.com)

         Many people express their love for one another publicly on social media

Five Valentine’s Day traditions around the world

  1. In Wales, it’s traditional to give your loved one a hand-carved wooden ‘love spoon’!
  2. In Finland and Estonia, 14th February is better known as the ‘Day of Friends’. Rather than expressing romantic love, friends show their affection for one another by exchanging gifts or meeting up to spend time together.
  3. In Japan, women give gifts to men on Valentine’s Day.
  4. Italians and Brazilians celebrate Valentine’s Day in a big way: typically, music festivals and street parties are held
  5. Slovenia has so much love to give that it celebrates twice! March 12 is Saint Gregory’s Day, the Slovenian lover’s day. Children and adults make little lights and float them on lakes and rivers, marking the start of spring.

How was Valentine’s Day celebrated in the UK in the past?

In the UK, it was once more typical to send a card or a love note anonymously, perhaps leaving a clue about yourself for your love interest to work out.

In Scotland, it was popular to play a parlour game where single men would put their name into a hat. An equal number of single women would take turns drawing a name. The man who they picked would then accompany the woman for the rest of the day.

In England, women used to write the names of potential lovers on little pieces of paper, then roll them together inside a ball of clay. They would then drop the clay ball into the water. Whichever name rose to the surface first would be their one true love.

How to teach children about love and kindness on Valentine’s Day

At PlanBee, we think Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to teach children not only about why it’s important to express love for a partner but also how to strengthen friendships – just like the Finnish and Slovenians.

As well as sharing these fascinating facts about the day, you could arrange an activity for your child to do with a friend.

There are some lovely lockdown-friendly activities you could arrange for your children, to help foster their friendships at a time when it’s difficult for them to meet up.

Five great activities for fostering children’s friendships

1. Arrange a treasure hunt with another family

This is a lovely activity which your child will love to plan and personalise for a good friend. Place secret notes, painted pebbles, Christmas decorations or even make ‘nature art‘ along a short walking route. Write out some clues, and post it through your friend’s door. Next week, invite them to do the same for you and your family. Don’t forget to pick everything up afterwards.

2. Pen pals

Children love to share things with their friends, including pictures, poems and stories they’ve written themselves. Suggest the idea to your child. Hopefully, it will inspire them to write something nice to a friend, which you can either post in the mail or hand-deliver to their letterbox.

3. Book swaps

Arrange a book swap for your child and one or more of their friends. They can select one or two of their favourite books to swap for a while. It will give them something to talk about with their friends on Zoom! You could even provide some blank bookmarks on which they can write a little review of the book for their friend to read.

4. Video games

It’s easy to think of playing video games as a solitary activity, but these days it’s more often a social experience. With your child, choose a collaborative—rather than a competitive—game they could play online with a close friend (we like Splatoon and Overcooked – both good examples of child-friendly, cooperative gaming which your children will also enjoy playing with you.) Remember to plug in a headset so they can talk to each other.

5. Parlour games

With classes conducted over Zoom, children are pretty much over video meetings. Giving them a bit of structure will make virtual playdates much more enjoyable. Talk to them about how to play simple parlour games like Charades or Animal, Vegetable, Mineral – or help them set up their own version of ‘Kim’s Game’ to challenge their friends.

With a bit of imagination, there are all sorts of traditional parlour games which can be played over a video call.

Download these resources to help your child develop kindness and friendship here.

Police step up tram patrols

Edinburgh police will carry out increased patrols at tram stops and on trams over coming days following recent incidents of antisocial behaviour.

PC Mike McGill, Transport Liaison Officer for Edinburgh City Police Division, said: “We have received reports of issues on some trams in Edinburgh recently and damage being caused.

“Dealing with disorder and antisocial behaviour is a priority for us and we want tram staff and customers to feel safe. You’ll see a police presence on some trams this weekend and we will also be paying attention to tram stops.

“If you have any information regarding antisocial behaviour can I ask that you pass this on to police via 101. Alternatively, you can pass on any information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Usdaw court victory blocks Tesco ‘fire and rehire’ tactic

Court of Session rules in favour of workers affected

Retail trade union Usdaw yesterday won an interdict in the Court of Session in Edinburgh against Tesco forcing some of the staff at the Livingston distribution centre onto a new contract, which would result in the affected staff losing between £4,000 and £19,000 per year.

The judgement, which applies to the Livingston site only, means that Tesco are legally prohibited from unilaterally withdrawing entitlement to retained pay and/or terminating the contract in order to re-engage the worker on new terms which do not include retained pay.

The ‘fire and rehire’ proposal also affects workers in Litchfield, Daventry clothing and Avonmouth Tesco distribution centres and we will continue to fight for same result for our members at these sites.

Joanne McGuinness, Usdaw National Officer, says: “We are very pleased to have secured this victory for our members who faced a huge cut in wages after Tesco moved to renege on a longstanding collective agreement made in good faith. It is a major victory in the fight against ‘fire and rehire’ tactics, which are now being used by too many businesses.

“The court delivered a temporary prohibition and we are now calling on the company to honour the judgment and withdraw its plans at all sites. We stand ready to seek a permanent interdict for Livingston and a High Court injunction for the other sites to defend this unfair pay cut for hundreds of key workers.

“Tesco can stop this now, by doing the right thing and withdrawing their threat to these longstanding staff, who have worked throughout the pandemic to keep stores stocked with the essential items we all rely on.”

Winter warmer: More than £14 million awarded to low income households across Scotland

A total of 144,128 COVID Winter Hardship Payments have been made to families across Scotland.

The payments are available to families with children receiving Free School Meals on the basis of low income, with £14.41 million given to households as part of the Scottish Government’s Winter Plan for Social Protection.

A one-off payment of £100 was made by local authorities for each eligible child in receipt of Free School Meals between 30 November and the start of the winter holidays.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “We know that many families are struggling financially due to the pandemic, whether through lost earnings, increased food costs or simply needing to run their heating more. This additional payment will hopefully have helped ease the strain they are facing.

“We have now provided over £50 million in additional funding to local authorities to continue the provision of Free School Meals during school closures, periods of online learning and holidays from the summer, and we are committed to do so through the forthcoming Easter holidays.

“The provision of Free School Meals outside of term time and the £100 payment are just two of the ways we’re working to support people and communities. We have invested over £500 million to mitigate the negative impacts of the pandemic, which includes a £22 million increase to our Scottish Welfare Fund and considerable investment in support provided by community and third sector organisations.

“With our Scottish Child Payment also due to start next week, we are showing our commitment to tackling poverty and inequality through this pandemic and beyond.”

The £100 million Winter Plan for Social Protection was developed to mitigate social harms posed by the concurrent risks of COVID-19, winter cost of living increases and EU exit, as well as to promote equality and human rights.

Families are eligible for their children to receive Free School Meals, on the basis of low income, if they receive certain benefits or their local council considers they are facing financial hardship.

Further information on eligibility and how to register can be found at School meals – mygov.scot

Funding for Free School Meals has been provided as follows:

April – June 2020: £15 million – remote learning

July – Sept 2020: £12.6 million – summer holidays

Oct 2020 – March 2021: £6.95 million – Oct, Christmas and Feb holidays

Jan 2021: £7.057 million – remote learning

Feb 2021: £5.841 million – remote learning

April 2021: £4.29 million – Easter holidays

This funding has enabled local authorities to ensure that every eligible child has continued to receive a free school meal alternative – direct payment, voucher or food parcel – throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Information on the COVID Winter Hardship Payment can be found at: COVID winter hardship payment (£100 per child) – mygov.scot

Disability Advocates welcome Edinburgh’s commitment to dropped kerb portal

Edinburgh’s Transport and Environment Committee has pledged to implement a dedicated platform which will allow residents to flag necessary dropped kerbs kerbs at their Meeting on 28 January following a deputation from PR company Tartan Silk.

Working with Disability Advocates and Edinburgh resident Keith Falconer, Tartan Silk submitted the request based on the experiences faced by wheelchair users as they make their way around the City.

Mr Falconer’s experience of living in Edinburgh changed when he became an amputee. He said: “I was appalled to find I could not get from my home to my GP’s surgery because of missing dropped kerbs in the centre of Edinburgh.

“Access to services such as health, education and leisure is a basic human right and should be non-negotiable. We hoped to suggest a solution which could be implemented quickly to improve accessibility in the City Centre after discussions with Councillors about the issues facing residents and visitors with disabilities”.

Whizz-Kidz, a National charity who support young wheelchair users and their families, Keith Falconer and Tartan Silk collected lived experiences from both residents and visitors to the City.

Missing dropped kerbs, lack of accessible toilets and disabled parking bays were common issues for those trying to navigate Edinburgh.

Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron, Chair of the city council’s cross-party Equalities Working Group, welcomed the pledge. 

Cllr. Cameron said: “I’m delighted that the Committee backed my call to support the deputation’s request to Council to introduce this new online portal. This will make our City more safely accessible for all.”

Gareth Barwell, the Council’s Head of Place Management confirmed that work is commencing on provision of this new portal and that an update including a proposed date for its introduction would be reported to the Transport and Environment Committee.

Councillor George Gordon, Disability’s Champion for the City of Edinburgh Council said: “I am pleased the Committee heard the presentation and took on board the lived experience of wheelchair users. 

“This commitment shows the Council really is listening and taking actions, ensuring that the issues disabled people face are high on the agenda. I look forward to seeing many more decisions like this coming forward to make Edinburgh a truly disability friendly City.” 

A dropped kerb is one aspect of the improvements necessary for pedestrian crossings. Similarly pushing the button without assistance allows a greater independence.

Neatebox have developed a cost-effective solution to activate the crossing using a smart phone without the need to reach for the button which has been successful implemented in several locations around Scotland.

Gavin Neate, who developed this technology, said: “Upgrading what is, to all intents and purposes, a grade one listed city is never easy. However, the need to be inclusive to all members of our society and remain the destination of choice means we must make the necessary improvements. 

“Edinburgh’s streets and the safety of its pedestrians must be of upmost importance. With the Council using technology to improve access through dropped kerbs it is hoped that other technological solutions such as “ButtonApp” by Neatebox can be implemented throughout Edinburgh.”

The new online portal will be designed for residents to notify the Council of necessary dropped kerbs in their area. 

Disability Advocates welcome the commitment which will allow people to move safely and ensure Edinburgh is more accessible to all.

Support confirmed for dental students

The British Dental Association Scotland has welcomed action from the Scottish Government in response to its call to support dental undergraduates who face having to repeat a year owing to COVID disruption.  

A bursary of up to £6,750 will now be offered to students at Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow Dental Schools that all moved to defer graduation given the limitations on clinical contact in the last year.  

The BDA issued an open letter to Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport Jeane Freeman, and Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills John Swinney on 2 February, calling for necessary action to prevent the next generation of dentists being saddled with unmanageable debt.  

Scottish dental students can already expect to graduate with debts of over £34,000. An additional year of study without a bursary would have pushed levels to over £40,000.

The Scottish Government has also confirmed it will continue to support trainers and trainees, based in NHS practices across Scotland. The BDA has renewed its call on the Scottish Government to provide additional funding to dental schools to mitigate the financial losses associated with today’s announcement.

David McColl, Chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee said: “This is the leadership we’ve needed from the Scottish Government.  

“No one wanted graduations to be deferred, but now the next generation of dentists have real certainty, support, and protection from what would have been eye-watering levels of debt.

“It’s inevitable that COVID will widen oral health inequalities that have long blighted Scotland. We can draw some comfort that Ministers have helped secure the pipeline of new talent we’ll need to meet these challenges.”

Public Health Minister Mairi Gougeon said: “This difficult but necessary decision by Scotland’s Dental Schools will be extremely disappointing news for dental students across the country. This is not their fault and that is why the Scottish Government is doing all we can to support them and ensure they do not suffer financially.

“Due to the potential risk of spreading COVID from aerosol generating procedures, dental training has had to be restricted and many students have not gained the necessary clinical experience this year which has resulted in the difficult decision to defer graduation.

“To ensure dental students who have to repeat a year are supported, we are giving each student an extra year’s bursary to the value to of their normal student loan of up to £6,750.

“Aerosol procedures are common in dentistry placements and unusual in other student placements. Therefore we are assured that despite the wider impact on clinical placements for other controlled entry university subjects, such as medicine, nursing and midwifery, students on those courses will not be required to repeat a year and any extensions to their programmes will be covered by other arrangements.

“The quality and calibre of dental treatment in Scotland is outstanding and it needs to be protected by taking the appropriate measures in education to ensure future dental professionals have reached the General Dental Council’s standard of clinical competence and can enter the workforce with confidence.”

Pennywell Road delivery van theft: teenager arrested

A 17-year-old man has been charged with the theft of a delivery van on Pennywell Road yesterday (Thursday 11 February).

He was arrested after a pursuit and was also charged with driving offences and possession of weapons.

Enquiries are ongoing in relation to similar thefts in the city recently.

Celebs support Scotmid initiative to keep communities smiling

Scotmid urges people to share their favourite jokes for ‘Our Communities Care’ week and help raise funds for charity partner, CHAS

Scottish celebs have come together to help a national convenience retailer launch an initiative to keep communities smiling – and feel connected – throughout the current lockdown.

Comedian Janey Godley, Still Game’s Mark Cox and Homes under the Hammer presenter Martel Maxwell are supporting Scotmid’s #sharingsmiles campaign, which launched this week as part of its ‘Our Communities Care’ Week (Monday 8 – Sunday 14 Feb 2021).

The initiative follows Scotmid’s hugely successful first lockdown #sharingsmiles campaign, which ran last year.

Children across the country were encouraged to draw a picture or write a letter and send it in to Scotmid – which they did in their droves. These were then shared with residents at more than 60 care homes in Scotland, to help residents feel more connected with the outside world, at a point in time when family visits were restricted, and feelings of loneliness and isolation were on the rise.

This time, Scotmid is asking people of all ages to share their favourite jokes and help raise a smile by showing those who remain shielding or who are finding the continued lockdown restrictions a struggle, that their communities care.

Our Communities Care Week also involves online and in-store activities to raise awareness of Scotmid’s 2021 charity partnership with Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).

Funds raised through the partnership will enable vital development and expansion of their outreach service, CHAS at Home, ensuring they can support children and families in every community across Scotland.

Still Game’s Mark Cox said: “There has never been a more important time to come together in our local communities and support one another – and what better way to cheer each other up than by telling some jokes!

“Scotmid’s #sharingsmiles campaign as part of Our Communities Care week is a great way to get involved and bring a smile to people’s faces. I’m looking forward to hearing what makes others laugh and to sharing a few of my own favourite jokes too.”

Scotmid President, Harry Cairney, said: “Scotmid is at the heart of the communities it serves and has been since it was founded more than 160 years ago.

“At the start of the first lockdown, we realised how many people were shielding in our local communities and wouldn’t be able to see their family and friends and so #SharingSmiles was born – to help cheer people up and make them feel hopeful.

“We’re excited to launch ‘Our Communities Care’ week, to encourage people of all ages to think about those that might still be shielding and to share their favourite jokes to make them laugh.”

Those looking to participate can send their jokes to lynneogg@scotmid.co.uk