Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh launches The People’s Dispensary Website

Edinburgh patient experiences from the 1700s revealed

The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh is delighted to announce the launch of a new website, The People’s Dispensary: 

https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/peoplesdispensary

At its core, The People’s Dispensary features a digitised and transcribed collection of 18th century case notes of the Edinburgh Public Dispensary from its foundation in 1776. Located in Edinburgh’s Old Town, it provided free diagnosis and medicines to the city’s sick. Users of the website will be able to search these digitised and transcribed records which feature fascinating details about the diseases, treatments and experiences of poor patients in 1700s Edinburgh.

The digitised and transcribed 18th century patient case notes feature over 10,000 pages of patient records. It is a unique resource as the only surviving collection of 18th century dispensary patient case notes in Britain and contains 1,372 patients, 174 medical practitioners and 900 diseases and treatments.

Daisy Cunynghame, Heritage Manager & Librarian, says: “We are excited to bring this collection to the public eye and very proud of the efforts of colleagues and volunteers that were involved in creating this web resource.

“These records contain amazing insight into the experiences of poor patients in 1700s Edinburgh. So often when stories are told of medicine and sickness in Georgian Britain, they focus on people who wrote letters and kept diaries – people who were middle and upper class.

“Through this new website we can share details of the experiences of the less well-off who relied on charitable medicine.

“The case notes are really remarkable – we find out about a woman who swallowed two pistol bullets as a folk remedy for her constipation.

“Our hope is that the website will encourage our audiences to learn about and reflect on what life was like for ordinary people in historic Scotland”.

Professor Mark Strachan, Heritage Trustee, says: “Although modern medical treatments bear little relation to those prescribed in the Edinburgh Public Dispensary, we can still see many parallels between past and present practice.

“The need to balance potential side effects of the treatment against the consequences of not treating an illness, the adverse health consequences of certain occupations and the challenge for women in having symptoms of illness believed by doctors were as common in Georgian Britain as they are today.”

Some interesting points:

• One of the recommended treatments was sea bathing. But there was a risk attached. In the case of Margaret Gray, a patient admitted to the Edinburgh dispensary in the winter of 1781 with a diagnosis of hysteria, it was recommend that she bathe in a tub or ‘form of shower bath’ rather than sea bathing, because ‘in deep water fatal consequences in the way of drowning have sometimes happened’

• Dispensary physicians recorded the home remedies that patients had already tried, including a remedy provided by a ‘benevolent lady, the widow of a Clergyman’. Sometimes the physicians did not approve, including in one case where an individual applied burnt butter to their child’s head, as a treatment for a fungal infection, ‘by the advice of some officious neighbours’

• The case notes record the occupations of many of the patients, and the impact that their diagnosis had on their health. This included street hawkers, labourers and servants. Two very Edinburgh-specific occupations were water carrier and chairman. The water carriers’ job was to collect water from the well and then deliver it to individual homes across the city. Chairmen – the carriers of sedan chairs – were also much more common in Edinburgh than other cities. Because of the Old Town’s narrow and winding streets, it wasn’t possible to travel around much of the city in a horse and cart, so chairmen were employed instead to carry their employers throughout the city. And a lot of the medical problems of both carriers and chairmen were admitted into the dispensary for were clearly related to their line of work – particularly chronic back pain and rheumatism.

• Dispensary physicians would regularly record their concern that female patients were faking their medical conditions in order to be prescribed medicines which would bring about an abortion.

Web link: https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/peoplesdispensary

Sixth man sentenced for involvement in county lines drug network

A 43-year-old man has been sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh today in connection with the supply of controlled drugs.

He is the sixth man to be sentenced as part of Operation Galvanize after officers targeted addresses in Edinburgh and London in a county lines operation on Tuesday, 5th September, 2024.

Imer Quashi has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison for his involvement in a county lines drug supply network within the city of Edinburgh known as the ‘Tommy’ line.

Several men were employed in this criminal enterprise delivering drugs to locations throughout the city.

Detective Sergeant Mark Walker said: “This group delivered drugs on demand and didn’t care that their packages were destroying lives and impacting on families and the local community, all they cared about was profit.

“There is no doubt that the disruption of this group had a significant impact on cocaine supply in Edinburgh and we remain committed to disrupting and destroying drug supply chains wherever we find them.

“Operation Galvanize was a cross-border operation which illustrated the benefit of close partnership working and sharing information. This collaborative working reassures the public we are in this together to dismantle the criminal gangs.”

If anyone has any concerns regarding the abuse of controlled drugs, or anyone who may be involved in the supply of drugs, they are urged to contact Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Ofcom: Reforming the postal service so it delivers what people need

  • Ofcom sets Royal Mail new backstop delivery targets to protect people from long delays
  • Changes made to Second Class letter deliveries to protect the universal service
  • Ofcom to review affordability of post amid concerns over stamp prices

UK postal users will have extra protections against long delivery delays, under reforms to the universal service announced today by Ofcom, which will enable Royal Mail to improve reliability and support a sustainable service.

Why reform is needed

Since 2011, Royal Mail has been required under the universal service obligation to deliver First and Second Class letters six days a week. But in that time, the number of letters sent each year has more than halved. With fewer letters being delivered to each house on a given round, the cost of delivering each letter has increased, and Royal Mail has lost hundreds of millions of pounds in recent years.[1]

Urgent reform is needed for the universal service to survive. To put the service on a more sustainable footing, to prevent people from paying higher prices than necessary, and to push Royal Mail to improve reliability, Ofcom has today made changes to the obligations imposed on the company.

This follows public consultation with thousands of people and organisations – including consumer groups, unions, small businesses, public services, Royal Mail and the wider postal industry, as well as postal users directly – from right across the UK.

We have also launched a review of pricing and affordability, which will consider concerns that many people and organisations have raised about stamp prices. We plan to consult on this next year.

Natalie Black, Ofcom’s Group Director for Networks and Communications, said: “These changes are in the best interests of consumers and businesses, as urgent reform of the postal service is necessary to give it the best chance of survival.

“But changing Royal Mail’s obligations alone won’t guarantee a better service – the company now has to play its part and implement this effectively. We’ll be making sure Royal Mail is clear with its customers about what’s happening, and passes the benefits of these changes on to them.

“As part of this process, we’ve been listening to concerns about increases in stamp prices. So we’ve launched a review of affordability and plan to publicly consult on this next year.”

What reform will deliver

Our research suggests that affordability and reliability are more important to people than speed of delivery, but they value having a next-day service available for when they need to send the occasional urgent item. Royal Mail will therefore continue to be required to deliver First Class letters the next working day, Monday to Saturday, and there will continue to be a cap on the price of a Second Class stamp.

However, people have told us that most letters are not urgent, and they do not need six days a week delivery for the majority of letters. So, from 28 July, we will allow Royal Mail to deliver Second Class letters on alternate weekdays – still within three working days of collection – Monday to Friday.[2]

We estimate Royal Mail could realise annual net cost savings of between £250m and £425m with successful implementation of this change, enabling it to invest more in improving its delivery performance. We have told Royal Mail to hold regular meetings with consumer bodies and industry groups to hear about the experiences of people and businesses as it implements these changes.[3]

Our research also shows that small reductions in Royal Mail’s delivery targets would continue to meet people’s needs. Maintaining the current targets – which are more stretching than comparable European countries – would carry higher costs which would need to be recovered through higher prices.

So, we are making small changes to Royal Mail’s existing delivery targets – for First Class mail from 93% to 90% delivered next-day, and for Second Class mail from 98.5% to 95% delivered within three days. These new targets are high by international standards.[4]

However, many people have experienced long delays where letters have taken weeks to arrive.

To address this issue, we have set Royal Mail new enforceable backstop targets so that 99% of mail has to be delivered no more than two days late.

Acas issues tips for employers to manage the hot weather at work 

Workplace expert Acas has offered some top tips to help employers manage workplace challenges due to the hot weather. 

The Met Office has predicted that temperatures of up to 35C are expected towards the end of this week.  

Acas Chief Executive Niall Mackenzie said: “The sizzling weather may be ideal for the beach but staff getting into work during one of the hottest weeks of the year may not feel the same way. 

“Some employees with certain health conditions or disabilities may be adversely affected by the extreme heat. The heat can also impact public transport too which can affect employees commuting into work. 

“Acas has some top tips for employers to help ensure their businesses remain productive during the heatwave whilst keeping staff happy too.” 

According to a recent Acas poll, almost half (47%) of respondents felt that poor sleep during times of hot weather impacted their work. This was followed by 22% saying that overheated offices was their biggest challenge and 21% claiming that they found staying focused in heatwaves difficult.  

Acas top tips for hot weather working include: 

Workplace temperatures should be reasonable  

There is no legal maximum working temperature. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) advice is that the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings must be reasonable.  

The HSE offers advice on how to carry out a thermal comfort risk assessment if staff are unhappy with the temperature:  

http://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/index.htm  

Keeping cool at work  

Switch on any fans or air conditioners to keep workplaces comfortable and use blinds or curtains to block out sunlight. Staff working outside should wear appropriate clothes and use sunscreen to protect from sunburn. 

Stay hydrated  

Employers must provide staff with suitable drinking water in the workplace. Workers should drink plenty of water throughout the day to prevent dehydration and not wait until they are thirsty. Employers could allow extra breaks for staff to get cold drinks. 

Dress code  

Employers are not under any obligation to relax their uniform or dress code requirements during hot weather but where possible it may be advisable to for employers to relax the rules for wearing ties or suits. 

Getting into work  

If public transport gets adversely affected by the hot weather, this could affect staff attendance and their ability to get into work on time. Staff should check timetables in advance, and employers should be flexible.  

https://www.acas.org.uk/disruption-getting-to-work

Vulnerable workers   

Vulnerable workers- Worker with health conditions or disabilities may be affected more by hot weather. Employers should assess for any risks and discuss what they need to reduce or remove that risk. This might include providing fans, portable air-cooling units or more frequent or longer breaks. Employers must make reasonable adjustments for workers with disabilities.  

https://www.acas.org.uk/reasonable-adjustments

https://www.acas.org.uk/extreme-temperatures-in-the-workplace

Springboard into diving

Edinburgh Leisure is on the hunt for the next generation of divers

For those who have been inspired by divers such as Jack Laugher, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix (daughter of Fred!) and Tom Daley, Edinburgh Leisure is offering the opportunity for children to come and try diving with our experienced coaches at the Royal Commonwealth Pool to see if they have a talent for the sport.

Children should be between 5 and 16 years old, able to swim 10 metres unaided, confident in deep water and submerge in water without

r without googles.  No experience in necessary as they will be learning basic skills but those interested in gymnastics, trampolining, acrobatics or similar sports might enjoy this opportunity to try a new sport.

Priced at just £3, the diving taster sessions at the Royal Commonwealth Pool are offered on:

Monday 4 – Friday 8 August at 17.10 – 17.40

To secure a place, interested people should visit the Edinburgh Leisure website – https://shorturl.at/uLDKw

Edinburgh Leisure offers a world class diving programme at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, complete with a dedicated Dry Dive Area with trampolines and harnesses, which enables more experienced divers to practice the twists and turns before trying them out on the boards.

Their diving programme follows the National Diving Award Scheme right through to competitive level.

Athletes training at the Royal Commonwealth Pool include local Edinburgh boy, James Heatly (GB); Yona Knight-Wisdom (Jamaica) and Grace Reid, who grew up in the capital, are amongst other Olympians who have previously trained at the Commie.

For more information: 

https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/coaching-activities/diving/

Expanding care for patients at home

Improving the flow of patients through hospitals

A new £85 million investment will be targeted at front line NHS frailty services, helping to improve the flow of patients throughout hospitals and providing care for patients in the comfort of their own homes.

The ‘Hospital at Home’ service is to be expanded to 2,000 beds by December 2026. It predominantly provides care for frail, older people in their own homes and who may be suffering with acute illnesses and health conditions, including respiratory and cardiac conditions, infections, or treatment after a fall.

Keeping patients in their own homes ensures they can stay in familiar surroundings rather than be separated from family, friends and pets while also helping to reduce some of the risks associated with hospitalisations such as acquiring infections and lessening delayed discharge from hospital due to waits for appropriate care provision.

The funding will also be used to support the introduction of frailty services in every A&E department by the end of summer 2025, aiming to cut the average length of stay for vulnerable patients.

Speaking during a visit to Falkirk Community Hospital, where he met clinicians leading the Hospital at Home service across NHS Forth Valley, First Minister John Swinney said: “I am resolutely focused on taking the necessary action to reduce wait times and clear the blockages leading to delayed discharges across our NHS.

“This investment will ensure many patients can receive first class NHS care in the comfort of their own homes and not have to travel to a hospital where it isn’t required.

“Expanding Hospital at Home to 2,000 beds by December 2026 will create the largest ‘hospital’ in the country, thereby improving the flow of patients throughout the NHS and generating greater capacity for staff. The staff delivering this service at Falkirk Community Hospital are testament to the success of Hospital at Home and it’s been eye opening to see the effort that goes into provide this first class care.

“The NHS is Scotland’s greatest treasure but we know we must do better to ensure patients get the care they need, when and where they need it. The 2025-26 Budget provides record funding of £21 billion for Health and Social Care services – with NHS boards across Scotland receiving an additional £2 billion to deliver key front line services.”

Dr Sarah Henderson, Consultant Geriatrician, NHS Forth Valley’s Hospital at Home Service, said: ““Our local Hospital at Home team do an amazing job to help ensure that patients, who in the past would have to come into hospital, are able to remain in their own homes and access the specialist clinical care and support they require.

“Over the last four years the service has helped thousands of local patients and the feedback we have received from them and their families has been overwhelmingly positive as they really appreciate everything the team does to help them stay out of hospital and in familiar surroundings at home, close to their family, friends and pets.

“I am delighted that the additional funding announced today will help us expand the Hospital at Home service further as well as develop local heart failure, respiratory and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) services to help more people remain at home and still access the specialist care they require.” 

Marion Denholm’s husband Bill was recently supported by NHS Forth Valley’s Hospital at Home team after he developed a chest infection. Ms Denholm said: “There are no words to adequately describe the care and attention my husband received while under the care of Hospital at Home.

“We’ve had doctors, advanced nurse practitioners, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, a dietitian and a speech and language therapist all visit our home to provide the care and treatment he required so he didn’t have to go into hospital.

“This meant he was able to stay in familiar surroundings with his family around him at all times and still receive the same type of care he would have received in hospital. I also felt very supported as I could contact the Team direct if I had any worries or concerns.

“I can’t praise the Hospital at Home service enough and I am sure many other local families feel the same. It also makes so much more sense to treat people in their own homes if you can rather than occupy a bed in a busy hospital – it’s definitely a win-win for everyone involved.”

NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan

Strachan House Care Home residents enjoy a taste of Wimbledon

Residents and staff at Strachan House care home in Blackhall were at the ready for the start of Wimbledon with delicious strawberries and cream, all washed down with a glass of Pimms.

Tennis fans at Strachan House were delighted to be able to watch this year’s 138th Championships. Residents and staff got together to watch the matches and celebrated by having traditional Wimbledon-inspired strawberries and cream, whipped up by head chef Paul.

Residents were able to put their tennis skills to the test with a friendly indoor competition.

Fran Fisher, General Manager at the home, said: “We’ve had a fantastic time celebrating the Wimbledon championships today, it is always a firm favourite with our residents.

“We’re planning on watching as much as we possibly can again this year and enjoying every minute!”

Resident, Katherine commented: “I truly love watching Wimbledon, it is definitely my favourite sporting event. It was great to celebrate with friends here and enjoy the delicious strawberries and cream in true Wimbledon spirit.”

Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.

Strachan House Care Home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential, nursing and dementia care for short breaks and long term stays. 

Extreme risk of wildfire across Scotland this weekend

There is an extreme risk of wildfire across Scotland between Friday, 11 July and Monday, 14 July.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has urged people who live within or who may enter rural environments to exercise caution.

The extreme danger assessment – released in conjunction with the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF) – will be in place from Friday, 11 July until Monday, 14 July. This covers central and eastern areas on Friday, 11 July, and extends to all areas, except low-lying areas with green grass, from Saturday, 12 July, until Monday, 14 July.

Wildfires have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife, and threaten the welfare of nearby communities.

Group Commander Raymond King is a Wildfire Tactical Advisor at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. He said: “We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame.

“Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage.

“Livestock, farmland, wildlife, protected woodland, and sites of special scientific interest can all be devastated by these fires – as can the lives of people living and working in rural communities.

“These fires can also have a hugely negative impact on the environment, and the release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

“Human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a wildfire starting, so it is crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.”

SFRS advises people to always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and has a range of safety advice for wildfire prevention.

Universal Credit cuts voted through

DISABLED PEOPLE WILL LOSE OUT ON THOUSANDS OF POUNDS

The Labour government claims nearly 4 million households will see an annual income boost estimated to be worth £725 cash as the controversial Bill to overhaul the welfare system completed the next stage of its passage through Parliament last night.

  • Bill to introduce biggest permanent boost to out-of-work support since 1980 progresses through Parliament.
  • Legislation will remove perverse disincentives to work that exist in the welfare system while protecting 200,000 of those with the most severe, lifelong conditions who are not expected to ever be able to work.
  • Alongside the Bill, disabled people and those with health conditions will have legal protections to try work without fear of reassessment.
  • Reforms to the welfare system aimed at improving living standards across the country and breaking down barriers to opportunity as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.

KEIR Starmer’s Labour government says nearly 4 million households will see an annual income boost estimated to be worth £725 cash as a Bill to overhaul the welfare system completes the next stage of its passage through Parliament.

For the first time ever, the Universal Credit standard allowance will permanently rise above inflation, amounting to £725 by 2029/30 in cash terms for a single person aged 25 or over.

This is the highest permanent real terms increase to the main rate of out-of-work support since 1980, according to the IFS.

Reforms set out in the Universal Credit Bill will look to rebalance the core payment and health top up in Universal Credit (UC). This will address the fundamental imbalance in the system which creates perverse incentives that drive people into dependency.

The Bill, which will legislate to make these changes, today successfully cleared the House of Commons. It will now be introduced into the House of Lords to continue its passage through Parliament towards Royal Assent.

Alongside these changes, we have published significant new measures, giving people receiving health and disability benefits the right to try work without fear of reassessment.

The new Right to Try Guarantee enshrines this in law for the first time and includes disabled people and people with health conditions – such as those recovering from illness – who want to return to work now their health has improved.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: Our reforms are built on the principle of fairness, fixing a system that for too long has left people trapped in a cycle of dependence.

“We are giving extra support to millions of households across the country, while offering disabled people the chance to work without fear of the repercussions if things don’t work out.

“These reforms will change the lives of people across the country, so they have a real chance for a better future.”

The Labour fovernment says as part of their ‘commitment to protect the most vulnerable and severely disabled’, 200,000 in the Severe Conditions Criteria group – individuals with the most severe, lifelong conditions who are unlikely to recover – will not be called for a UC reassessment.

All existing recipients of the UC health element and new customers with 12 months or less to live or who meet the Severe Conditions Criteria will also see their standard allowance combined with their UC health element rise at least in line with inflation every year from 2026/27 to 2029/30. This means they can live with dignity and security, knowing the reforms to the welfare system mean it will always be there to support them.

Starmer’s government says they are also ‘putting disabled people at the heart of a ministerial review of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment’ led by Disability Minister Stephen Timms and co-produced with disabled people, along with the organisations that represent them, experts, MPs and other stakeholders – making sure it is fair and fit for the future. However this review was only introduced following a substantial revolt by the party’s own backbench MPs on the introduction of the controversial legislation.

The government says they will be engaging widely over the summer to design the process for the review and consider how it can best be co-produced to ensure that expertise from a range of different perspectives is drawn upon.

They say the reforms are ‘underpinned by a major investment in employment support for sick and disabled people’ – worth £3.8 billion over the Parliament. Funding will be brought forward for tailored employment, health and skills support to help disabled people and those with health conditions get into work as part of our Pathways to Work guarantee.

This ‘investment’ will accelerate the pace of new investments in employment support programmes, building on and learning from successes such as the Connect to Work programme, which are already rolling out to provide disabled people and people with health conditions with one-to-one support at the point when they feel ready to work.

The Labour government says the welfare reforms build on the Get Britain Working White Paper that will overhaul Jobcentres, empower Mayors and local leaders to tackle inactivity, and deliver a Youth Guarantee so every young person is either earning or learning, as part of the Government’s ambition to deliver an 80% employment rate.

CRITICS – INCLUDING 47 LABOUR MPs – SEE THE LEGISLATION AS AN ATTACK ON THE POOREST PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY, HOWEVER …

Parkisnon’s UK SAID: “The government’s decision to cut Universal Credit costs is appalling. We believe that, despite the government’s claims, savings are being made by effectively making people with Parkinson’s ineligible for the higher rate health element.

Helen Barnard, director of policy, research and impact at Trussell, said: “We are deeply concerned about the cuts being made to Universal Credit health payments for disabled and ill people applying in the future.

“The scale of the remaining cuts in this ill-conceived bill will still be devastating and risks pushing more disabled people to food banks. 

“Life costs more if you’re disabled. Cutting this part of our social security system will mean 9 in 10 disabled people newly claiming the Universal Credit health element will miss out on around £3,000 worth of support on average by 2029/30. It makes no sense to rip support away from people in the future, just because their health has worsened, they become disabled, or their income drops after an arbitrary date. 

“By contrast, the uplift to the basic rate of Universal Credit that this bill will bring in is a very welcome and long overdue step towards ensuring our social security system covers the cost of essentials like food, bills and toiletries. Further clarity on how the government will work with disabled people, MPs and charities is also important. 

“We applaud disabled people, MPs and community organisations like food banks for persistently raising their voices and ensuring many disabled people have been protected from deep financial losses during the progress of this bill.

“The UK government must now build on this to deliver a more compassionate, effective and fair social security system that, at the very least, protects disabled people from hunger and hardship.” 

Work is underway to move the benefit awards of over 66,000 people to Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance.

People getting DLA from the DWP don’t need to do anything as the transfer will happen automatically.

More at https://bit.ly/ScottishAdultDLA

STOP the Far Right in Edinburgh

FRIDAY 1st AUGUST at 6pm in THE MEADOWS

As Edinburgh opens its doors to welcome visitors from around the world on the 1st day of its Festival, organisers of the racist GB National Strike have threatened more racist hatred when they return to Edinburgh on August 1st. 

Join us to say racist & fascists are not welcome!