Uncategorized – Page 33 – The NEN

Edinburgh International Book Festival announces James Crawford as new Chair of Board of Directors

The Edinburgh International Book Festival today announces celebrated writer, broadcaster, and publisher James Crawford as the Festival’s new Chair of the Board of Directors.

The author of ten books including The Edge of the Plain: How Borders Make and Break Our World, which investigates the shifting geopolitics of a world beset by climate change, James joins a number of new faces on the board as the Festival enters a new era under director Jenny Niven and in its new home at Edinburgh Futures Institute.

Bringing a nuanced understanding on topics ranging from law, history and technology, to globalisation and mass migration, James brings practical expertise on both the media and publishing landscapes thanks to his current roles as Editor-at-Large for the celebrated independent Scottish publisher Birlinn/Polygon, and as writer and presenter of landmark BBC One series Scotland from the Sky; and from previous experience, including asChair of the Board at industry body Publishing Scotland.

James joins recent Board appointees, disability advocate Tomas Gerrard, award-winning writer Yassmin Abdel-Magied, fundraising and sponsorship expert Hannah Hyde, and Anna Frame, Communications Director at publishing house Canongate, all of whom have been elected to the Board in the past 12 months.

James will take up his role in September after the current chair, Alan Little, steps down at the end of this year’s Festival.

James Crawford, incoming Chair of the Edinburgh International Book Festival Board of Directors said: “I was just seventeen when I first travelled to Edinburgh to visit the Book Festival, and I have been coming back ever since – first as an audience member, then as a publisher and author.

“The strength of the Festival has always been the melting pot of ideas, discourse, argument, imagination and inspiration that it offers. It is embarking on a new chapter now – with a new director and a new home – and it is a privilege to support Jenny and her team as they shape their vision for the Festival’s future.

“While challenges lie ahead, the importance of book festivals – both what they are and what they represent – should never be underestimated.”

Jenny Niven, Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: “We are delighted to welcome James as Chair of the Board.

“As well as being a highly experienced writer, editor, broadcaster and chairperson, Jamie is hugely respected in literature and publishing, and understands the festival and the wider sector from a range of perspectives.

“He’s extremely well placed to help us achieve our goals to make the Book Festival as widely relevant as possible, to create opportunities for writers and the creative community and to champion good information and the exchange of ideas.

“Myself, the Board, and the wider Festival team are looking forward enormously to the energy he’ll bring as we open a new chapter for the Book Festival, and to working with James in the years to come.”

Jenny took up the role of Director in September 2023, taking over from Nick Barley who had been in post since 2010. A leading cultural producer and director, she has worked in literature for 20 years.

Founder and Director of the award-winning Push the Boat Out, a festival of poetry, spoken word and language she was also formerly Executive Producer of Dandelion 2022, of the Edinburgh International Culture Summit, and was Head of Literature at Creative Scotland from 2014-2018. She has extensive international experience; Jenny co-founded Beijing’s first Book Festival, and was Associate Director at the Wheeler Centre for Books Writing and Ideas in Melbourne.

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The 2024 Edinburgh International Book Festival runs from 10 – 25 August, and takes place for the first time at the new Edinburgh Futures Institute on Lauriston Place.

For more information on Edinburgh International Book Festival visit: https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/

‘Raw and honest’ investigation ordered into state of our NHS

Professor Lord Darzi appointed to establish the state of the nation’s health service

Report will provide ‘raw and honest assessment’ of issues facing health service
Work will be led by Rt Hon Professor Lord Darzi, OM, KBE, a lifelong surgeon and innovator, independent peer and former health minister
Findings will feed into government’s 10-year plan to radically reform the nation’s health service

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, has ordered a full and independent investigation into the state of the NHS, to uncover the extent of the issues facing the nation’s health service.

Mr Streeting says he wants a ‘raw and honest’ assessment that will deliver ‘the hard truths’. He has appointed Professor Lord Darzi, a lifelong surgeon and innovator, independent peer and former health minister, to lead the rapid assessment, which will be delivered in September.

Its findings will provide the basis for the government’s 10-year plan to radically reform the NHS and build a health service that is fit for the future.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: “Anyone who works in or uses the NHS can see it is broken. This government will be honest about the challenges facing the health service, and serious about tackling them.

“This investigation will uncover hard truths and I’ve asked for nothing to be held back. I trust Lord Darzi will leave no stone unturned and have told him to speak truth to power.

“I want a raw and frank assessment of the state of the NHS. This is the necessary first step on the road to recovery for our National Health Service, so it can be there for us when we need it, once again.”

Professor Lord Darzi said: “As every clinician and every patient knows, the first step to addressing any health problem is a proper diagnosis.

“My work will analyse the evidence to understand where we are today – and how we got to here – so that the health service can move forward.

“This is an important step to re-establishing quality of care as the organising principle of the NHS.”

Amanda Pritchard, NHS Chief Executive, said: “Frontline NHS staff are doing an incredible job, despite the huge pressures they face, to deliver care to over a million people every day, but we know that they face huge struggles and patients are not always getting the timely, high quality care they need.

“We will work closely with the government, independent experts and NHS staff to take a detailed look at the scale of the challenges and set out plans to address them – this comprehensive analysis will be an important step in helping us to build an NHS fit for the future.”

The Health and Social Care Secretary’s promise to fix the broken NHS was backed by action last week when he met with key figures across the health service.

This included meetings with junior doctors to discuss ending the strikes, and talks with the British Dental Association about rebuilding NHS dentistry.

He also visited a GP surgery in north London to see first-hand how the practice is delivering a patient-led service providing continuity of care – a key pillar of the government’s ambition to improve primary care.

Mr Streeting also set out his wider commitment to support the government’s growth mission by improving the health of the nation.

The aims are based on 3 key steps:

cutting waiting times to get people back to work
making the UK a life sciences and medical technology superpower
creating training and job opportunities through the NHS to deliver growth up and down the country.

Safety checklist when driving with kids this summer

Parents heading on road trips with their kids during summer holidays are being urged to take extra precautions on the road to help keep everyone safe and avoid fines.

Motoring experts from Quotezone.co.uk are reminding parents of common driving issues when travelling with children.

A person and person standing next to a carDescription automatically generated

Photo credit: Pexels.com

As families prepare for summer holidays, the team at Quotezone have compiled a safety checklist to help parents setting off on road trips

Some of the most common safety issues involve not using the car seat correctly and not fitting it securely.

It’s important to make sure to use an appropriate car seat or seat belt for the child’s age, height, and weight, while also ensuring it is properly installed and compatible with the vehicle – parents could be hit with a fine of up to £500 and points on their licence if the requirements aren’t up to scratch.

Before heading on a road trip it’s also crucial to make the call on whether or not drivers are too tired – driving in a tired state can hamper drivers’ abilities to concentrate, react and navigate the roads.

If too tired, drivers need to seek out alternative transport, invite other drivers or delay the trip.

Other common issues include leaving loose items in the car, multitasking behind the wheel and forgetting to turn on the child lock.

Quotezone.co.uk car and travel insurance expert Catherine Boyd said: “The summer holidays can be a particularly stressful time for parents, heading off on holidays, juggling childcare and trying to keep children entertained with various road trips.

“Our list of safety tips will hopefully act as a helpful reminder of key checks that need done within the car before setting off on the next adventure.

“Children can also grow a lot over the holidays so it’s important to double check the safety measures in the car are still appropriate for the child’s age, weight and height – cleaning and refitting them regularly to make sure they are working properly.

“Quite a dangerous example, which maybe isn’t as commonly known, is the effect of keeping loose items in the body of the car itself. During a sudden manoeuvre or incident on the road, these items can become projectiles, injuring passengers, so keeping bottles of water or electronic devices stored safely in specific holders will help reduce the risk of issues.”

Here are Quotezone.co.uk’s top safety tips when driving with children:

Car seat double check

The Highway Code states that children need to be in car seats until they reach the age of 12 or are at least 135 centimetres tall. For babies younger than 15 months, it’s essential to place them in a rear-facing car seat, as this is the safest position for them. It’s important to carefully follow the manufacturer’s manual for installation or seek professional assistance, and carry out regular checks to make sure the seat is not loose.

Driving when tired

Fatigue significantly slows reaction times and impairs judgement, which makes it very dangerous to get behind the wheel if you haven’t had enough rest. It’s a difficult but important decision to make if you’re too tired to drive – opting instead for public transport or inviting other drivers on the trip.

Loose items

Whether it’s toys, water bottles, tablets or phones, loose items should be secured in the car to prevent serious injuries in the event of a sudden stop or collision – loose items can increase their weight by up to forty times at just 30mph. Make sure to store loose items in specialist holders or use the boot or glovebox compartments, place phones in a mount and use drink holders for any beverages.

Phones

It’s illegal to hold and use a phone while driving, if you need to make calls you need the appropriate hands-free equipment. If not needed it’s sensible to store your phone in the boot to avoid temptation.

Child locks

It is important to always activate the child lock when driving with children in the car, children love to press buttons and might accidentally open the car door while the vehicle is moving, it also gives the driver time to open the door when it is safe to do so, avoiding issues when parking on busy roads or car parks. Failing to activate the child lock can be considered careless driving and may lead to fines and points on your driver’s licence.

Multitasking

Children’s behaviour in the car can sometimes be demanding, it’s important to try and remain calm and wait for a safe spot to pull over and address the children’s needs or any issues.

Dundas rescues housing development in Shawfair

DEVELOPER STEPS IN TO COMPLETE SITE ‘IN LIMBO’

A residential development in Shawfair, south of Edinburgh has been rescued from collapsed developer, Stewart Milne to be successfully delivered by independent property developer, Dundas Estates.

Dundas has recently completed the purchase of a site on the well-established Shawfair development six miles south of the city, which boasts excellent road and rail links into the heart of the capital, as well accessibility to the airport and nearby motorway network.

Construction will shortly commence to build 59 homes, the properties will consist of a mix of 3 to 6 bed homes. By stepping into the project, Dundas has committed to delivering high-spec homes that exceed industry standards – with the aim of delivering the first homes by late autumn 2024.

As a new neighbourhood on the edge of the city, Shawfair offers a mix of local retail and community health facilities, as well as 3km of cycle paths that easily connect homeowners to the train station, schools and Park & Ride.

Craig Fairfoull, Sales & Marketing Director at Dundas, said: “We appreciate there may have been unexpected challenges and uncertainties faced by prospective homeowners engaged with the previous developer.

“However, our primary goal is to make the transition as smooth as possible, and we urge those who had reservations with Stewart Milne for one of these plots to contact us immediately.

“We aim to deliver these much-needed homes in the coming months, allowing prospective buyers to finally move into the homes they have been looking forward to.”

The development will see Dundas complete various house types that remain similar in style and specification to the previous developer, including terraced, semi and larger detached homes.

Dundas was supported through the acquisition of the site by solicitors Anderson Strathern.

Dundas Estates are an award-winning and independent Scottish homebuilder, prides itself on crafting homes that enhance the well-being of its valued customers. It emphasises creating inclusive communities and strives to simplify, enrich, and add enjoyment to the home-buying experience.

Dundas is asking potential buyers who may have reserved a plot with the previous developer to contact them at sales@dundas.co.uk to speak to a member of the sales team to discuss options further.

28,043 butterflies spotted in Scotland last summer: can we beat that in 2024?

Butterfly Conservation issues rallying cry to people of Scotland

Last summer, citizen scientists in Scotland spotted 28,043 butterflies and day-flying moths during the Big Butterfly Count. Today, wildlife conservation charity, Butterfly Conservation, is issuing a rallying cry to people in the region to help beat that this year.

In 2023, people across Scotland did 5,087 Big Butterfly Counts, with Small White taking the top spot for species sightings. Scientists are hoping even more people will take part to help find out what’s happening with the region’s butterflies before the Count ends on Sunday 4 August.

It’s more important than ever that people take part this year. After analysing 50 years of data, researchers have discovered a clear northward spread for many species, including common garden favourites the Peacock, Comma and Holly Blue, the result of climate change creating warmer habitats for them to survive in.

Butterflies are indicators of the health of our natural environment – and with half of Britain’s butterfly species already threatened or near threatened with extinction, it’s never been more important to understand how these species are responding to the changing climate and to take action to protect them.

Dr Zoë Randle, Senior Surveys Officer at Butterfly Conservation explains: ‘We really need people across Scotland to get out for the Count to help us understand the impact of climate change on our most-loved butterflies.

“We’re relying on everyone, everywhere to spend just 15 minutes outdoors and let us know what they see. With species on the move, someone in Scotland might even be the first to spot a new species in their area!”

Whether done with friends and family, or in a moment of quiet calm and solitude, Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count is free, fun and takes just 15 minutes in a sunny spot. It is open to anyone, of any age, in any part of the UK – towns, cities or the countryside. No green space is too small – a back garden, a small terrace or balcony with some pot plants, a public park, allotment or country lane are all important spaces to explore, track and report.

Last year more than 135,000 Counts took place up and down the country, with participants spending a combined four years counting butterflies in their gardens, local parks, urban community spaces, balconies, courtyards and in the countryside. The information gathered helps to inform conservation projects, government policies and supports other experts with their research and vital work to protect our planet.

This year’s Big Butterfly Count is already underway, running from Friday 12 July – Sunday 4 August.

For more information and to take part simply visit www.bigbutterflycount.org or download the free Big Butterfly Count app.

Man arrested following 2023 road fatality

A man has been arrested following a fatal road crash in Edinburgh in 2023.

The incident occurred in Stevenson Drive in the Balgreen area of the city around 3.30pm on Saturday, 26 August, 2023. A 70-year-old female pedestrian died in the incident.

A 24-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with road traffic offences. He was due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday, 18 July, 2024.

DFN celebrates decade of improving disability employment in Edinburgh

The DFN Charitable Foundation (DFN Foundation) is celebrating 10 years of tackling complex societal problems and delivering transformative outcomes for unheard voices in the UK and further afield.

The DFN Foundation was set up in 2014 by David Forbes-Nixon OBE with a focus on working across four key pillars: education, employability, healthcare and wildlife conservation.

Over the past decade, DFN Foundation has achieved incredible results in all these areas including setting up a school for pupils with special educational needs at Undershaw and establishing an employability charity, DFN Project SEARCH, which helps get young people with a learning disability and/or autism into jobs.

Further work across the pillars has seen the UK charity supporting a Myeloma Research Programme improving survival rates in myeloma patients with high-risk myeloma and ensuring the survival of the British butterfly, through its work with the Big Butterfly Count.

Founder and Chairman, David Forbes-Nixon said: “I was inspired to set up the DFN Foundation, to honour two of my personal heroes: my son Charlie who has learning and physical disabilities; and my mother who died of multiple myeloma. Over the past decade, our work has strived to create a better world in their legacy and for generations to come.”

The DFN Foundation has achieved a milestone of 10 years’ operating as an industry leading Strategic Commissioning Charity, partnering with the best-in-class charities or setting up its own to deliver the best results for some of the most pressing challenges facing society.

Founded in 2014, the DFN Foundation has strived to make a difference by bringing together the right talent, operating with a business mindset, and staying laser focused on specific goals.

The DFN Foundation was initially focused on improving Disability Employment, Special Needs Education and Healthcare, with these issues all affecting Founder and Chairman, David Forbes-Nixon on a personal level.

David said: “At the start, I wanted the DFN Foundation to focus on the two main causes that I was passionate about: supporting education and employment opportunities for young disabled people; and finding a cure for multiple myeloma.

“However, as we grew, we broadened our scope and we looked to take on some of the most pressing social challenges that often struggle to attract mainstream support because they are viewed as risky, difficult or simply impossible.

“In order to achieve this, I assembled a high-quality board of trustees for the DFN Foundation and we agreed to focus on education, employment, healthcare and wildlife conservation alongside establishing four main goals for the first 10 years. “

Highlights for the DFN Foundation over the past decade include establishing a world class special needs school at Undershaw, and positively influencing best practice around disability employment through a separate employability charity, DFN Project SEARCH.

DFN Project SEARCH was founded in 2018 by David Forbes-Nixon to ensure that young people with special educational needs and learning disabilities receive high quality work-related learning and improved access to long-term paid employment.

70% of DFN Project SEARCH graduates achieve jobs, and 60% achieve full-time permanent roles, compared to the national average of 4.8% of people with a learning disability who are known to local authorities. Moreover, DFN Project SEARCH has got 2,200 young adults with a learning disability and/or autism into jobs so far.

DFN Foundation’s work in healthcare has looked to improve survival rates of myeloma and advance cures through strategic funding of high-quality research which will benefit patients to live longer lives.

As part of this funding, clinical trials of Optimum MUK9 saw 75% of the sample group in the trials still in remission 36 months after starting treatment: this makes it the most successful privately funded UK myeloma clinical trials ever.

The DFN Foundation’s effort to improve wildlife conservation have seen it look to ensure the survival of the British butterfly, through increasing awareness and sponsoring the Big Butterfly Count, a UK-wide citizen science survey.

David said: “On our tenth anniversary year, I think it is important that we take stock and look back on all the incredible achievements that we have had as a Foundation but also look forward to the next stage in our growth.

“As part of this, we want to continue to support Undershaw so it becomes a world class special needs school rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted across all categories and commit additional financial support to DFN Project SEARCH to help get 20,000 young disabled people into jobs by 2034.

“We also want to support securing a route to market for OPTIMUM (MUKnine) clinical trials so that as many myeloma patients as possible can benefit from this pioneering set of drug therapies and share results globally through publications and presentations by Dr Kaiser.

“The DFN Foundation will continue our work in partnership with The Pangolin Project to ensure survival of the Giant Ground Pangolin in the Nyekweri Ecosystem in Kenya.

“Finally, we want to make sure that the DFN Foundation has a lasting impact and as part of our policy work we will launch the DFN Scholars programme and continue to work with Disability Employment Charter and the Centre of Social Justice and lobby policymakers in Parliament with a goal of reducing the disability employment gap.”

Music legend Lulu reveals she has moderate hearing loss as a result of 60 years of live performances

New poll finds nearly a quarter of gig goers in Scotland think loud music has damaged their hearing

The revelation comes just weeks after the showbiz icon, who is in her seventh decade of performing, appeared at Glastonbury Festival and announced the second part of her farewell tour.
Specsavers has partnered with the music legend, alongside DJ and tinnitus sufferer Woody Cook and the Night Time Industries Association, to encourage people to safeguard their hearing.

British legend Lulu has revealed she is living with moderate hearing loss – after a hearing check at Specsavers revealed the impact that 60 years in the music industry has had on her hearing.

The news that her career has damaged her hearing comes just weeks after the Scottish singing sensation – who is on her seventh decade of performing her debut single ‘Shout’ – wowed crowds at Glastonbury and announced dates in November as part of her farewell ‘Champagne for Lulu’ tour.

The music icon is now calling on music lovers to take steps to protect their own hearing, as a new poll reveals 23% of gig goers in Scotland think loud music has damaged their hearing.

The study, commissioned by Specsavers of 900 adults who attend concerts and festivals, found that, in Scotland, 40% have noticed a negative impact on their hearing immediately after a gig – with 47% experiencing ringing in their ears, 33% buzzing and 35% a muffled sensation. Just over a quarter (26%) said they had suffered temporary hearing loss, while just under a quarter, (21%) experienced pain in their ears.

Despite this, over half (55%) of those in Scotland planning to attend a live music event this summer are unlikely to wear hearing protection. Of these, 48% said they avoid it because they wouldn’t be able to enjoy the experience as much, and over a quarter (33%) thought it would alter the quality of the music, which is not the case.

Lulu said: ‘After being on stage nearly all of my life, I have always noticed ringing and muffled sounds, but never really thought much of it.

‘Music has always been a cornerstone of everything I do, so it’s incredibly important that I can still enjoy it. Wearing hearing aids will mean I can continue to hear every note.

‘But it’s more than just this – connecting with people is a huge part of my life and I want to be able to join the conversation and not be left out of it. The good news is it’s not too late for me to preserve the rest of my hearing.

‘Using hearing protection is such a simple and easy thing to do when around live music and I urge others to wear it.

‘Music is still my life, and I plan to carry on enjoying it for many years to come.’

The average volume at a live music event is between 115 and 120 decibels (dB) – which could damage hearing if exposed to it for long enough without hearing protection. The survey found a quarter (74%) of people in Scotland didn’t know that the average volume was that high.

Romaan Babar, audiologist at Specsavers, said: ‘With festival season well underway, it is crucial music lovers protect their hearing. Repeated exposure to high decibel levels at gigs and festivals has the potential to lead to permanent damage, such as sound-induced hearing loss and tinnitus.

‘In fact, hearing damage can start at around 85 dB if you are exposed to it for eight hours plus – such as at a festival – if you don’t wear ear plugs. Each additional 3 dB of volume cuts that exposure time in half, so by the time the volume reaches 100 dB, which is still less than the average gig, it could only take 15 minutes for your hearing to be damaged – which is quite scary.’

Specsavers has partnered with Lulu, DJ Woody Cook, who has tinnitus, and the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) to promote the need to wear hearing protection to live music lovers and people who work in the sector.

Woody says he wishes he’d taken steps to protect his hearing earlier. He says: ‘Without doubt, the tinnitus I suffer with today is a result of listening to loud music. Sometimes it makes me feel like I have a continual electric buzz or high-pitched noise in my head which makes me feel really disorientated.

‘I love music – and obviously, I work as a DJ – so my tinnitus has a massive impact on my personal and professional life. I wish I had known about the risks earlier. I’m now taking steps to protect my hearing from any further damage and recommend others to do the same.’

In another survey, among those working in venues with loud music in 91% have experienced a negative impact on their hearing, with reporting tinnitus (36%) or hearing loss (36%). 29%) rarely or never wear hearing protection at work – with a quarter (25%) saying that’s because their employer has not provided them with it.

The NTIA, which represents the UK’s clubs, bars and pubs, launched the Listen for Life campaign last October to raise awareness of the importance of hearing protection. It has partnered with Specsavers as part of a new industry report ‘It’s time to talk about hearing’ to launch a new Night Time Economy Charter, which will help businesses to better look after the hearing health of colleagues and customers.

Mike Kill, CEO of the NTIA, says it’s worrying how common hearing loss and tinnitus are for those working in the night time industries. He added: ‘We want those who enjoy going to festivals, gigs, pubs, bars and clubs to be able to enjoy them without damaging their hearing – and for those who work in loud environments to be given the knowledge and tools to take care of themselves.

“This charter can play a massive part in doing that.’

Romaan Babar adds: ‘What might start as a minor annoyance after a gig can lead to long-term consequences.

“It’s never too late to start protecting your ears. Wearing ear plugs, not standing too close to speakers, and taking breaks from loud environments can all help preserve your hearing.’

You can read about more about hearing protection in the ‘It’s time to talk about hearing’ report here: www.specsavers.co.uk/reports/hearing-health-2024, and more about ‘Listen for life’ and the NTIAs 10-point charter for businesses here: https://ntia.co.uk/listen-for-life-campaign/

Find out more about hearing protection at Specsavers at specsavers.co.uk/hearing.

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Man jailed for violent and sexual offences in Paisley and Edinburgh

A man has been jailed for seven years for violent and sexual offences on two women in the Paisley and Edinburgh areas.

Charles Morrison, 27, was found guilty of the offences spanning four years at the High Court in Paisley on Wednesday, 12 June, 2024. He was sentenced to seven years in prison at the same court today, Thursday, 11 July.

He was also given a 15-year Non-Harassment Order in relation to both victims and has been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Detective Inspector Cheryl Gebbie said: “Morrison has been found to be a danger to women and will now face the consequences of his actions.

“I hope his conviction and sentencing will bring justice to the women involved, who have shown great strength in reporting what happened to them.

“Police Scotland is committed to tackling all forms of violent and sexual offences, regardless of when they happened. I’d urge anyone who has been a victim of such abuse to come forward and report it to us. We will thoroughly investigate any reports and, working with our partner agencies, you will be supported throughout the process.”

Edinburgh patient forced to go private following year-long wait

Edinburgh resident John Rowan (68) has had to go private for hearing aids after waiting over a year for his regular hearing aid check, despite the Scottish Government setting a waiting time target of 18 weeks.

Mr Rowan’s hearing loss originated from contracting measles as a child and the legacy of contracting measles is now affecting his hearing in later life.

Despite being retired, Mr Rowan is heavily involved in the charity sector and until recently, sat on the board of a Scottish-wide charity and he volunteers with several others.

In May 2023, Mr Rowan self-referred himself for a new hearing test and was added to the waiting list. Despite assurances his appointment would be in May 2024, he was not invited to an appointment.

The further deterioration in his hearing has left him struggling to hear basic conversations.

Due to this, Mr Rowan took the decision to go private to receive hearing aids.

Labour MSP for Lothian, Sarah Boyack, has been pursuing this issue on Mr Rowan’s behalf.

However, the NHS confirmed to Ms Boyack in May 2024, that due to pressure there was no confirmation for when Mr Rowan would receive his appointment.

Only after Mr Rowan had paid out of pocket for his hearing aids did the NHS get back in touch to confirm an appointment for August 2024.

Mr Rowan said: “My hearing test was due in May, however, unfortunately it was pushed back with no date given to me for when I might be tested.

“Due to the ongoing delay, I had to resort to going private to ensure I got the hearing aids I desperately needed.

“My loss of hearing affects me in day-to-day life, as I struggle to listen to conversations which I need to hear in the roles that I do with the voluntary sector.

“I am incredibly concerned if more is not done to tackle these waiting times then my hearing will only deteriorate further.”

Sarah Boyack MSP added: “Mr Rowan’s case illustrates the dire state that the Scottish Government have left NHS Lothian in.

“These delays and missed targets dramatically affect patients’ lives.

“It is unacceptable that Mr Rowan is facing further deterioration of his hearing due to delays.

“The Scottish Government must address the crisis in NHS Lothian as an immediate priority.

“No one should be having to pay out of pocket simply to be able to hear conversations with friends and family.

“If they don’t I fear cases such as Mr Rowan’s will only become more common.”