North Edinburgh News – Page 2114 – The NEN

Briggs: Ministers out of touch on NHS Lothian vaccination rollout

Local vaccination figures show that 80,066 people have been vaccinated in NHS Lothian, equivalent to 10.6% of the population over the age of 16.

Last week NHS Lothian said the Scottish Government vaccination figures were invalid, because they did not include vaccinations that had happened at GP practices in NHS Lothian.

At the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday Health Secretary Jeane Freeman admitted that “we do need to vaccinate faster in Scotland than we have been doing.”

Scotland is lagging behind the rest of the UK in the number of people vaccinated so far, with SNP Ministers rearranging their target for all over 70s to receive a letter to be vaccinated by the end of last week, to end of this week.

The delivery of vaccines to GP practices has been highlighted as a crucial area where the delivery of the vaccines is being held up, with GP practices limited to 100 vaccines doses a week.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “It is worrying that SNP Ministers are lagging behind other parts of the United Kingdom in the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.

“An efficient vaccination rollout is vital for protecting elderly and at risk people from Covid-19, but also so that our schools can fully reopen and businesses get going again.

“Every day that the vaccinations rollout is delayed is another day where pupils aren’t able to get back to school and businesses won’t be making any income.

“In NHS Lothian it is not clear whether GP practice vaccination numbers have been included in the total, and it is very concerning that SNP Ministers don’t know how many people have been vaccinated.”

https://beta.isdscotland.org/find-publications-and-data/population-health/covid-19/covid-19-statistical-report/

The Conservative Lothians list MSP also expressed concern over Accident and Emergency waiting times figures released on Tuesday.

They revealed that 83.4% of patients were seen within the 4 hour waiting time target at A&E departments in Lothian, for the December 2020, the latest figures available.

The figure seen within 4 hours is comparable to December 2019, when 80.4% of patients were seen within the 4 hour standard in NHS Lothian, despite attendance dropping from 23,724 to 16,916.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine warned that staff had been working relentlessly for 11 months and “Studies have shown many have face psychological distress, stress and even PTSD as a result of the pandemic.

Lothian MSP has called on SNP Ministers to step up their efforts to support NHS Lothian frontline staff, and said they that SNP Ministers have not done enough, despite unprecedented funding from the UK government to overcome Covid-19.

Mr Briggs said that members of the public also have a role to play in alleviating pressure on NHS services.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “NHS Lothian frontline staff have been working flat out to overcome Covid-19 for almost a year and we must all do everything we can to alleviate pressure on them as the Covid-19 vaccines is rolled out.

“It is important that people still go to A&E if they have an emergency, and not be put off by Covid-19, but people must make an appointment with their GP if they have a condition which doesn’t need immediate medical attention.”

“SNP Ministers have not done enough to support NHS Lothian frontline staff, despite record funding from the UK Government, with waiting times growing for A&E despite fewer people attending.

“Keeping socially distanced and following Covid-19 rules is crucial for a bit longer, as the vaccines is rolled out, so that our NHS doesn’t get overwhelmed.”

NHS Lothian attendance and waiting time figures:

https://beta.isdscotland.org/find-publications-and-data/health-services/hospital-care/ae-activity-and-waiting-times/ (in data tables)

NHS Lothian

Episode and aggregate level data	Apr-2020	May-2020	Jun-2020	Jul-2020	Aug-2020	Sep-2020	Oct-2020	Nov-2020	Dec-2020
Number of attendances	12,030	16,150	17,737	18,984	21,136	20,470	19,328	17,776	16,916
Total attendances for year to month	271,907	263,517	257,058	251,908	247,864	243,117	237,364	230,625	223,817
Rolling average attendance	22,659	21,960	21,422	20,992	20,655	20,260	19,780	19,219	18,651
Over 4 hours in A&E	549	723	915	990	1,685	2,088	2,039	2,155	2,810
% within 4 hours (month)	95.4%	95.5%	94.8%	94.8%	92.0%	89.8%	89.5%	87.9%	83.4%
% within 4 hours (rolling annual)	86.6%	87.0%	87.4%	87.5%	87.6%	87.7%	87.9%	88.6%	89.1%
Episode level data only
Number of attendances	11,980	16,073	17,601	18,911	20,999	20,411	19,262	17,696	16,851
Over 8 hours in A&E	24	24	50	57	92	202	231	219	481
% within 8 hours (month)	99.8%	99.9%	99.7%	99.7%	99.6%	99.0%	98.8%	98.8%	97.1%
Over 12 hours in A&E	1	3	3	3	10	39	26	37	124
% within 12 hours (month)	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	99.8%	99.9%	99.8%	99.3%

Episode and aggregate level data	Apr-2019	May-2019	Jun-2019	Jul-2019	Aug-2019	Sep-2019	Oct-2019	Nov-2019	Dec-2019	Jan-2020	Feb-2020	Mar-2020
Number of attendances	23,831	24,540	24,196	24,134	25,180	25,217	25,081	24,515	23,724	23,617	21,909	17,764
Total attendances for year to month	282,525	282,583	283,569	284,742	285,857	287,956	289,785	290,805	290,817	290,699	290,349	283,708
Rolling average attendance	23,544	23,549	23,631	23,729	23,821	23,996	24,149	24,234	24,235	24,225	24,196	23,642
Over 4 hours in A&E	2,968	2,829	2,791	1,912	2,441	2,942	3,398	4,561	4,658	4,103	3,902	2,390
% within 4 hours (month)	87.5%	88.5%	88.5%	92.1%	90.3%	88.3%	86.5%	81.4%	80.4%	82.6%	82.2%	86.5%
% within 4 hours (rolling annual)

…

NOTE

The highest number of vaccinations in one day was recorded on Wednesday: 45,085 people had a jab, taking the total of those who have had a first injection to 694,347.

Pothole ‘threat to personal safety’

Potholes overtake texting and drink driving in problem ratings

Potholes are perceived by motorists to be a much more significant concern on the road than they were three years ago, overtaking texting and drink driving as a worsening problem according to the findings of a new report from the UK’s largest road safety charity.

IAM RoadSmart’s annual Safety Culture Report, which tracks drivers’ changing attitudes to key road safety issues over time, discovered that three in four motorists (75 per cent) now perceive potholes to be a bigger issue for road users than they were three years ago. This was followed by driver distraction (68 per cent) – such as texting or talking on a mobile phone – and traffic congestion (65 per cent).

Further findings from the report, now in its sixth year and which involves surveying more than 2,000 motorists, also discovered that around nine in ten (89 per cent) drivers have been affected by potholes over the last year.

Meanwhile, just over one in three (31 per cent) drivers had changed their route to avoid a pothole with, more worryingly, more than half (54 per cent) having had to steer away or brake hard to avoid impact and damage.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy & Research, said: “The pothole situation on UK roads has now become much more than just irritating, it’s a significant threat to personal safety.

“We simply can’t have vehicles swerving into oncoming traffic or slamming on their brakes without warning to avoid them. Deteriorating roads also put pedestrians and cyclists at greater risk.

“It is clearly a sign of the times when motorists perceive potholes to be a bigger growing concern to them than drink driving and texting. And while the statistics show that the devastating impacts of using a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or using a mobile phone when driving still remain, it does highlight that it is time for government to take potholes seriously and fix the UK’s road network.”

Regionally, eight in ten (81 per cent) motorists in the South East considered potholes to be a bigger road safety issue than three years ago, compared with around six in ten in London (61 per cent) and the North East (64 per cent).

It is currently estimated that there are some 42,675 miles of UK roads classed as being in POOR structural condition, costing an estimated £11.14 billion to bring them up to a level which they could be maintained cost effectively going forward, according to Asphalt Industry Alliance*.

However, IAM RoadSmart’s research found of those motorists who had experienced a pothole only around one in ten (12 per cent) had enough damage to their car caused by the pothole to require a repair and only around one in six (16 per cent) had reported a pothole to the authorities.

Less than one in ten (7 per cent) made a claim for the damage.

Edinburgh charity Hearts & Minds selected as Charity of the Year by Raeburn Construction & Training

Hearts & Minds, the award-winning Edinburgh charity, is delighted to have been selected by leading Fife companies Raeburn Construction & Raeburn Training as their Charity of the Year for 2021.

Over the next year the two companies, owned by Scott and Sarah Raeburn, are planning to undertake a number of live and virtual fundraising events involving the staff and their families to support the work of Hearts & Minds and the Clowndoctors & Elderflowers.

Their first breath-taking challenge is going to be an adrenalin packed 40m bungee jump off a bridge in Killiecrankie, Perthshire!

Raeburn Construction has been operating since May 2006, is based in Kirkcaldy and operates mainly in Edinburgh and Fife providing a groundwork civil engineering service to main contractors besides working with housebuilders and developers fulfilling full build projects.

Raeburn Training was launched in August 2019, it is also based in Kirkcaldy and provides Health and Safety training across all industry types and also specialises in construction safety training. Clients include companies, candidates and the employability sectors, assisting candidates gain essential skills to gain employment, a very rewarding part of our business.

Both companies are operated with a family feel and aim to provide a good place for employees to work and be part of a growing successful company. This is why the work of the charity felt like the perfect fit to work together over the next year.

The Clowndoctors and Elderflowers use the art of therapeutic clowning to bring magic, joy and laughter into the everyday lives of children facing long-term medical conditions and people living with dementia developing meaningful human connections in times of adversity.

They currently deliver all visits virtually into homes, classrooms and care homes across Scotland.

Scott and Sarah Raeburn, Directors said: “We have heard a lot about Hearts & Minds and appreciate the challenges of continuing charity work at this time. Both Sarah and I have a friend whose daughter has experienced first hand the joy of a visit from the clowns whilst at the Sick Kids Hospital, Edinburgh and she spoke very highly of the difference it made to her daughter’s day.

“The simplicity of making someone smile or laugh everyday was inspiring.”

Rebecca Simpson, CEO Hearts & Minds commented: “Hearts & Minds is absolutely delighted to be chosen by Raeburn Construction and Raeburn Training, it is a tough time for charities and even more so for the people we connect with in hospitals, hospices, and care homes.

“This support is invaluable and will help us reach more people through our Clowndoctor and Elderflower programmes. We look forward to developing our relationship with the Raeburn team and we are excited about working with them on their fundraising campaigns.”

For more information on Raeburn Training visit https://www.raeburntraining.co.uk/

For more information on Raeburn Construction visit https://www.raeburnconstruction.co.uk/

Caught in the act of Care

Gallery showcases Queen Elizabeth staff at the heart of delivering care during pandemic

Within the atrium of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) we have a gallery which pays tribute to the many staff working across the hospital site to look after patients during this difficult time.

Here, we’ve collated some of the images from the ‘Caught in the act of Care’ exhibition alongside some of quotes from staff on what it’s like to work during the pandemic.

Dobbies Edinburgh partners with Too Good To Go in bid to tackle food waste

The UK’s leading garden centre retailer, Dobbies, has partnered with surplus food app, Too Good To Go, in a bid to combat food waste in its Edinburgh store.

Leading the food waste revolution, Too Good To Go lets people buy surplus food and drink from restaurants, grocery stores, pubs and producers to stop it from going to waste. Consumers simply download the free Too Good To Go app and search for nearby businesses with unsold produce. They then purchase a ‘Magic Bag’ and collect it at an allotted time.

Customers in Edinburgh are able purchase a Magic Bag in the Dobbies foodhall, filled with fresh and delicious surplus food that would ordinarily go to waste. With an RRP of £12-14, the Magic Bags are available to buy for £3.99.

Archie Stewart, Head of Food at Dobbies, said: “Our partnership with Too Good To Go is an innovative solution for customers and Dobbies to work together on a shared goal of reducing food waste.

“The Too Good To Go Magic Bags can be collected with ease from our Edinburgh store.”

Paschalis Loucaides, UK Country Manager at Too Good To Go, said: “We’re thrilled to have partnered with Dobbies and help reduce food waste. We’ve already seen brilliant traction for the Magic Bags on our app and know together we can make a huge difference in making sure food is eaten and enjoyed instead of wasted.”

Coming soon, co-founder of Too Good To Go, Jamie Crummie, will feature as a guest on the latest episode of the Dobbies podcast. Joining host Louise Midgely, Jamie will talk more about the partnership, the inspiration behind the anti-food waste enterprise and share his top tips on reducing food waste at home.

As well as Edinburgh, Too Good To Go Magic Bags are available to purchase in the following Dobbies stores across the UK: Aberdeen, Ashford, Atherstone, Aylesbury, Ayr, Birtley, Braehead, Brighton, Carlisle, Chesterfield, Cirencester, Dundee, Dunfermline, Gailey, Gillingham, Gloucester, Gosforth, Harleston Heath, Havant, Huntingdon, Liverpool, Livingston, Milngavie, Milton Keynes, Moreton Park, Morpeth, Northampton, Perth, Peterborough, Ponteland, Preston, Reading, Rugby, Shepton, Shenstone, Southport, Stapleton, Stirling, Stockton, Stratford Upon Avon, Swansea and Telford. More stores will be announced on the Dobbies website soon.

To purchase a Magic Bag, download the Too Good To Go App, available via the Apple Store and Google Play. To find out more visit toogoodtogo.co.uk

For more information visit dobbies.com

EATING or HEATING?

Tragic choice two thirds of “forgotten disabled people” have been forced to make during pandemic

· For ten months UK Government has refused emergency funding to over 2.2 million people on legacy benefits to support them through the COVID-19 crisis

· New evidence sent to Chancellor Rishi Sunak shows disabled people now facing immense hardship

· Coalition of over 100 organisations working with disabled people fear ‘terrible consequences’ if Government fails to announce financial support for legacy benefits claimants in March Budget

Denying disabled people on legacy benefits, including Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Jobseeker’s Allowance, financial help to survive the COVID-19 crisis has left growing numbers unable to pay for rent, food and heating, new research shows.

The Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC), a network of over 100 organisations including the MS Society, Z2K, Disability Rights UK and Inclusion London, asked 1,126 legacy benefits claimants what difficulties they have been facing since the start of the pandemic.

The findings – which are included in the ‘Pandemic Poverty: Stark choices facing disabled people on legacy benefits’ report – reveal:

· The majority (82%) said they had spent more than they normally would – due to greater food shopping and utility bills, as well as having to pay for taxis to attend essential appointments – since the COVID-19 crisis began.

· Two thirds (66%) said they had to go without essentials like food, heating or medication as a result of increased costs since the pandemic started.

· Nearly half (44%) said they had fallen behind on financial commitments like rent, mortgage payments, or household bills.

The devastating impact shown in the report comes ten months after over 2.2 million people on legacy benefits were originally refused a £20 per week lifeline to support them through the pandemic – something people on Universal Credit have been getting since last March. The Universal Credit uplift will expire in April and no announcement has been made on whether it will be extended.

Excuses as to why legacy benefit claimants have been left behind include ‘technical difficulties’ and ‘they are getting a 37p annual increase from April’. The latest is that people on legacy benefits have the option to switch to Universal Credit, ignoring the fact that wider adjustments could leave people worse off, as well as serious flaws in the assessment and monitoring process of Universal Credit.2

Deborah, 53, from Cleckheaton in West Yorkshire lives with fibromyalgia. She cares for her partner, Steve, who has a congenital heart condition, and has just been diagnosed with diabetes. The couple rely on Deborah’s overdraft to pay for their food deliveries and heating, but now she is £800 overdrawn and having to make the choice between the two.

She says: “Being overdrawn makes me really stressed out because I’m thinking ‘how am I going to get this all back down?’ We’re already having to cut back on things like food, but the worst is not being able to have the heating on.

“We both feel like we’re undervalued…as if we don’t matter to the Government, whereas people on Universal Credit are better looked after. That extra £20 would be a godsend, and would mean we could put the money towards things we desperately need.”

David Allen, 62, was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1996 and lives alone in Luton. He has been receiving legacy benefits for over 10 years. David was bedbound with COVID-19 in March, and, as he is clinically vulnerable, has no choice but to have food delivered.

He says: “My shopping bill usually comes to £20 to 35 per week, but as I don’t feel safe going to the supermarket I’m having to rely on deliveries. The minimum order is £25, but if your order is less than £40 you get hit with by a delivery charge. On top of this, a tremor caused by my MS means it’s dangerous for me to use a knife or carry pans with hot water in, so I have to buy ready meals and prepared vegetables that I can put in the microware. These all come at a premium.

“I’m constantly worrying about other costs – I find myself sitting in the dark more than I should so as not to turn the lights on for too long, as well as only switching the TV on when I’m watching a programme. I live on my own so it’s hard not to think your world is closing in around you. The harsh reality is that the pandemic has meant our bills are going up quicker than our income, and there’s just nowhere to go to make up for that. It’s meant we feel abandoned and left to sink.”

Over 120,000 people have signed the ‘Don’t Leave Disabled People Behind’ petition, and 98% of MPs in the UK have heard from their constituents about the issue.

In addition, The Work and Pensions Select Committee, Social Security Advisory Committee, MPs from all parties, countless other charities and coalitions, the Lords Economic Affairs Committee and, most recently, the APPG on Poverty have all supported the DBC’s call to immediately give all out of work benefits the same COVID-19 emergency £20 increase that Universal Credit has seen.

Anastasia Berry, Policy Manager at the MS Society and Policy Co-Chair of the DBC, says: “An unforgivable number of disabled people have been put in danger of falling into poverty because of the extra costs of the pandemic – and the Government continues to ignore them.

“For nearly a year over 2.2 million people on legacy benefits have been given little more than a promise from the Prime Minister that he would “wrap his arms around the country” – but platitudes don’t keep people warm. Many have been forced to make awful choices to help them survive – from choosing between heating and eating to racking up debt to pay for rent.

“We have heard every excuse for why disabled people are being discriminated against, but the latest – that they can ‘move to Universal Credit’ – is the most misleading yet. The Government’s disregard of the facts could result in people being even worse off financially. The upcoming budget is a chance for the Chancellor to finally show the forgotten disabled people they matter, and they’re as important as those in receipt of Universal Credit. Without the £20 lifeline more people will be pushed into poverty and face terrible consequences.”

Ella Abraham, Z2K’s Policy and Campaigns Officer and Campaigns Co-Chair of the DBC, says: “2.2 million people on legacy benefits, the majority of whom are disabled, have now been excluded from the £20 per week financial lifeline for 10 months. The Chancellor’s inaction on this has created a two-tier discriminatory welfare state which has pushed a huge number of people into poverty.

“Forcing people onto Universal Credit where many will not be better off isn’t a solution, what we need is a social security system that ensures people are not having to survive on the bare minimum but have the income they need to live a stable and dignified life. The Government must increase legacy benefits now.”

pandemic-poverty-stark-choices-facing-disabled-people-on-legacy-benefits-final Download

DBC’s letter to Rishi Sunak:

Dear Mr Sunak,

Re: Increase Disability Benefits campaign reaches over 119,000 signatures.

You will no doubt remember that we wrote to you back in June. Then, as now, we called on you to give parity to disabled people claiming legacy benefits, such as Employment and Support Allowance, Job Seekers Allowance and Income Support by extending the £20 uplift afforded to those claiming Universal Credit since Spring.

Since we last wrote, thousands more have signed our petition urging you to do justice to those on legacy benefits by extending the uplift. And today, in anticipation of your Spending Review announcement, we deliver these tens of thousands of calls to action to you.

Just as you no doubt do, those who have signed our petition recognise that disability costs. People living with a disability and those with long-term health conditions tend to have lower real incomes and higher costs than the general population. This has been compounded during the pandemic, with many disabled people facing extra costs. Costs such as paying for taxis, to avoid the risk of public transport; paying for supermarket deliveries to avoid the risk of going to shops; paying for higher call and data charges to avoid loneliness and isolation.

Both the Social Security Advisory Committee and the Work and Pensions Select Committee as well as a number of MPs have called for the uplift to be introduced. The Secretary of State cited the inability of the IT systems as a reason not to implement an immediate change. However, with the Spending Review imminent where the benefit rates will be decided, this is your opportunity to do the right thing.

We believe that it cannot be the deliberate intent of Government to abandon some of the most severely and chronically disadvantaged citizens to heightened financial struggle in the midst of the destabilising, frightening and isolating experience of living with disability in the context of a global pandemic. With no immediate end in sight to this pandemic, it is only fair and reasonable to provide the same boost to those on Job Seekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance or Income Support as has been provided to those claiming Universal Credit.

Disabled people are likely to feel the impact of this crisis for a long time to come. Please don’t leave them behind!

Should you have any questions please contact me at matthew.harrison@mencap.org.uk.

Yours sincerely,

Matt Harrison

On behalf of the DBC Steering Group (Parliamentary Co-chair, Disability Benefits Consortium)

The Wee Museum of Memory at Ocean Terminal: Keeping people connected during lockdown

A key-worker project based at Ocean Terminal has been working hard to keep older people connected during lockdown.

The Wee Museum of Memory (based on the second floor of the waterfront centre in Leith) is run by The Living Memory Association and prior to lockdown welcomed around 150 visitors per day. Now, they’ve had to take the project online to help keep people connected while restrictions are still in place.

The museum is home to over 10,000 objects from 1930s school desks and 1970s record players to Leith/Edinburgh boundary plaque and a 6ft model of a Granton trawler.

The pieces in the museum help stimulate memories and get people talking to each other. With the physical location closed, the project co-ordinator Miles Tubb and his volunteers wanted to make sure there were still opportunities for people to connect through sharing stories and life experiences.

Working closely with the team at Ocean Terminal they have been able to continue to bring people together albeit virtually through a series of podcasts and videos recorded at the museum’s studio at the centre.

These weekly podcasts feature some of Edinburgh’s most loved residents including 76-year-old Evelyn Whitfield (above), one of the team’s longstanding volunteers. Evelyn has volunteered at the museum for 15 years.

During lockdown, whilst caring for her husband, Evelyn has been working alongside Miles to manage the project’s social media channels and compile their newsletters. In the latest episode of the podcast Evelyn joins Miles to reminisce about her memories of Leith.

Another guest on the series is 75-year-old Edinburgh musician, John Robertson. John has been involved with the Edinburgh music scene for over 40 years and even played in a support band for The Who.

Michelle MacLeod, Centre Manager at Ocean Terminal, said: “The Wee Museum of Memory at Ocean Terminal is hugely popular, attracting people of all ages and from all over the world.

“A lot of the museum’s older visitors and volunteers are among those more likely to feel cut off and isolated during these times so we have been only too happy to find a way to help.

“By making it possible for them to access the museum’s facilities at the centre, I’m delighted that Miles and his amazing volunteers can continue to reach out to people via their podcasts.”

Miles Tubb, Project Co-Ordinator, The Wee Museum of Memory (above) added: “As a key worker project, we’re immensely grateful to be able to access our resources within Ocean Terminal during lockdown.

“It allows us to keep sharing memories and to do our best to keep people connected and lessen isolation during lockdown. We don’t want to let lockdown stop our visitors being able to reminisce about the good times and our weekly podcasts and YoutTube videos have been a great way to keep connected and let our visitors know that we’re still here.”

Tune into the podcast series here. New episodes are live every Tuesday.

You can view The Wee Memory Museum’s YouTube channel here.

A National Care Service for Scotland?

Coalition of Care and Support Providers welcome Independent Review of Adult Social Care in Scotland

CCPS (Coalition of Care and Support Providers) has welcomed the publication of the Independent Review of Adult Social Care in Scotland and its call for a renewed purpose for social care with human rights at its heart.

CCPS are delighted by the commitment to a new narrative which replaces crisis with prevention and wellbeing, burden with investment, competition with collaboration and variation with fairness and equity.

We strongly endorse the call to put people front and centre of social care delivery – people who are supported by social care, their families and carers, and people who work in social care services.

We agree that Scotland already has strong foundations on which to build a National Care Service. We want to work with the Scottish Government, national and local stakeholders – including those who support people and people who are supported – to redesign the system to make the ambitions set out in the Review happen.

We wholeheartedly back the Review’s assertion of a duty to co-produce a new system with people who it is designed to support.

Over the coming weeks we will be working closely with our members to explore the Review’s recommendations in detail. As the membership body for third sector providers, we are especially interested in participating in the conversation about the Review’s recommendations on commissioning and procurement.

In 2020, we published our own contribution to that conversation, a series of Big Ideas about changing the way social care is planned, purchased, and paid for. We are grateful to the Review team for citing those ideas. In particular, we thank them for including as one of their recommendations, our suggestion to press pause on all current procurement in the context of a National Care Service, with a view to rapid, carefully planned implementation.

We agree with the Review team that implementation is the most significant challenge. Now is the moment for whole system change, hand in hand with the implementation of The Promise and the recommendations of the Social Renewal Advisory Board.

We would echo the Review Team’s own words – ‘If not now, when? If not this way, how? And if not us – who?’

Annie Gunner Logan, Chief Executive of CCPS said: “CCPS congratulates Derek Feeley and the Review team on completing a mammoth task in record time and their willingness to listen to many voices including those of providers and the people we support.

“Reform of social care in Scotland is long overdue. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed fault lines which require radical overhaul and long-term change. It has also revealed what can be achieved when obstacles are removed in a crisis.

“We are heartened by the direction of travel set out in the Review. The challenge now must be to turn aspiration into implementation. Change is needed urgently but how it is achieved matters too.

“The debate about a National Care Service must not become a bunfight at the expense of those who provide social care and the people they support.

“The upcoming election period provides an opportunity to discuss the Review’s recommendations openly and widely. But when the votes have been counted, and Scotland gets down to the series business of design and implementation, their voices must be in every room, every step of the way.”

Responding to the publication of the Independent Review of Adult Social Care in Scotland Report yesterday, GMB Scotland’s Women’s Campaign Unit Organiser Rhea Wolfson said: “Scotland has a once in a generation opportunity to transform social care, if the recommendations of this report are underpinned by proper value for the workers who will deliver it.

“We are pleased the report acknowledges our campaign for a £15 an hour minimum wage in social care and we would stress to the government and the industry this is very achievable with collaboration and political will.

“The report is clear that if government and the industry invest properly in the sector and its people, the economic multiplier effects of social care spending could have transformative effects not just for workers’ pay and the quality of care, but for the equalities agenda and the wider economy.

“The COVID-19 pandemic ruthlessly exposed the long-standing crises in social care which everyone well understood, and for a workforce of mainly low-paid and often exploited women this has meant a chronic struggle for proper value and respect.

“After the crises and tragedy of the last eleven months, and with tough times still ahead of us, there is hope in these recommendations.

“If we are serious about what we really value as a society, then we have a chance to finally get the social care agenda right.”

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Milestone: Ten Million Jabs

More than 10 million people receive first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in UK

More than 10 million people in the UK have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, marking a significant milestone for the largest vaccination programme in British history.

Figures out yesterday show the NHS vaccinated a total of 10,021,471 million people between 8 December 2020 and 2 February 2021, including 9 in 10 people aged 75 and over in England.

This is equivalent to vaccinating the total capacity of 111 Wembley stadiums in just 8 weeks and is an important step towards hitting the Prime Minister’s target of offering vaccines to the top 4 priority groups by the middle of February.

These top 4 groups account for 88% of COVID deaths, which is why the vaccines will play such a crucial role in saving lives and reducing the demand on the NHS.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “This terrific achievement is testament to the monumental effort of NHS workers, volunteers and the armed forces who have been working tirelessly in every corner of the UK to deliver the largest vaccination programme in our history. Every jab makes us all a bit safer – I want to thank everyone for playing their part.

“Vaccines are the way out of this pandemic. The unprecedented national effort we have seen right across the United Kingdom means the majority of our most vulnerable people are now inoculated against this awful disease.

“The UK government has worked rapidly to secure and deliver doses to all of the UK, demonstrating the strength of our union and what we can achieve together.”

Vaccines have been offered to all elderly care home residents and staff in England and Wales, with staff returning to homes where residents may have been unable to get a vaccine due to medical conditions, or because of a local outbreak.

A study published in the Lancet yesterday shows the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine provides a sustained protection of 76% during the 12-week interval between the first and second dose.

It is also the first study to show the vaccine may substantially reduce transmission, suggesting those who have already been immunised with this vaccine cannot infect others.

All vaccines being used in the UK have undergone robust clinical trials and have met the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s strict standards of safety, effectiveness and quality.

The vaccination programme continues to expand, with thousands of vaccination centres open – ranging from GP and pharmacy-led services to hospitals and large-scale vaccination centres – to provide easy access to those eligible, regardless of where they live.

Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “The UK’s vaccination programme is in full swing and almost 1 in 6 people across the UK are already protected from serious illness.

“The NHS is doing everything it can to protect the most vulnerable and will continue to expand the vaccination programme ever further in the coming weeks to save as many lives as possible.”

The public has a vital part to play in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and the government has called on people to:

help out: help those eligible for the vaccine by supporting friends, family and loved ones with their appointments, as well as volunteering to help those in the community
join up: sign up to clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines, as well as treatments
stay informed: keep up to date with accurate and trusted NHS advice and make sure to share the facts with friends and family

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “There are many people and groups responsible for the UK’s vaccination programme, and we owe our thanks to our brilliant scientists, to Kate Bingham and the Vaccine Task Force which has procured over 400 million doses of seven different types of vaccine, to the manufacturers and the delivery drivers, the pharmacists, the military medics, countless volunteers.

“But to get this life-saving medicine into the arms of the nation at the kind of speed that we’re seeing, we are relying on the doctors, nurses and all the staff of our NHS.

“It is thanks to their effort – the most colossal in the history of our National Health Service – that we have today passed the milestone of 10 million vaccinations in the United Kingdom, including almost 90% of those aged 75 and over in England and every eligible person in a care home.”

A total number of 10,021,471 have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the UK. 498,962 people have received their second jab.

NHS Lothian opens third mass vaccination centre at Royal Highland Centre Ingliston

A retired legal secretary was among the first in line when the vaccination centre at the Royal Highland Centre opened its doors for the first time yesterday.

Elizabeth Anne Kirk, 68, from Linlithgow, was given the vaccine at the first of the vaccination centres on the site.

She said: “I’m very excited. I haven’t been going out much recently so I feel more relaxed having had the vaccine, although I’ll still be very careful. The whole process has been easy and well organised and the staff are very friendly, which is important. There really is nothing to worry about.”

The newest mass vaccination centre, the third in Lothian, is in the Members’ Pavilion which has nine vaccination stations available. It will be capable of vaccinating more than 1,000 people every day, seven days a week.

It will initially be staffed by vaccinators from NHS Lothian, before the British Armed Forces staff the centre for around two weeks.

It will revert to the NHS vaccinators after more training and inductions are carried out to boost the ranks.

David Small, Director of Primary Care Transformation and executive lead for the vaccination programme, NHS Lothian, said: “It is very exciting to see a new mass vaccination centre open, especially one that is being supported by our colleagues from the British Armed Forces.

“The swift opening of this venue will allow us to increase our capacity across the Lothians and allow us to start vaccinating 65-69-year-olds sooner than we expected.

“I’m incredibly proud of all of the work and effort done by our teams to get this venue up and running. It has taken a lot of work, but we are now seeing the delivery of this lifesaving vaccine to thousands of people across Lothian.”

Teams have been working hard to transform the events venue into a centre capable of vaccinating hundreds and thousands of people each day.

This is the first of two vaccination centres planned for the Royal Highland Centre. A second larger centre is expected to become operational in March.

Alan Laidlaw, Chief Executive of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, said: “We can think of no greater use for our facilities at the Royal Highland Centre than to support the national vaccine programme.

“As an event venue attracting upwards of one million people each year and home to Scotland’s largest outdoor event, the Royal Highland Show, we are hopeful that the mass roll out of the vaccination will see the safe return of events in 2021.”

People aged between 75-79 and those most clinically vulnerable will continue to be given appointments to be vaccinated by their GP, while those aged between 70-74 and 65 to 69 are being invited into these mass vaccination sites and smaller community venues for their injections.

Smaller community clinics will deliver vaccinations in the local area for people with complex needs or who, for other reasons, absolutely cannot and would not be expected to travel to a mass centre.

Mr Small added: “We have already vaccinated the vast majority of the first groups to be prioritised, including frontline health and social care staff; care home staff and residents and people over the age of 80.

“More than 90,000 people have already had their first dose of the vaccine.

“Our message is clear – for this programme to be successful we need to vaccinate as many people as we possibly can. This will help save lives, provide protection and allow us to get back to normal.

“When you receive an appointment, I really would urge you to keep it, even if it is at a centre which is not closest to your home. Attending your appointment is the most important thing you will do this year.”

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs said: “NHS Lothian now have everything in place to really ramp up vaccination efforts.

“I welcome the use of our armed forces to speed up vaccinations and help overcome Covid-19. It is clear that everyone is on board for getting people vaccinated as fast as possible and this bodes very well.”

Advice for attending vaccination centres

Patients are asked to stay safe by following the Scottish Government guidance currently in place, by wearing a mask and maintaining physical distancing as they travel to and from vaccination centres across Lothian.

Parking will be available around some venues and public transport operators are all following Scottish Government transport guidance for safe travel.

Please arrive on time for the allocated time on your appointment letter. Arriving too early can cause unnecessary queues.

When you arrive, make sure to wear a mask and bring your appointment letter with you to avoid any unnecessary delays.

The vaccination programme is one of three critical ways we are all working together to beat this virus, along with the testing programme which helps prevent its spread and the rules in place that we all know to follow. These three planks form our route out of this pandemic.

More details and information about the venues can be found on NHS Lothian’s website https://www.nhslothian.scot/Coronavirus/Vaccine/Pages/default.aspx

Or for more information about the vaccine and appointments on NHS Inform.scot