North Edinburgh News – Page 2180 – The NEN

Scotland embraces digital National Health information service

More Scots than ever before are turning to digital health information during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the first month of 2021 more than 7 million users visited NHSinform.scot. This is the highest ever number of users for the site in a single month – and more than 5 times the number for January last year. Around 4 in every 5 visitors to the site was using a mobile phone or tablet device.

Unsurprisingly, the most popular content in the past year is information on the coronavirus vaccine, who will get it and how, and on how to get coronavirus testing or care for someone with the virus at home.

The other illnesses for which people most often sought digital advice were fever, thrush, food poisoning and chest infections.

Mental Health is a widely shared concern, with anxiety and panic, fears and phobias, stress, anger and low mood, and depression being the most common topics viewed. The NHSinform.scot pages for these topics were viewed over 120,000 times in January alone.

Dr Laura Ryan, Medical Director at NHS 24 said: “The pandemic has meant we have all had to find new ways of going about our daily lives and that includes the way we get essential health information when we need it.

“It’s great to see that our digital resources have become so widely trusted by people across Scotland. The content on NHSinform is governed by the same standards as the advice given by the NHS 24 telephone services.

“I would encourage people to use the self-help guides for immediate support as they are readily available wherever a mobile phone or other device is to hand. In many cases the online advice will allow people to self-care at home, but it is of course very important to contact a healthcare professional if our self-help guides direct you to do that.”

With travel affected by poor weather and the pandemic, it makes sense to turn to NHSinform.scot for support. Where symptoms suggest that a healthcare professional is needed, users are guided to speak to their pharmacist, GP, optometrist, dentist or call 111 or 999 as appropriate. You can also find out where your nearest services are using our Scottish Services Directory by simply entering your postcode.

Users can walk through all this information on our handy self-help guides or, by reading.

NHS 24 wants to offer the public choice about how they access services. Essential information on using our services has been translated into multiple languages with communities across Scotland and is available in easy read and British Sign Language formats.

For those who do not have access to a device or prefer not to use one, we still offer telephony advice and information.

Mental health charity SAMH launches Holyrood manifesto

Ahead of this year’s Scottish Parliament elections, we’ve launched our manifesto, Standing Up for Scotland’s Mental Health, calling for radical action in order to combat a growing mental health crisis in Scotland.

Informed by over 2,500 people across Scotland, many of whom have lived experience of mental health problems, our new manifesto sets out 38 actions to make mental health a national priority.

We want to see real change, as part of this we want to see redoubled efforts on suicide prevention, action now to support children and young people and rapid access to psychological wellbeing support for adults.

In the last twelve months, Scotland has seen its population’s mental health and the mental health systems designed to support it challenged like never before. With these pressures likely to continue well into the next parliamentary term, it makes the current picture on mental health even more concerning:

One in five children referred to specialist mental health services are still being turned away
A quarter of those referred for psychological therapies wait at least four months to be seen
Deaths by suicide have risen over the last two years.

It’s clear that mental health must become a real national priority following the May elections.

Billy Watson, Chief Executive at SAMH said: “Scotland’s mental health deserves better. A growing number of people across the country are facing mental health problems and are struggling to access help. There have been too many promises on mental health and not enough action. With the added pressure brought about by the pandemic, we need a radical new plan.

“We must now, more than ever, see political and government commitment to make mental health a priority. That’s why today SAMH is launching our manifesto, urging the next Scottish Government to put the mental health of the nation first. It’s time to listen to the hopes, fears and needs of people with mental health problems.

“The next Scottish Parliament will see many new MSPs, as well as experienced members returning for a further term. We hope we can rely on each and every one of them to Stand up for Scotland’s Mental Health.”

The Standing Up to Scotland’s Mental Health manifesto reflects the real life experiences of people across Scotland. Stephanie, 19, struggled to access the support she needed through CAMHS.

Stephanie said: “After being put on the waiting list for CAMHS, it was many months before I was contacted and learnt that I’d have to go through a whole process to actually be seen.

“Eventually I ended up being rejected as I was on holiday when the letter came in about arranging my first appointment. There was a deadline that you had to get in contact by to arrange this but because I was away I ended up missing it. I got in touch but the only support and advice they could give was for me to go through the full ordeal again.

“I felt helpless and had no idea what I was supposed to do. I was reaching out which is what they said to do, but I was still being shut down. I was terrified and I didn’t know what was going on. I was thinking, ‘What if I don’t get the help, what will happen to me? Will things get worse?’ – It felt like a really big ball of emotions. The whole referral process just felt exhausting. It took a further toll on my mental health and how I dealt with it in the future, and I became closed off once again.”

The research and experiences which lie at the heart of our new manifesto shows that when people are given the support they need quickly, they can flourish.

After a suicide attempt, Robert, 39, reached out for support. This led him to ‘The Changing Room’, a SAMH project which uses the power of football to get men in their middle years talking about mental health.

Robert said: “Early on I remember thinking I’m worth my place in this group, not only is it helping me feel better but I’m going to be part of making other people in this group feel better. I felt like I was worth a lot, and for a long time I didn’t feel like I was worth much.

“Local community support is so important because shared experiences help, having someone you can relate to from a similar background makes it much more organic.”

“Many people feel isolated when they are having suicidal thoughts, I had family all around me, but I still felt isolated, because no one knew what was going on, so then being around people who understand what you’re going through can really make a big difference.”

To find out more about Standing Up for Scotland’s Mental Health, to read our full manifesto and find out how you can help drive real change for mental health, visit samh.org.uk/standup

One million Scots vaccinated

Milestone reached as programme gathers momentum

More than one million people at greatest risk from Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland have had their first dose of the vaccine.

The landmark of one million was reached on Wednesday 10 February. 69 year old John Loch from Bearsden was among those vaccinated on the day the milestone was reached. The retired businessman received his first dose at NHS Louisa Jordan in Glasgow.

The programme has now reached more than a fifth (22%) of the 4.5 million people who will be offered a vaccine.

The biggest vaccination programme ever undertaken is now moving at pace through the 70-79 age group following the opening of new mass vaccination centres at Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) and P&J Live in Aberdeen and other large sites across the country.

The programme remains on track to complete first doses for all those in this age group by the end of this week. Those aged 65 and over are also receiving invitations for their appointment.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “This is an important milestone in the biggest vaccination programme ever delivered in Scotland and I would like to thank everyone involved and all those who have taken up their offer of a vaccine.

“We have now given first doses to more than a million people in the groups which were prioritised to address 99 per cent of preventable deaths associated with COVID-19. These include elderly care home residents and staff, frontline health and social care workers and those who are at risk of serious harm and death from this virus.

“Scotland’s COVID-19 vaccination programme is delivering ahead of our expectations. Our aim is to vaccinate as many people as possible with both their first and second doses as quickly as possible but the speed at which we can do this depends on supply and we expect a dip in supplies UK wide towards the end of this month.

“We hope to see a significant drop in the disease due to the vaccination programme, however this will take a number of months to evaluate fully. In the shorter term, we are monitoring the uptake rate but we also have a comprehensive surveillance system in place to monitor outcome of vaccine efficacy and disease reduction.

“Each health board is working hard to get the vaccine into people’s arms as quickly as possible, and everyone eligible will be offered the vaccine as we work our way through the priority groups.”

“We continue to urge everyone to take up their appointment when they are offered one. The vaccination programme is one of three key ways we are working to beat this virus, along with our expanded testing programme to identify cases and break chains of transmission and the important lockdown restrictions everyone in Scotland must follow. All these measures work to greatest effect when they work together.”

John Loch said: “I am delighted to have received my vaccine, particularly on the day Scotland reached a million doses. It is exciting to be a part of this milestone moment.

“I would like to thank all the staff at the Louisa Jordan for being so reassuring and making the process so simple and straightforward.”

NHS LOTHIAN VACCINATION FIGURES

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said yesterday: “It is positive that we have seen the number of people vaccinated increase by over 50% since the introduction of mass vaccinations centres last week.

“There are some concerns that NHS Lothian is behind other health boards in the percentage of people vaccinated, but it is important that we keep up the momentum.

“The sooner the people who are most vulnerable to Covid-19 are vaccinated the sooner we can get pupils back to school and reopen the economy with confidence.

“A huge thank you to all NHS Lothian staff working tirelessly in getting the vaccine rolled out and to members of the public for keeping social distanced to suppress the virus, whilst vaccines are rolled out.”

How to manage your business insurance while working remotely

With the country now in its third and hopefully final lockdown there are many businesses unable to operate from their usual premises under current government guidelines, many employees have reverted to working remotely from their homes.

While focus has been on transitioning equipment and employees, many business leaders may not have yet had time to consider their insurance policies and the potential impact of remote working over the longer term.

To support businesses, leading insurance provider,Insurance2go, has shared advice on business insurance cover for those with employees who continue to work remotely.

Check your policy

This may seem like an obvious first step, but it is important to check that you are still covered by your insurance while employees work from home.

The good news is that, generally, your insurance will cover your business when it’s not in its regular location. Where you operate from doesn’t really matter, as long as you’re still in the UK. However, you may need to check your contents insurance and whether it covers use of items such as laptops, for example, beyond your normal premises. If it doesn’t, you may need to extend your cover as you cannot rely on your employee’s home insurance to include business use.

Health and safety checks

Interestingly, The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 makes no distinction between home and in-office workers. The regulations require employers to carry out a risk assessment of their employees’ workplace, to identify any potential risks so the employer can then seek to remove or mitigate the risk.

It is not necessary to visit the employee’s home to carry out a risk assessment, particularly during the ongoing pandemic. However, HR managers can provide the employee with a detailed self-assessment questionnaire as part of a firm’s legal responsibilities for homeworkers.

If your company does not have one already, there are many free templates available online.

Heath & Safety Executive: Free Display Screen Equipment Checklist

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ck1.htm

Keep records

Your business needs to be able to show that is has done everything by the book, just in case a circumstance arises where an employee says you didn’t set them up to work from home properly and suffered as a result of it, or there is a data breach. Keep a record of everything you have done, including reasons and the dates they happened.

It is important to have a home working policy that staff can access and read to ensure it is clear what is expected from both parties.

Home working policies should cover key areas including:

when employees will be available to work
how and how regularly they’ll keep in touch
how their performance will be managed
health and safety expectations
rules around confidentiality, IT security, storing information and data protection
who employees should contact if they’re experiencing any problems.

Get cyber insurance

During 2020, the NCSA (National Cyber Security Centre) reported an increase in cyber-security threats, most likely as a result of employees working from home with serious breach affecting a business’s reputation^1.

Firstly, make sure IT teams have undertaken checks on all laptops, desktops, and tablets to make sure they are as protected as possible. Also ensure secure connections are set up from the worker’s home station to the company network.

As cybercrimes become more sophisticated it is important not to rely on checks alone, having cyber insurance in place will help to mitigate further risks.

Keep your insurer informed

Most likely your business has changed due to the pandemic if you’ve seen a period of rapid expansion and growth. Whatever your circumstances then get in touch with your insurer. If you’re unsure, err on the side of caution and provide the updates, rather than running the risk of invalidating your policy.

On the other hand, if your business is now having to operate remotely, you should check with your individual insurance providers as to whether they require you to check and maintain security systems while the premises are vacant.

Richard Gray, Head of Marketing and Digital, at Insurance2go says:“It has been an unforeseen time for businesses and employees alike, and for many business leaders it can be hard to predict what the future looks like for their employees in terms of working remotely.

“It’s more important than ever that businesses protect themselves from any unplanned expenses and we hope this advice helps people understand what is required from an insurance point of view, to continue to operate effectively and safely while working from home.”

For more information on business insurance, please visit:

https://www.insurance2go.co.uk/about/news-blog/news/insurance2go-business-launches-new-specialist-multi-item-insurance

Live Life Better

Breaking big life changes into small, manageable steps

One Year No Beer launches empowering programme of online courses and events targeting mindfulness and wellbeing:

Motivating people to change the world’s relationship with alcohol, One Year No Beer has launched the Live Life Better wellbeing platform, an empowering programme of online courses and events to help people break big life changes into small, manageable steps.

From reducing your sugar intake to surviving modern society alcohol-free and even embracing the benefits of meditation, each individual challenge has the aim of helping you make positive life changes.

Launched from 1^st February, each course offers members the opportunity to start living life better, taking control of their personal wellbeing and working towards a healthier version of themselves. Hosted by industry professionals, academics, doctors and OYNB coaches, the easily digestible programmes have everything you need to make changes that stick.

Responding to member requests for support in other areas, topics include a Sugar Challenge, to help quiet cravings and satisfy a sweet tooth; Alcohol and Men’s Health, to help build resilience and self-worth without the need of a pint, and Mindfulness and Meditation, for those looking to restore some inner balance.

Available in 28 and 10-day challenges, each offers a tailored approach, allowing members to choose the one that will best suit their goals, current situation and stage in life.

“Looking at the role alcohol plays in our lives was just the start of the journey for us”, says Ruari Fairbairns, founder and CEO of One Year No Beer. “It naturally opened up the door for so many of our members to ask for more support with other aspects of their life and wellbeing.

“People wanted help changing their relationship with sugar, food, mindfulness and more and from that, the idea of Live Life Better was born.”

Besides OYNB founder Ruari, coaches include Carey Davis-Munro, a food and wellbeing specialist with a passion for healing yourself through nutrition; menopause and alcohol specialist, Kate Sansum who testifies to the 62 symptoms of menopause being worsened by alcohol and Dr Gail Davies, who advocates 10 minutes of mindfulness a day in order to completely overhaul your emotional and cognitive response.

Dr Gail Davies, academic, scientist and Live Life Well coach, said: “Mindfulness is a life skill that everyone can benefit from; practicing every day, for even a few minutes, can change your brain and the way we experience situations.

“Conquering our emotional response and making ourselves less likely to be highjacked by our own emotions, leads naturally to a feeling of being more engaged, present and subsequently, happier.” .

Prices range from £10 to £45 and subscribers will be notified when new courses launch, with Plant Based Living, Tiny Habits for Parenting and a 28-day Yoga Challenge poised to begin in the coming weeks.

Millions of used Covid-19 tests ‘piled high’

The UK’s testing capacity for Covid-19 may be helping to avert a further rise in case numbers – but the waste produced means a disposal disaster is looming.

According to Government figures, the UK is now testing over 580,000 people per day – or over 4 million people per week – for the Covid-19 virus which is circulating amongst the population.

This number includes tests taken at Covid testing centres, door-to-door tests, and the quicker lateral flow tests being used in workplaces and schools – but does not include antibody tests, which check if a person has had the virus previously, so the true number of daily test kits used is likely to be much higher.

Rubbish removal experts Divert.co.uk have raised the alarm over the sheer volume of testing kits being used daily and concerns of the accuracy as low as 57.5% making this a very dangerous problem. There is a mounting problem for testing centres and facilities: what to do with hundreds of thousands of used tests daily?

As the Covid-19 testing process involves either nasal or throat swabs (or, for antibody testing, blood samples) the kits must then be disposed of as clinical waste, in incinerators. In the past, individual hospitals often had their own incinerators to dispose of medical waste, but this idea was short-lived as the resulting pollution was a concern, and private contractors have handled the waste since the 1990s.

But these contractors are now raising the alarm that their incinerators are at full capacity, and have been for a while, with medical waste quite literally piling up, as a result, the instantly-recognizable yellow medical waste bins overflowing. In turn, this has angered those in the industry who say they have been warning the government ‘for years’ about the need for increased capacity.

NHS chiefs admitted in 2018 that there was a national capacity issue amid growing backlogs of medical waste and clinical waste management firms being forced to store waste above their permitted allowance as a result. Despite this, waste management firms are once again warning of mounting problems as Covid-19 testing places unexpected stress on the system.

Firms, fearful of repercussions like those seen by waste management businesses who were penalised during the 2018 crisis, are turning away contracts for Covid-19 test centre waste, leading many to call the issue a public health ‘emergency’.

Spokesperson Mark Hall of Divert.co.uk said: “It’s important to note that, of course, the huge scale of Covid-19 testing in the United Kingdom is a good thing – it allows us to track the spread of the virus, which is enormously important in tackling the pandemic and allowing us to return to pre-Covid life.

“However, the sheer number of testing kits being processed each day without adequate disposal capacity to handle the waste generated, combined with the accuracy of some lateral flow tests being as low as 57.5% makes it a serious cause for concern, and we hope it will spark further conversations in the medical manufacturing industry about the way in which we approach the issue of medical waste.

“Hundreds of thousands of pieces of single-use plastic are disposed of daily by the medical industry, from syringes to gloves to the Covid test kits, and many of these seem unavoidable.”

Experts in the field such as Tony Capon, director of the Monash Sustainable Development Institute – speaking to the BBC – are clear that there are long term steps that could be taken to reduce unnecessary medical waste.

He said: “When I was beginning my medical career, it was standard practice for things to be cleaned and autoclaved. Medical equipment was routinely cleaned up, sterilised and reused.”

Others note that changes in practices – such as encouraging handwashing rather than glove use, where appropriate – could help decrease excessive waste.

Mark Hall continues: “We’d like there to be a greater focus on ensuring sustainability in the healthcare field overall. Firstly, by promoting a more sustainably-minded culture where medical workers actively choose to take safe steps to reduce waste, and secondly by minimising waste in the design and manufacturing of single-use items.

“Creating items which can be safely sterilised and re-used could, over time, lead to huge shifts in how we tackle medical waste as a problem – and it is, in its current format, undeniably becoming a problem.”

Hero British diplomat awarded for lifesaving actions

British diplomat Stephen Ellison has been awarded the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s (RLSS UK) ‘Certificate of Recognition’ after his heroic efforts saved a woman from drowning.

Mr. Ellison, currently serving as consul-general in Chongqing in China, hit headline news in November 2020, after footage of him bringing the unconscious woman to the riverbank, went viral.

Out walking that morning, Mr. Ellison noticed the woman struggling in a fast-moving current, after falling into deep water. A seasoned open water swimmer through his participation in triathlons, Mr. Ellison wasted no time in getting into the water and bringing her to safety.

“RLSS UK’s ‘Certificate of Recognition’ celebrates members of the public who successfully rescue someone from the water,” explains RLSS UK CEO, Robert Gofton.

“Mr. Ellison’s selfless actions saved that lady’s life, and it is a testament to his courage and water safety knowledge that they both survived the ordeal.

“I was delighted to be joined by RLSS UK President Mark Smith, to award Mr. Ellison the certificate via a video call, and I look forward to the chance to meet him face-to-face, one day in the future.”

“It’s often the case with a situation like this, that everyone was taken by surprise by the sudden turn of events,” said Mr. Ellison. “As someone who takes part in triathlons, I felt confident that I could safely reach the lady in the water and help.

“I was just over-the-moon that she recovered consciousness and required no further treatment.

“It’s a wonderful surprise and an honour to be recognised by the Royal Life Saving Society UK.”

For more information:

RLSS UK: www.rlss.org.uk

Twitter – @RLSSUK

Facebook page – facebook.com/RLSSUK

Three-in-ten new Universal Credit claimants have seen their debts grow during the crisis

Over three-in-ten people who have started claiming Universal Credit (UC) during the pandemic have either acquired new debts, or seen their existing debts grow, as the crisis enters its eleventh month, according to new research published by the Resolution Foundation.

The debts that divide us – which includes analysis of a detailed online YouGov survey, supported by the Health Foundation – explores how people who have newly claimed UC during the pandemic have coped financially, as well as their prospects for the coming months.

The Foundation notes that of the almost six million people who are currently claiming UC, around three-in-five made a new claim in 2020, including many of the 1.4 million people who made a new claim at the start of the crisis in April and May of last year.

The research finds that families newly claiming UC have taken a major income hit, even with the vital £20 a week uplift to UC. Almost half (45 per cent) reported seeing their income fall by at least a quarter, while around one-in-three (34 per cent) reported seeing their income fall by at least 40 per cent.

And with the pandemic-induced economic crisis having lasted almost a year, the research shows that the big income losses faced by people moving onto UC are taking their toll on their ability to cope financially.

The research finds that over three-in-ten (31 per cent) new UC families have either acquired new debts or seen their existing debts grow, while around one-in-five (21 per cent) have fallen behind on paying essential (non-housing) bills.

Looking ahead to the next three months, a period in which UC is set to be cut by £20 a week (from 5 April 2021), three-in-five (61 per cent) UC families say they will struggle to keep up or will fall behind on bills, around twice the proportion of families across the economy as a whole (31 per cent).

The Foundation says that the uplift to UC has been essential for protecting family incomes during a pandemic that is lasting far longer than anyone expected when the policy was announced back in March 2020. The uplift is likely to prove just as vital in the coming months too, as more people claim UC off the back of rising unemployment.

It adds that with millions of households claiming UC experiencing real financial hardship, cutting their support in just two months’ time would be a grave error – and extinguish any hopes of a living standards recovery this year.

Karl Handscomb, Senior Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: “Over three million people have started claiming Universal Credit since the pandemic began, including 1.4 million people who moved onto the benefit right at the start of the crisis.

“As the pandemic reaches its eleventh month – a depressing duration few expected last March – the income shock from with moving onto Universal Credit has evolved into mounting debts and arrears on essential bills.

“The Chancellor was right to raise Universal Credit to support families through tough economic times. And with tough times set to continue as unemployment rises through 2021, this vital boost to family incomes must be maintained.

“Cutting the incomes of six million families in just two months’ time, when public health restrictions are still likely to be widespread, makes no sense politically, economically, or in terms of raising people’s living standards.”

New guide for people recovering from COVID-19

It’s a long road to recovery for many who have contracted COVID-19. In Scotland over 185,000 people have tested positive for the virus, with over 57,000 of these cases recorded within Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

NHSGGC’s Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy teams have created a new online resource to help anyone who is recovering from the virus, having distilled what they have learned from helping people recover both at home and in hospital.

The new self-management resource is available to the public and is aimed at anyone managing the many types of symptoms associated with COVID-19. It also notes the pace of recovery may be slower than expected.

Common symptoms can include: fatigue, breathlessness, reduced exercise tolerance and lack of physical strength. The resource offers advice on recovering from the virus, managing breathlessness, general wellbeing, managing fatigue, exercise programmes and more.

Lynn Glen, Physiotherapist, NHSGGC, said: “We know that the lingering effects of COVID-19 can vary from person to person. We’ve had younger and older patients admitted to wards and intensive care units, some dealing with debilitating fatigue and breathlessness for months after being diagnosed, requiring weeks and months of rehab and physiotherapy input.

“Other patients may only require physiotherapy input for a shorter period. The length of time recovering from COVID-19 can also vary so we had to find a way to support people at home.

“We wanted to help people get back on their feet, to gain knowledge about the virus, learn how to manage their symptoms and ultimately recover with this new resource.”

You can access the new NHSGGC online resource here:

https://www.nhsggc.org.uk/your-health/health-services/allied-health-professionals-ahps/physiotherapy/

Lorna Graham, 27, who has been a nurse for three years, was diagnosed with COVID on 8 April 2020 and has not yet fully recovered. She was off work for six months and has since been diagnosed as suffering from Long COVID.

Lorna said: “The acute phase of my illness lasted a few weeks and I can truly say I felt like I was dying. Without question it was the worst I have felt in my life. It’s not that I haven’t been ill before. I have had sepsis and swine flu but this was different. It felt like I was drowning; at times I couldn’t get a breath.

“This all happened despite me being a fit 26 year old. I wasn’t a fitness fanatic, but I was active on my days off. I would go hillwalking regularly, so you could say I was fit and obviously young too.

“In the first few weeks I was at the COVID assessment centre a few times and was sent to hospital, although never admitted. I had a temperature, no taste or smell and just slept and slept.

“I waited to recover fully and it just never came. It was October before I felt able to go back to work.”

Nearly ten months on, Lorna’s health has yet to recover fully.

Top Ten Tips for Recovering from COVID-19:

Take it slow – recovery may take longer than you expect.
Eat well – your body needs nutrients to get better. This can be difficult when you lose your sense of taste / smell but just as important.
Sleep well – your body needs rest, take it easy.
Plan your day – especially important if you’re feeling fatigued. Plan your day and week to include consistent activity, rather than boom and bust cycles which may leave you more tired.
Deep breathing – sit in a relaxed position, breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth, lying on your front can also help.
Stay active – your physical strength may be impacted so build yourself back up with regular activity like walking or at home exercises.
Get up – easy to forget in lockdown, make sure you are regularly standing, set a timer to make sure you’re getting up once an hour.
Get out – make sure to get outside with nature proven to improve our wellbeing.
Relax – remember to relax your mind however that may be. Some people find meditation helpful.
Stay connected – speak to your loved ones regularly about your recovery and how you’re doing. We all need support.

Edinburgh businesses cut energy bills by £8m with government-funded support

Businesses in Edinburgh are on course to save more than £8m on their energy bills with the support of a Scottish Government-funded programme.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been taking advantage of a free service run by Zero Waste Scotland to discover ways they can cut their energy use and reduce carbon emissions.

Marissa Lippiatt, head of resource efficiency at Zero Waste Scotland, said: “It is pleasing to see so many businesses in Edinburgh deciding to take action to reduce their energy use.

“Not only does this add profit directly to their bottom line, but it also goes a long way to helping Scotland meet its target to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2045.”

Since the start of 2016, the impartial advice given to companies in Edinburgh has identified £21m of potential energy savings through things like heating, lighting and building upgrades.

To help SMEs finance the recommendations the Scottish Government currently provides interest-free loans and cashback grants.

“The actions taken by Edinburgh SMEs to implement our recommendations will reduce their collective carbon output by 22,000 tonnes. That’s equivalent to the emissions from 78 million car miles.”

Throughout Scotland, companies are on course to make close to £207m of lifetime energy savings with the Highland Council area leading the way with £18m.

More than 720,000 tonnes of carbon emissions can be cut from the atmosphere nationally because of the changes recommended. This would equate to the emissions created from more than two billion car miles, or 102,400 journeys around the world.

Marissa (above) said: “We have an increasing number of businesses coming to us for support and advice which demonstrates the growing awareness of the climate emergency and how we can all take steps to make changes.”

Zero Waste Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Business Support Service provides free, independent advice to SMEs, guiding them to introduce more energy efficient technology. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and the European Regional Development Fund.

Businesses can apply for an interest-free Scottish Government SME Loan of £1,000 to £100,000 with a maximum cashback grant of £20,000 for eligible measures.

To find out more, or to apply, visit www.energy.zerowastescotland.org.uk.

Alternatively, contact our advisors directly by calling 0808 808 2268 or emailing EnergyEfficiency@zerowastescotland.org.uk