Wet Wet Wet star Marti Pellow put on a special performance for patients and staff at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre.
The singer has re-released the band’s hit single Love Is All Around as part of a campaign with ITV’s Lorraine Kelly to raise awareness of breast cancer symptoms and to encourage early detection.
He visited the Beatson this morning, performing in the Beatson Cancer Charity Café on NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Gartnavel campus.
Marti also met patients who are undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the Centre’s Radiotherapy Department and Macmillan Day Bed Unit, as well as staff members who support them.
During his performance, he was joined by former Beatson patient, Mairi Milne, 55, from Bridge of Weir, who sings on the track as part of a choir of women who discovered they had breast cancer after watching Lorraine’s chat show.
And he was given a signed copy of a book by former patient Gillian Shirreffs, 54, from the west end of Glasgow, which was written before her breast cancer diagnosis in August 2021. The proceeds of Gillian’s book, Brodie, will go to the Beatson Cancer Charity as her way of giving back for the care she received.
Marti said: “This is a very special place with such a big catchment area for the whole of the west of Scotland for people receiving treatment.
“Since I’ve come in the door I’ve been met with so many smiles and hugs.
“It’s quite poignant for me too because my father was given his diagnosis here and I’ve always driven by and when I look at it it makes me think of my father.
“If there’s anything there that’s not your normal, go and get it checked. There’s a good chance there’s nothing wrong with you but it’s important to be aware and get checked if there are changes.
“The beautiful thing about this is that we are giving the message through the gift of song, and that’s what makes it special and so powerful.”
Lorraine’s Change+Check campaign is now in its sixth year. It encourages women to check their breasts for changes and stresses the importance of seeing a GP if they notice anything unusual.
Last year’s campaign single with Joss Stone, Golden, reached number one in the charts.
Love Is All Around, which was originally released almost 30 years ago, is out now, with proceeds going to Breast Cancer Awareness UK.
Cathy Hutchison, NHSGGC Cancer Consultant Nurse at the Beatson, said: “We were delighted to welcome Marti to the Beatson today, where patients and staff were able to meet him and enjoy a special performance.
“Having someone of his profile highlight the importance of routine checks and screening for breast cancer is invaluable.
“We’re grateful to Marti for coming along and helping to raise awareness of the work we do here at the Beatson.”
The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Adults with Incapacity Amendment Act (the AWI Amendment Act) consultation.
We consider this a valuable opportunity to comment on the proposals and the importance of reform to mental health legislation. It is positive that the proposals align with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and incorporate some of the recommendations of the Scottish Mental Health Law Review (SMHLR).
However, whilst we acknowledge the fact that the Scottish Government have stated that this is an initial step towards longer term and larger changes in the law, we do not think that the proposed amendments go far enough to truly introduce positive change for people subject to the Act.
The ALLIANCE have concerns about the amendments approach being taken. Instead, we recommend that the Scottish Government legislate for a rights based system of supported decision making that will replace guardianship and which is in line with the UNCRPD.
We do not believe that the proposed new principles can be fully realised without a new supported decision-making framework that is robustly resourced, implemented and independently scrutinised to support them.
Gas distribution network SGN is continuing its gas network upgrade project in the Lanark Road and Craiglockhart areas of Edinburgh.
Engineers are replacing old metal gas mains and services with new plastic pipes. This essential work will ensure homes and businesses in the local area continue to receive a safe and reliable gas supply.
From tomorrow (Monday 21 October), SGN will begin its second phase of the project by installing temporary three way traffic lights at Lanark Road’s junction with Craiglockhart Avenue. The lights will be manually controlled during peak times to help traffic flow.
This phase is expected to last approximately three weeks and cause significant disruption to traffic. Motorists are advised to plan ahead and allow more time for journeys, especially during peak travel times.
SGN Project Manager Craig Brown said: “This particular location has experienced multiple gas leaks in recent years and by upgrading our pipes now, we can prevent future emergency work which will lead to more disruption overall.
“We’d like to thank local residents, businesses and motorists for your ongoing patience and support during this critical work.”
Chief Constable Jo Farrell congratulated 250 new officers as they marked the end of their training in front of family and loved ones.
Police Scotland’s newest cohort of officers took part in their passing out parade at our headquarters, Tulliallan, today, Friday, 18 October 2024 and now are ready to report for duty in communities across Scotland.
The course was the first to trial non-residential training to enable officers with caring demands and responsibilities to return home each day.
The opportunity to complete the majority of training in a non-residential setting can provide real benefit for those who would otherwise have been unable to consider a role in policing. The trial will be evaluated for future consideration.
Chief Constable Farrell thanked the officers for stepping forward in their commitment to public service. She said: “Policing is a hugely rewarding and demanding vocation, and I congratulate our latest cohort of officers for successfully completing their training.
“I want to thank these officers for making a commitment to public service and for stepping up to help keep Scotland’s communities safe.
“They are now ready to deploy to our communities to discharge their duties in line with Police Scotland’s values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to uphold human rights.
“I thank them for their dedication to deliver an excellent service to the public.”
The recruits passing out comprised of 170 male officers and 80 female officers.
If you are interested in a career with Police Scotland, please visit the recruitment section of our website.
Our Kids Crafts and Games group for ages 3-12 starts it’s new block on the 25th of October!
Taking place every Friday 2-3pm for until the 29th November, with plenty of games and a weekly craft activity. Just £1 a week – to register, email Alison on community@ccchub.online.
The Second Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries started in September 2022. In early 2023 and again in April/May 2024 we consulted on proposals for constituency boundaries and names.
We are now consulting on Provisional Proposals for region boundaries and names.
The rules that govern Scottish Parliament region design are
a constituency must fall wholly within a region.
the electorate of a region must be as near the regional electorate of each of the other regions as is practicable, having regard (where appropriate) to special geographical considerations.
Why is this happening? Boundaries Scotland undertakes reviews of Scottish Parliament boundaries every 8-12 years to ensure each region or constituency has an equal number of electors.
What Boundaries Scotland says
We now want to hear the views of the public on our proposals, we will reflect on responses to the consultation and make changes where appropriate and where the legislation allows us to do so. We strongly encourage people to make their views heard.
Warning from the self-catering sector that a punishing regulatory framework will simply cost jobs and do nothing to resolve Edinburgh’s housing crisis
A new independent analysis shows short-term lets make a substantial economic impact in Edinburgh while only making up a tiny percentage of the total number of properties in the city.
BiGGAR Economics, a respected Edinburgh-based consultancy, calculated that the city’s short-term let sector generated £154m in GVA and supported 5,580 jobs in 2023, with guests spending more on local goods and services than the average visitor, particularly in hospitality, tourism and retail sectors.
Jointly commissioned by Justice for Scotland’s Self-Catering and STL Solutions, BiGGAR’s report lays out the economic and fiscal impacts of STLs in Edinburgh, its wider sectoral impact supporting business and tourism activity, and also assesses its effect on housing supply.
The report concludes that the share of secondary lets – properties entirety rented out entirely to guests rather than owner occupied – account for just 0.8% of dwellings in Edinburgh. Moreover, the number of long-term empty properties continues to rise, including in the period after licencing was introduced, with the city remaining a hotspot for empty housing.
The study comes as Edinburgh Council consult on their licensing scheme and the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee will shortly take oral evidence from stakeholders on the Scottish Government’s STL implementation update report.
The key headlines include:
The self-catering sector is estimated to generate £154m GVA and supports 5,580 jobs.
A decrease in just 0.5% in the number of secondary let properties would have massive ramifications for the local economy, losing £57m in economic activity.
Empty properties far exceed the number of short-term lets in the city, with secondary lets making up just 0.8% of dwellings in Edinburgh compared to 4% for empty homes.
While it focuses on Edinburgh, the report will undoubtedly be of interest to other local authorities monitoring the impact of their short-term let regulations.
The findings have been shared with Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Government. The self-catering industry is committed to evidence-based policymaking, ensuring that robust and reliable data underpins public policy affecting the self-catering industry and wider tourism sector.
The industry continues to argue that the Scottish Government’s short-term let regulations have produced unintended consequences for the sector while failing to meet its underlying policy objectives, and Edinburgh’s approach in particular has been beset by three legal setbacks, most recently with the Council’s u-turn on issuing three-month suspensions on licensing applications.
Graeme Blackett, Director of BiGGAR Economics, said:“This independent research has found that the economic impacts of short-term lets will tend to be greater than residential use.
“This is a result of guest spending in the local economy, for example in the hospitality sector. The guest spending supports jobs in the Edinburgh economy, as well as sustaining a greater range of hospitality and other local businesses than would otherwise be the case, contributing to the quality of life for residents.
“The short-term lets sector is contributing at least £154 million to the Edinburgh economy each year. Our research also found that short-term let properties account for only 1.5% of Edinburgh’s housing stock, with secondary lets at only 0.8%, too low a proportion to have a meaningful impact on the local housing market.”
Fiona Campbell, CEO of the ASSC, said: “This major research study verifies that secondary lets are a huge economic driver for the capital, supporting over 5,500 jobs, and providing a much-needed boost to other local tourism and hospitality businesses.
“It outlines a proper holistic assessment of Edinburgh’s unique housing market, showing that secondary lets only account for 0.8% of housing stock. For us, the message is clear: you can’t solve a housing crisis by producing a crisis in Scottish tourism by decimating local businesses.
“Instead, we’ve got to build our way out and tackle the increasing problem of empty homes. We sincerely hope that this independent study can help refocus the policy agenda and inform the ongoing regulatory discussions.”
Iain Muirhead, Co-Founder of STL Solutions, said:“Short-term lets play a crucial role not only in supporting Edinburgh’s thriving tourism industry, which benefits all residents, but also in accommodating hundreds of visitors each year who come for economically important purposes such as work, festivals, and the education sector.
“We hope that local councillors will take this report into consideration when shaping local policies, especially planning regulations, to ensure a balanced approach is achieved. As the report indicates, overly restrictive measures could lead to the emergence of a black market, undermining the objectives of a well-regulated licensing scheme.”
Ralph Averbuch, Spokesman for JfSCC, said: “This report clearly demonstrates that full time Scottish Self-Catering operators have never been the issue. Yet we have been hounded as if killing off this vital part of Scotland’s tourism offering would be a magic cure for decades of government missteps.
“Politicians of all colours felt we were useful scapegoats but this economic analysis pinpoints that the problem is population growth and insufficient affordable house building. This problem will never be resolved by attacking a group which makes up less than 1% of Edinburgh housing.
“What’s needed is bold government action on housebuilding. Politicians have pretended that a crackdown on Scotland’s self-caterers is bold. It’s not. It’s been a master class in misdirection.”
A university project, which is raising awareness of the shocking rise of osteoporosis in adults across the UK, is to provide specialist education for care home workers and community champions.
On World Osteoporosis Day (20th October ‘24) Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh announced that it is expanding its vital work to ensure osteoporosis is viewed as a public health priority.
The University team will be encouraging staff from care homes, and people living with the condition, to become better educated about the common bone disease which affects over 3 million people in the UK.
Osteoporosis is a common bone disease that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break. Developing slowly over several years, it’s often only diagnosed when a fall or sudden impact causes a bone to fracture.
Affecting over 250,000 in Scotland and accounting for around 527,000 fractures per year in the UK, QMU’s Lydia Osteoporosis Project is passionate about raising awareness to help halt the rising numbers of people affected by the condition.
Although it is frequently perceived as a condition primarily affecting postmenopausal women (affecting 1 in 2 women over 50), evidence indicates that osteoporosis affects approximately 1 in 5 men over the age of 50.
Given its often ‘silent’ progression until fractures occur, it frequently evades diagnosis until it reaches an advanced stage.
Dr Karen Matthews, who leads the Lydia Osteoporosis Project at QMU, explained: “Osteoporosis silently undermines bone strength over time. Often, it remains undetected until a simple fall or sudden impact results in a debilitating fracture.
“Typically, individuals with osteoporosis experience fractures in their wrists, hips, or spinal bones. It can even lead to a broken rib or partial spinal bone collapse triggered by a mere cough or sneeze.
“Older people can develop the characteristic stooped posture as their spinal bones weaken and are unable to bear their body weight.”
Due to our increasing aging population, osteoporosis is now increasingly prevalent, with a high incidence of people with the condition living in a care home setting, as well as in the community.
Dr Matthews explained: “It is not always obvious that someone has osteoporosis, as it can essentially be a hidden disease. But it is critical that staff in care homes and health care settings develop a better understanding of the condition so they can prevent any unnecessary bone fractures when moving or handling patients.
“Care homes workers who may be moving people in and out of beds, chairs, wheelchairs etc., or even helping them wash or change, need to be aware of the condition, to avoid handling which may cause people’s weakened bones to fracture accidentally.
“Staff in care homes, healthcare professions and the public can all benefit from improved knowledge about preventing osteoporosis through lifestyle choices, physical activity, and a balanced, bone-healthy diet, as well as how to prevent unnecessary fractures.”
Dr Matthews emphasised: “We cannot underestimate the importance of care home staff when it comes to the care and welfare of our elderly population. We must invest in their education and professional development so they are equipped with the skills and knowledge to give the best care to their residents.
“That’s why Queen Margaret University will be offering a number of free modules as scholarships to individuals working in the care home sector. We want to develop a community of Lydia Osteoporosis Champions who can help to raise awareness of this important condition within the sector.”
The QMU team is also keen to develop champions in the community who can work to reduce the incidence of osteoporosis within the population by promoting good bone health and preventative behaviours such as weight bearing exercise and healthy eating.
Dr Matthews concluded: “Osteoporosis is now such a significant health problem in today’s society that it needs to be viewed and addressed as a public health priority.
“Education and research are key to raising awareness. That’s why we are ensuring it’s taught as part of our undergraduate and postgraduate healthcare professional courses at QMU, and in our PgDip Advancing Care Home Practice (Person-Centred Practice).
“But we also need to reach people who are already in healthcare roles to spread awareness of knowledge across healthcare settings. Partnerships with staff in care homes and other healthcare settings are going to be crucial to our development of Lydia Osteoporosis Champions.
“Ultimately this will improve person-centred care of people living with osteoporosis across our care home sector, and reduce the prevalence of this worrying condition in Scotland and the UK.”
A placard created by an eight-year-old climate activist during the School Strike for Climate in 2019, will go on display for the first time in a major new exhibition at Perth Museum.
Bridget, now 14, from Edinburgh has been reunited with her artwork at the National Museums Collection Centre before it goes on loan to Perth Museum for Waters Rising, opening 8 November 2024.
The placard depicts the Earth as a melting ice cream cone, drawn in felt tip pen on a used cardboard box with a tree branch from Bridget’s garden as a handle. It was created for the School Strike for Climate, or Fridays for Future, demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament on 15 February 2019.
This youth-led protest movement was started by Greta Thunberg in 2018 and has since involved millions of young people around the world who skip Friday classes to demand action against climate change.
Bridget said: “My design was inspired by School Strike for Climate protests around the world, thinking about the climate emergency I could imagine the Earth melting like an ice cream.
“When I took part in the protest I was 8 –years old and I felt involved in a really big thing, but I never imagined my artwork would end up in a museum collection or part of an exhibition. It’s a really lovely thought that future generations might see this movement and hopefully know that we made a difference.”
Waters Rising is an exploration of the impact of flooding and climate breakdown on local Scottish communities and around the world. Bridget’s placard is one of a collection of objects going on loan from National Museums Scotland to the exhibition with the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Highlights include a medallion and passport for citizens of the ‘Govan Free State’ produced by GalGael Trust to coincide with COP26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Glasgow in 2021.
Ashleigh Hibbins, Head of Audiences and Learning at Culture Perth and Kinross said: “We are so excited to be able to include this important piece of modern Scottish history in the Waters Rising exhibition at Perth Museum.
“Young people are the least responsible yet most impacted by the climate crisis, so it is critical that their voices and perspectives are heard. We hope visitors to the exhibition will be inspired by Bridget’s piece and others to take action against environmental breakdown.”
National Museums Scotland is committed to positively engaging audiences with themes of climate change and biodiversity loss through public programmes, research, and by collecting contemporary material associated with these themes.
Mhairi Maxwell, Curator of Modern & Contemporary History at National Museums Scotland said: “I am delighted that Bridget’s protest artwork is going on display for the first time. The placard perfectly captures a young Scot’s perspective on the climate crisis.
“I am so pleased we can work with Perth Museum to share our contemporary collections and highlight the experiences of Scottish people in the face of this global emergency. Thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for their support of our national partnership programme.”
This loan is part of National Museums Scotland’s National Strategy, which sees collections and expertise shared through loans, participation in national projects, community engagement, funding for acquisitions and free knowledge and skills development opportunities for museums across Scotland.
Over 2500 objects are currently on loan to Scottish organisations, bringing the National Collection to audiences across the country.
