Campaign against ‘alarming’ cuts to health and social care

Edinburgh residents are being asked to write to their councillors and MSPs to stop devastating reductions in vital services.

Sexual health, support and rehabilitation for substance abuse, support for independent living and an improved quality of life for people with disabilities will all be affected by a £8.95m budget cut.

“These cuts to services go against the expressed desire of citizens and the Council to tackle poverty in our city”, says Lorna Frost of Edinburgh East Save Our Services. “It’s time to make sure our elected representatives really listen to us. 

“We have already emailed our councillors and MSPs and hope others will join us in doing this. An email that people can use or adapt is included below and the email addresses for councillors can be found here:

https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgFindMember.aspx) 

and MSPs here

https://beta.parliament.scot/msps/current-and-previous-msps)”.

“The pandemic has shown how much we depend on good health care, good education & good services. Coming at any time these cuts would have a terrible impact on some of the most vulnerable people in our city.

“In the wake of lockdown and with the prospect of a winter second wave of Covid19, the effect will be devastating.

“What’s more, these cuts and any short term savings are false economies. Reducing services which ensure sexual health, support and rehabilitation for substance abuse, support for independent living and an improved quality of life for people with disabilities is inefficient economically. 

“We know we need each other and care for each other. Our elected representatives must concentrate on ensuring integrated, properly funded services to tackle the hardship and suffering many people face. 

“This may mean borrowing and putting pressure on the Scottish government to provide sufficient funding. But in every consultation Edinburgh folk have said that this support is more important than creating a playground for visitors.”  

Email below. Change it or send your own. For more information on campaigning go to EESOS Facebook page – all ideas welcome:

Dear …………….

We are alarmed at the current measures to reduce health and social care services in the city. (We refer to the Phase Zero cuts agreed by the EIJB (Edinburgh Integration Joint Board).

The expressed desire of citizens and the Council is to tackle poverty in Edinburgh. This is wanted for humanitarian reasons.

We are also certain that these cuts and any short term savings are false economies. Reducing services which ensure sexual health, support and rehabilitation for substance abuse, support for independent living and an improved quality of  life for people with disabilities is inefficient economically. 

Austerity policies and the current pandemic have shown up the lack of resilience in our public services. 

We call on you as our representatives to take a stand.  This may mean borrowing and putting pressure on the Scottish government for sufficient funding.

Please assure us that we can rely on you to commit to integrated, properly funded services to tackle the hardship and suffering many people face.

Regards

———————————————————————————————————-

Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership launches consultation on ‘Edinburgh Pact‘

Fill in our short survey and tell us what health and social care means to you.

What is the Edinburgh pact?

We want to build thriving communities in Edinburgh and embrace the opportunity to create a different type of relationship with residents, communities and organisations across the city. 

We are starting a conversation to build the Edinburgh Pact. The Edinburgh Pact will be an agreement between the Partnership and everyone who lives and works in Edinburgh. Our first step is to listen and learn what health and social care means to you. 

Judith Proctor, Chief Officer, explains why your ideas and comments are so important:

Why are we developing this now?  

During the pandemic we have seen people and communities across Edinburgh rally together to support one another, helping and caring for people who might be struggling.  We have also seen organisations and charities work together and produce solutions to support communities during this difficult time. We want to build on this.   

We know that we face some real challenges for our health and social care system. The population is ageing, demand for services is increasing and our funding is not expected to grow at the same rate as the population. We need to think boldly about what can be different. 

How do I get involved?  

Take a few minutes to fill in our short survey 

Parents under pressure as virus limits childcare options

  • More than one in four parents feel unable to ask for childcare help from loved ones as a result of pandemic
  • 15% of parents require additional childcare help from friends and family this year as they continue to juggle parenting and work responsibilities
  • Grandparents now providing £3,770 worth of childcare a year

While more than two-fifths (44%) of parents rely on grandparents for childcare support, more than a quarter (27%) feel they can no longer be as dependent on family and friends, due to ongoing health and safety concerns around the pandemic.

New How Scotland Lives research from Bank of Scotland revealed that whilst some parents are considering keeping their children away from their grandparents through the summer months in order to keep them safe from the virus, grandparents themselves seem less concerned, with just one in 10 (10%) expecting to do less childcare, and almost half (46%) expecting their usual school holiday childcare duties to stay the same.

In fact, 12% of grandparents who do not usually take on childcare, have offered to do so in order to support their own children.

Staying indoors

Despite ongoing concerns, the circumstances of 15% of parents mean they are having to be more reliant than they would usually be on friends and family this summer, as they continue to balance work and home life commitments.

Parents who are allowing grandparents to take on childcare responsibilities this summer have shown real concern around how time together should be spent, which has led to the ruling out of several of the typical summer activities, in light of ongoing social distancing restrictions.

There has been a significant reduction in the number of parents allowing trips to the cinema (-26%), holidays (-21%), theme parks (-7%), and swimming (-4%) due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Instead, they are more encouraging of activities that keep everyone in open spaces, such as picnics (+6%).

Tara Foley, Managing Director, Bank of Scotland, said: “For many parents, the challenge of conflicting work and childcare commitments continues this summer, with some facing difficult decisions around who is best to take care of their children.

“Whilst some parents remain worried about relying on loved ones for support during the ongoing pandemic, not all families can rely on holiday clubs and professional childcare. These will likely be a stretch too far for some budgets where paying for additional childcare wasn’t part of the plan.”

Regional variations

There are significant regional differences when it comes to the number of parents who rely on their own parents for childcare support (see table 1).

More than half (52%) of mums and dads in the West of Scotland receive regular help with childcare, which is more than in any other region, and 8% more than the Scottish average. Likewise, parents in Mid-Scotland, which includes Stirlingshire, Fife, Perth and Kinross, (48%), and Central Scotland (45%), are also more reliant on their parents for help with the kids.  At the other end of the spectrum is the Highlands and Islands, where just over a third (35%) of parents, receive support from grandparents.  

On average, grandparents report spending nine hours a week caring for their grandchildren, up from eight hours in 2019. Given the UK average pay for professional childcare is just over £8 per hour, this means grandparents are providing the equivalent of over £3,770 worth of childcare throughout the year, or at least £432 for the six weeks of the summer holidays.

UK Government launches Better Health campaign

New package of measures and “Better Health” campaign announced to help people lose weight.

A picture of health?
  • Ban on TV and online adverts for food high in fat, sugar and salt before 9pm
  • End of deals like ‘buy one get one free’ on unhealthy food high in salt, sugar and fat
  • Calories to be displayed on menus to help people make healthier choices when eating out – while alcoholic drinks could soon have to list hidden ‘liquid calories’
  • New campaign to help people lose weight, get active and eat better after COVID-19 “wake-up call”

A raft of measures have been revealed as part of the UK Government’s new Obesity Strategy to get the nation fit and healthy, protect themselves against COVID-19 and protect the NHS.

Obesity is one of the biggest health crises the country faces. Almost two thirds (63%) of adults in England are overweight or living with obesity – and 1 in 3 children leave primary school overweight or obese, with obesity-related illnesses costing the NHS £6 billion a year.

The urgency of tackling the obesity time bomb has been brought to the fore by evidence of the link to an increased risk from COVID-19.

Living with excess weight puts people at greater risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19, with risk growing substantially as BMI increases. Nearly 8% of critically ill patients with COVID-19 in intensive care units have been morbidly obese, compared with 2.9% of the general population.

As the government continues to respond to this unprecedented global pandemic, Ministers will today set out a comprehensive package of measures to help people take control of their own future by losing weight, getting active and adopting a healthier lifestyle.

Rather than focusing primarily on childhood obesity, the strategy represents a new focus on empowering adults to lose weight as well.

This plan is being launched alongside an exciting new “Better Health” campaign, led by Public Health England, which will call on people to embrace a healthier lifestyle and to lose weight if they need to, supported by a range of evidence-based tools and apps providing advice on how to reduce the waistline.

The measures in this ‘world-leading’ plan include:

Banning unhealthy food adverts – new laws will ban the advertising of food high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS) on television and online before 9pm when children are most likely to see them.

Ahead of this, the government will also hold a new short consultation on whether the ban on online adverts for HFSS, should apply at all times of day.

Analysis published by Cancer Research UK from September 2019 shows that almost half (47.6%) of all food adverts shown over the month on ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky1 were for products high in fat, sugar and salt. This rises to almost 60% during the 6.00 to 9.00pm slot – the time slot where children’s viewing peaks.

Evidence shows that exposure to HFSS advertising can affect what and when children eat, both in the short term and the longer term by shaping children’s preferences at a young age. This is supported by the World Health Organization.

Ending BOGOF promotions – new legislation will restrict the promotion of foods high in fat, sugar, such as ‘buy one get one free’ offers. There will also be a ban on these items being placed in prominent locations in stores, such as at checkouts and entrances, and online.

In the UK we spend more buying food products on promotion than any other European country and a survey from 2018 shows that around 43% of all food and drink products located in prominent areas were for sugary foods and drinks, compared to just 1% for healthy items. Shops will be encouraged to promote healthier choices and offer more discounts on food like fruit and vegetables.

Calorie labelling – new laws will require large restaurants, cafes and takeaways with more than 250 employees to add calorie labels to the food they sell. Research shows eating out is becoming more common, particularly among families, with 75% of people visiting a restaurant, fast food eatery or getting a takeaway in the past week, compared to 69% in 2010.

However, there is often a lack of information about the calorie content of these items and research suggests people consume around 200 more calories a day if they eat out compared to food prepared at home. This new measure will help people make healthier, informed choices as part of a balanced diet.

Alcohol calorie labelling – a new consultation will be launched before the end of the year on plans to provide calorie labelling on alcohol. Alcohol consumption has been estimated to account for nearly 10% of the calorie intake of those who drink, with around 3.4 million adults consuming an additional days’ worth of calories each week – totalling an additional two months of food each year.

But research shows the majority of the public (80%) is unaware of the calorie content of common drinks and many typically underestimate the true content. It is hoped alcohol labelling could lead to a reduction in consumption, improving people’s health and reducing their waistline.

Expanding NHS services – weight management services will be expanded so more people get the support they need to lose weight. This will include more self-care apps and online tools for people with obesity-related conditions and accelerating the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.

From next year doctors will be offered incentives to ensure people living with obesity is given support for weight loss and primary care staff will also have the opportunity to become ‘healthy weight coaches’ though training delivered by Public Health England. Separately, GPs will also be encouraged to prescribe exercise and more social activities to help people keep fit.

Front of pack nutritional labelling – we will launch a consultation to gather views and evidence on our current ‘traffic light’ labelling system to learn more about how this is being used by consumers and industry, compared to international examples.

Our ‘traffic light’ scheme is popular, with 90% of consumers agreeing it helps them make informed decisions when purchasing food. Research shows that people who look at front of pack nutritional labelling are shown to have healthier shopping baskets, fewer calories, less sugar, fat and salt content and higher fibre content

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said: “Losing weight is hard but with some small changes we can all feel fitter and healthier. If we all do our bit, we can reduce our health risks and protect ourselves against coronavirus – as well as taking pressure off the NHS“.

Health Secretary, Matt Hancock said: “Everyone knows how hard losing weight can be so we are taking bold action to help everyone who needs it. When you’re shopping for your family or out with friends, it’s only fair that you are given the right information about the food you’re eating to help people to make good decisions.

“To help support people we need to reduce unhelpful influences like promotions and adverts that affect what you buy and what you eat. Taken together, supported by an inspiring campaign and new smart tools, will get the country eating healthily and losing the pounds.

“We know obesity increases the risk of serious illness and death from coronavirus – so it’s vital we take action on obesity to protect the NHS and improve our nation’s health.”

Dr Alison Tedstone, Chief Nutritionist at PHE: “These plans are ambitious and rightly so. Tackling obesity will help prevent serious illness and save lives.

“The main reason we put on weight is because of what we eat and drink, but being more active is important too. Making healthier choices easier and fairer for everyone, and ensuring the right support is there for those who need it, is critical in tackling obesity.

“These bold measures will help us tip the scales on obesity. The argument for action is the clearest it’s ever been.”

Overconsumption of calories is one of the most significant contributing factors in becoming overweight. Figures show many adults are consuming 200-300 extra calories a day above recommended daily guidelines with children who are already overweight are consuming up to 500 calories more than they need every day.

The environment we live in plays a significant role in tackling obesity: the information they are given to make those choices; the choices we are offered; and the influences that shape those choices. This will support individual choice and give families a fairer chance to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle.

The measures set out today signal a clear commitment from the UK government to support individual efforts and kickstart a national effort to tackle obesity.

WHO evidence showing the impact of advertising food high in fat, sugar and salt on children is available here.

Police seek witnesses to serious assault in Gilmerton

Detectives in Edinburgh are appealing for information following a serious assault which took place on Drum Street in Gilmerton on Saturday night.

The incident happened between 11pm and 11.30pm on Saturday, 25 July, when a group of three men attacked a 29-year-old man. The victim is being treated at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with serious injuries.

The group of three men left the area in the direction of Newtoft Street. One of them is described as being in his 30s, 6ft with a muscular build and short dark hair. He was wearing a white top, dark trousers and dark shoes.

DC Dale Miles, from Edinburgh CID, said: “This was a violent and unprovoked attack, which has left the victim with serious and potentially life-changing injuries.

“I am appealing to anyone who was in the area around the time of the incident and saw anything suspicious to come forward.”

Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident 4764 of 25 July. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, if you wish to remain anonymous.

Edinburgh Kiltwalk goes Virtual to support cash-strapped charities

SIR TOM HUNTER ADDS 50% FUNDRAISING BOOST

Kiltwalkers have been urged to don some tartan and take part in a weekend-long virtual version of the Edinburgh event after this year’s walk was cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions.

The Big Virtual Kiltwalk Weekend will take place between September 11-13.

Participants are being challenged to get active, whilst adhering to social distancing measures, and raise much-needed funds for charities of their choice.

Every pound raised will be topped up by a 50% donation from The Hunter Foundation.

In 2020 so far, Kiltwalkers and The Hunter Foundation have raised and distributed £2.5 million, including £600,000 raised by a virtual version of the Dundee Kiltwalk.

It has also been confirmed that the Glasgow and Aberdeen Kiltwalks, which were postponed amid lockdown, can no longer go ahead, with participants being encouraged to join the Big Virtual Kiltwalk Weekend in September instead.

In a new video message, Sir Tom Hunter told Kiltwalkers that their kindness is needed more than ever. Many charities are struggling to survive after losing income to COVID-19.

Sir Tom said: “We can’t all get together, but we’re going to go virtual. We tried it in Dundee and it was a fantastic success.

“You can walk, swim, bounce on your space hopper – do whatever you want, for the charity of your choice. If ever there was a time when the folk who need our help need it most, it is now. So, put on a wee bit of tartan and get involved, get together, and get into the Kiltwalk spirit.”

For further information about the Kiltwalk visit www.thekiltwalk.co.uk.

To view Sir Tom’s video message visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSMfyDjXqGE.

Top 10 tips from BikeRegister when buying a second hand bike

BikeRegister, the UK’s largest cycle database and the only one that is police-approved, has valuable advice for anyone wanting to buy a secondhand bike.

Everyone loves a bargain, but if a bike is advertised too cheaply or if the seller seems too keen to ‘seal the deal’ quickly and without proper paperwork, there is usually a reason.

As the UK’s leading online bicycle identification and registration initiative aiming to reduce cycle theft, identify stolen bikes and assist in owner recovery, BikeRegister encourages prospective buyers to take reasonable steps to establish that the secondhand bike they are interested in is not stolen.

If the seller is genuine, they will understand you acting with caution. After all, you could stand to lose not only your hard-earned cash, but also the bike itself if police suspect the seller is a cycle thief.

What to do when buying a secondhand bike:

1.Take a friend with you and always meet the buyer at a home or work address. Alarm bells should be ringing if the buyer suggests meeting in a public place such as a park or a tube station. Never buy from anyone that approaches you on the street.

2.Is the seller bluffing or do they really know the bike’s history? Do they look like they could be the owner of the bike they are selling?

3.Examine the bike thoroughly to check its condition. Also look to see if it has been security marked. You can check the frame number or BikeRegister ID by using our FREE https://www.bikeregister.com/bike-checker facility on the BikeRegister database to make sure that the bike is not listed as stolen.

4.If the seller can produce an original purchase receipt and service history, that’s a good sign of a genuine sale.

5.Is the bike being advertised at market value? If not, ask yourself why?

6.Stock photos shouldn’t be used to sell a bike. The real owner would have original photos that they would be happy to show you.

7.Thieves often alter the appearance of stolen bikes. Does the bike have its original paintwork? Have there been any obvious attempts to remove the frame number or bike marking?

8.If you go ahead with the purchase, always get a receipt for the sale. A genuine seller will be happy to provide one.

9.Make sure you register and mark your new bike on https://www.bikeregister.com/signup. By doing so, it will greatly reduce the chances of having it stolen.

10.If you think you are being sold a stolen bike, don’t go through with the purchase. Report the incident to police by calling 101.

Lockdown easing triggers boom in new drivers learning with school of mum and dad

RAC Insurance records highest-ever demand for flexible policies covering learner drivers


The gradual easing of the coronavirus lockdown has seen more new drivers than ever opting to learn with another family member, analysis of RAC Learner Driver Insurance data suggests.

With driving instructors unable to start giving tuition again until 4 July as a result of the pandemic, figures show just how eager new drivers were to get behind the wheel with RAC Insurance recording its highest-ever weekly demand for learner driver insurance during the first week of June – up on the same week last year marginally, and a significant 37% up on 2018.

And despite driving schools now back in operation the desire to take lessons from a family member shows no signs of abating, perhaps in part fuelled by a long backlog of students wanting to learn to drive with an instructor.

The average number of learner driver policies bought each week through June and the first half of this month is up 27.5% on pre-lockdown levels and is also higher than the RAC would expect to see at this time of year, up 6% on the same period in 2019.

The figures also reveal provisional drivers are now opting for longer policies of 36 days, up from an average of 30 days over the same period last year* – suggesting those starting out on their driving careers are keen to make up for time lost earlier in the lockdown when they were unable to learn to drive.

Separate RAC research conducted earlier in the lockdown showed that a third of drivers aged 17 to 34 felt having access to a car was more important than ever during the pandemic. The ongoing message from national and local governments for people to avoid public transport up until now could also have had the effect of accelerating new drivers’ interest in having lessons, and passing their test to give them the freedom they need.

RAC Insurance spokesperson Simon Williams said: “As lockdown began to be eased but learning to drive with an instructor still wasn’t possible, we saw demand for our learner driver insurance grow as this was the only way new drivers could continue to get experience on the roads at the start of their driving careers. The fact we have seen demand for policies hit an all-time high is remarkable, given just what an abnormal year 2020 has been so far.

“But interestingly, while driving schools have been allowed to reopen since 4 July, our figures show there’s still strong demand for lessons from mum and dad, perhaps driven by fears over sharing a vehicle with somebody else – or perhaps because professional instructors are being inundated with requests for lessons and are struggling to cope with demand.

“The impact of the coronavirus on people’s travel habits has thrown into sharp focus the essential role the car plays in allowing us to get about, whether that is to do a weekly shop at a local supermarket or travel further afield to see family and friends. We know dependency on the car was already increasing before the pandemic,** and for young people having access to a car can literally be a lifeline to getting out and about, whether that’s for work or pleasure.

“So it’s understandable that so many new drivers are desperate to build their experience and confidence sat next to a family member they can trust, and then get on with taking their test. The backlog of driving tests built up since the country went into lockdown might mean they are having to wait longer than they’d like for one, but while frustrating provisional drivers can use this time to get in some extra experience on the roads.

“Learner driver insurance can offer a convenient, good value and flexible means of giving those starting on their driving careers peace of mind when behind the wheel.”

The RAC has published a guide on teaching a learner driver which can be found here.

What is learner driver insurance?

Traditionally, provisional drivers were added to their parents or other family members’ policies so they could practise their driving after a few lessons with an instructor, but now a provisional driver can take out their own, short-term policy to cover any period from a few hours to several months.

This type of insurance is ideal for getting more experience under the belt before taking the test and can be more cost-effective than being a named driver on another driver’s policy. It also doesn’t affect the main driver’s no-claims discounts on their own policy. Go online to find out more about RAC Learner Driver Insurance.

Inkonceivably expensive – printer ink pricier than 32-year-old Scotch Whisky

Despite being more expensive than 32-year-old Scotch whisky, Chanel No 5 and high-end champagne, most people buy branded ink for their printer rather than cheaper third-party alternatives even though they are just as good, according to new Which? research.

The consumer champion found that just one set of replacement cartridges for the Epson Expression Premium XP-900 costs £96. This means that a customer replacing their ink five times can expect to pay £480, yet a third-party alternative deemed of similar quality was found to cost a mere £70 for five replacement sets – a saving of up to £410.

At £2.04 a millilitre, the Epson printer ink was one of several branded versions found to be more expensive than 32-year-old Scotch whisky (£1.71), Chanel No 5. (£1.13) and premium champagne (30p).

Despite the extortionate cost of original ink cartridges, the majority of people told Which? that they regularly buy branded cartridges (58%) over cheaper third-party alternatives – and some have never tried non-branded at all (41%). 

The survey of almost 9,000 printer owners revealed that many people are concerned that third-party ink may be incompatible with their printer (43%), print quality would be compromised (30%) or that the third-party ink might damage their printer (30%).

However, in reality, the survey revealed that only one in 10 (11%) of those who use third-party ink regularly experienced cartridges not working, just four per cent experienced leakage and only three per cent found print quality lower than expected.

Many third-party brands also offer guarantees if the cartridge doesn’t work, while some will even repair or replace the printer for free. 

What’s more, those surveyed thought some third-party brands were easier to use than original cartridges from HP and Epson ink. And the same goes for toner: Which? found that people with laser printers were much happier with third-party brands than original branded toner.

However, incompatibly isn’t a completely unfounded worry. Some  HP printers are designed to prevent customers from using third-party ink by employing something it calls ‘Dynamic Security’, which recognises third-party cartridges and stops them working.

Although HP says this protects its customers, the thousands of people who took part in Which?’s survey found that third-party cartridges offer much better value and even, a better customer experience.

Which? has heard from many consumers who are unhappy that they can no longer use their favourite brands, with some even buying a new printer to avoid the ongoing high cost of replacement HP cartridges. 

Which? believes that this is completely wrong and choosing to use third-party cartridges should be down to an individual’s choice, not HP’s.

In the US, a lawsuit resulted in some customers being reimbursed by HP for the costs of replacement cartridges, printers and repairs following a class action settlement.

Under the out-of-court settlement, HP agreed that Dynamic Security wouldn’t be reactivated in the affected inkjet printers. HP denies that it did anything wrong. 

This hasn’t yet happened for UK consumers, so customers will need to carefully consider how much they could end up paying over the lifespan of their printer as it could be more than they bargained for.

Harry Rose, Which? Magazine Editor, said: “Printer ink shouldn’t cost the earth and we’ve found that there are lots of unbranded products that are just as good as their branded counterparts and only a fraction of the cost – so you can keep your hard-earned cash for actual luxuries rather than spending it on printing.

“Choosing third-party cartridges should be a personal choice and not dictated by the make of your printer. If you are in the market for a new printer, it might be best to avoid HP if you don’t want to fork out for expensive HP ink cartridges.”

Discounts now up to 70% OFF at Laura Ashley Edinburgh closing down sale

New discounts have been unveiled at the Laura Ashley closing down sale in Edinburgh, with all fabric and wallpaper 70% off, plus all womenswear and fashion accessories 60% off.

Snap up a homeware bargain with 60% off ready-made curtains and 50% off furniture, bedding, lighting and rugs.  Everything in the store is reduced in all departments and everything must go!

All Laura Ashley stores are ‘COVID secure’ and adhere to a strict policy of social distancing with a limited number of shoppers allowed in-store at any time. Card payments are encouraged.

Laura Ashley began in the 1950s, quickly becoming famous for its unique printed fabrics.  Over time, the brand grew to become the household name of today, synonymous with quality fashion, interiors and home furnishings. 

Laura Ashley stores will continue to trade until further notice. 

A spokesman for Laura Ashley said, “There are some amazing bargains to be found in-store, especially with these new discounts. Popular items are selling fast and customers are advised to take advantage of these discounts while stock lasts.”