Police have had reports of sheds/garages being broken into across Edinburgh. Please remain vigilant and review the security of your property.
Key points for shed/garage security are:
• Use a good quality closed shackled padlock
• Fit coach bolts or anti tamper screws on shed hinges
• Install a stand-alone shed alarm
• Secure bikes within sheds/garages to a ground anchor or immovable object
• Review the lighting and fencing around your property
• Consider a garage defender
Please see attached documents for further advice.
If you see anyone acting suspiciously near to your property or vehicle please contact the police immediately with as detailed a description as possible of any person or vehicle involved. Please call 999 if an emergency and urgent police assistance is required or 101 to report the matter to the police.
Local authorities dealt with 225,430 residential rodent infestations in 2022 – equivalent to 618 per day
On average, each council spent more than £100,000 on pest control visits to homes
Swansea, Southwark and Birmingham councils tackled the most infestations while Eastbourne Council saw the biggest annual increase (188 per cent)
London faced more than 40,000 infestations in 2022 – almost one in five of all infestations
Local authorities dealt with 225,430 rodent infestations in 2022, equivalent to 618 per day, according to new research from Direct Line Home Insurance1. There has been a significant rise in residential rodent infestations in the last two years, increasing 12 per cent from 201,871 infestations (552 per day) in 2020.
The research found that each local authority spent an average of £101,044 dealing with residential rodent infestations. In total, local authorities could be spending an estimated £36 million tackling rodent infestations each year2. Almost one in five (19 per cent) local authorities provide pest control services to residents for free. For those households that don’t qualify for discounts, councils typically charged £80 for pest control related services.
Rodents can cause significant structural damage to homes by gnawing under floorboards, within stud walls and drywall linings, or by making holes in loft insulation which can cause condensation and rot in the joists.
If mice and rats chew through plastic pipes it can also lead to damp, or flooding whilst chewing through electrical cables could cause significant fire risks. Some rodents also carry diseases such as Salmonella and Listeria, which can easily spread to humans, normally through rodent urine, droppings, or by coming into contact with food preparation areas.
Table one: Local Authorities dealing with the most infestations
Rank
Local Authorities
2021
2022
y/o/y change
1
City & County of Swansea
15,516
16,767
8 per cent
2
Southwark Council
8,761
16,664
90 per cent
3
Birmingham City Council
14,464
12,736
-12 per cent
4
Liverpool City Council
12,032
10,373
-14 per cent
5
City of Glasgow
7,894
10,323
31 per cent
6
Sunderland City Council
3,232
5,968
85 per cent
7
Wigan Metropolitan Borough
5,382
4,715
-12 per cent
8
North Lanarkshire Council
3,469
4,462
29 per cent
9
London Borough of Lambeth
3,246
3,645
12 per cent
10
Nottingham City Council
4,115
3,573
-13 per cent
Source: Direct Line Home Insurance 2023
The City & County of Swansea dealt with the most residential rodent infestations in 2022, a total of 16,767. Southwark Council and Birmingham were the second and third busiest councils last year, dealing with 16,665 and 12,736 infestations respectively.
Eastbourne Council saw the highest increase in rodent infestations in 2022 with 598, up from 208 in 2021 (a significant 188 per cent increase). London Borough Councils dealt with 40,768 infestations in 2022 – 18 per cent of the total for the UK.
One estimate suggests there are now 150 million rats in the UK3. Some ‘super rats’ are now resistant to traditional pest control methods and can grow to be as big as a cat.
Dan Simson, Head of Direct Line Home Insurance, said: “Mice and rats pose a real risk to the home and people’s health. They take advantage of issues like broken pipes, slipped roof tiles or holes in skirting to gain access to a property, often causing serious damage to the structural integrity of a building or belongings.
“We recommend that anyone with an infestation contacts either their local authority or an extermination service to have it taken care of professionally.”
Ian Andrew, Chief Executive at the British Pest Control Association, commented: “Rodents are a serious public health pest and they have rapid breeding cycles, which means infestations require swift action as they can escalate quickly.
“Unfortunately, being unable to afford pest control increases the likelihood of people either ignoring infestations or attempting DIY pest control methods, which can make the issue worse and endanger other people or non-target species.
“A pest professional such as a BPCA member will have the technical knowledge and experience required to deal with an infestation quickly and safely, as well as having access to products not available to the public.
“Pest management is vital for maintaining the safety, health and wellbeing of people, so it would be great to see something in the UK like the proactive approach New York City are taking, with the appointment of a ‘rat tsar’.”
To help homeowners prevent pest invasions, Direct Line Home Insurance has provided the following five tips:
Keep refuse bins sealed: Avoid attracting rodents to your property in the first place by keeping all rubbish bins containing food waste properly sealed, clearing away garden waste and by using rodent safe bird feeders.
Keep surfaces clean: Rodents are drawn to food debris so wiping down surfaces regularly, clearing up food spillages and throwing away uneaten food will help to prevent unwanted visitors.
Fill cracks and crevasses: Many rodents are crafty at finding entry routes into the home. Prevent them from getting in by sealing gaps around doors and windows. Also block holes above or under the sink as many pests will use this area to gain access to water.
Seal food: Store food in safe and enclosed containers to prevent rodents from being tempted to visit your home.
Avoid clutter: Rodents love hiding in dark areas so keep the home clutter-free to remove opportunities for them to set up a home in your house.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has reminded borrowers they can get help from their lenders if they are struggling to keep up with payments, as it found the number of people struggling to meet bills and credit repayments has risen by 3.1m since May 2022 (10.9m, compared to 7.8m in May 2022).
The number of adults who missed bills or loan payments in at least three of the last six months has also gone up by 1.4 million, from 4.2 million to 5.6 million over the same period.
The FCA has repeatedly reminded firms of the importance of supporting their customers and working with them to solve problems with payment, including by writing to industry bosses to make sure they are aware of the regulator’s expectations.
Where firms haven’t supported their customers properly, the FCA has told them to make changes. It reminded 3,500 lenders of how they should be supporting borrowers in financial difficulty and told 32 lenders to make changes to the way they treat customers. This work has led to £29 million in compensation being secured for over 80,000 customers.
As part of its Financial Lives survey, the FCA found that the cost of living is having an impact on people’s mental wellbeing. Around half of UK adults, or 28.4 million people, in January 2023 felt more anxious or stressed due to the rising cost of living than six months earlier.
Sheldon Mills, Executive Director of Consumers and Competition said: ‘Our research highlights the real impact the rising cost of living is having on people’s ability to keep up with their bills, although we are pleased to see that people have been accessing help and advice.
‘If you’re concerned about your finances, you do not need to worry alone. We’ve told lenders that they should provide support tailored to your needs. And, if you find yourself in debt or want to know more about how to manage your finances, free expert advice is available.
‘We will continue to act quickly to make sure financial firms help their customers who are facing financial difficulty or are worried they might be soon.’
The support needed to deal with the rising cost of living goes beyond what is provided by the financial services sector. As a result, the FCA continues to work with other regulators and debt organisations to drive better coordination and help make sure customers are treated fairly and supported if they get into financial difficulty.
The FCA will also be introducing the Consumer Duty in the summer. The Duty will be the driving force behind its consumer protection work, as it will require firms to act to deliver good outcomes for consumers and make sure that they are properly supported while using a financial product or service.
It’s been revealed this week that it is taking up to EIGHTEEN MONTHS for some potholes to be repaired
Louise Thomas, car insurance expert at Confused.com, comments: “It’s common to see potholes this time of year, as cold weather and rainfall cause damage to roads. Potholes can be dangerous for road users, which is why it’s so important to report them if spotted.
“Our latest research reveals that almost 1 in 4 (23%) drivers have had their cars damaged because of a pothole. And the damage has costed £174, on average, for drivers to fix or repair.
“With rising motoring costs a continuous challenge in the current climate, potholes can be a costly annoyance. But drivers can make a claim, which could help to reduce how much they’re paying out themselves.
“To make a claim, drivers should:
1. Check for damage and gather evidence with clear photos or videos
2. Report the pothole to the local council
3. Ask a mechanic to confirm the damage and get a quote for the repair
4. Submit the claim to your insurer
“Our tips on how to make a pothole claim can help drivers through the claims process, so that they could potentially receive compensation for the damage caused.”
With April being IBS awareness month, Google searches for ‘What is irritable bowel syndrome?’ have increased by over 300% in the past 30 days, and ‘What does IBS feel like?’ has also seen an increase of 250%.
I’m a doctor and here are the symptoms, triggers, and cures for your IBS
The exact cause of IBS is unknown, but some causes include family history and infection
The exact cause of IBS isn’t known, although potential risk factors have been identified such as stress and family history. Differences in the bacteria that live in the gut of those who have IBS could also have other conditions. IBS can also occur after an abdominal infection (gastroenteritis), which subsequently changes the gut microbiome.
IBS is also caused by contractions that are too weak, which can slow down the movement of food through the gut leading to constipation. At the same time, contractions that are too strong or too long can lead to diarrhoea, bloating and flatulence.
Symptoms include problematic urination, backaches and nauseousness, as well as the usual stomach pain
IBS symptoms are often triggered or worsened by eating or drinking. Common symptoms include stomach pain and cramps, abdominal bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. You may also experience backache, feel tired and nauseous, pass more wind (flatulence), pass whitish mucus on your stools, and have problems controlling your urge to urinate and open your bowels.
Food triggers are different for everyone, but some of the main culprits are cabbage, broccoli and apples
Food and drink triggers for those with IBS vary from one individual to the next, which is why it is helpful to keep a food diary where you can track what you’ve eaten and drank alongside your symptoms.
Drinks that can trigger IBS include caffeinated drinks (e.g. tea, coffee, and certain energy drinks), and fizzy drinks. Foods that may trigger IBS include cabbage, cruciferous vegetables (e.g. broccoli, Brussel sprouts), high-fructose fruits (apples, mangoes, pears), fatty/fried foods (chips, crisps, cheese), highly processed foods and pulses.
Chewing gum might also be a trigger of your IBS
The primary triggers for IBS outside of food and drink are anxiety, stress and certain medications e.g. antibiotics, certain antidepressants and medication containing sorbitol (e.g. cough syrup). Eating too quickly and chewing gum can also trigger IBS symptoms.
Non-caffeinated drinks and probiotics can help ease symptoms of IBS
Drinking non-caffeinated tea (e.g. peppermint, chamomile or fennel tea) may help to reduce stomach cramps.
Taking probiotics can also be helpful. Probiotics contain live bacteria that support your gut microbiome and can be taken as tablets or found in certain foods (e.g. yoghurts with live bacteria, kefir, kimchi, miso, sauerkraut, tempeh) and drinks (e.g. kombucha).
In general, cooking food at home using fresh ingredients can help you better manage IBS as you can control exactly what goes into your food to avoid triggers.
There is no cure for IBS. However, it can get better on its own and its symptoms can be managed through dietary changes, regular exercise and stress relief.
IBS vs bowel cancer: bloody stools, thin stools and unexplained weight loss should cause concern
Both cause stomach pain, cramps, bloating and changes in your bowel habits. IBS can also cause whitish mucus on your stools but this doesn’t usually occur in bowel cancer. Unlike IBS, bowel cancer can cause bloody stools, thin stools, unexplained weight loss and general weakness. If you’re experiencing persistent bowel symptoms, seeing your GP to rule out more serious conditions, such as bowel cancer is important.
IBS vs diverticulitis – IBS can cause pain anywhere, whereas diverticulitis causes pain on the lower left side
Both IBS and diverticulitis cause stomach pain. However, in diverticulitis, this is usually focused on the lower left side of the abdomen and is constant. In IBS, pain can occur anywhere across your abdomen and usually eases after opening your bowels.
Diverticulitis changes occur in the lining of the gut, with the formation of small pockets that become inflamed and/or infected. In IBS, no changes occur to the gut lining.
Swing into spring! We are pleased to launch our spring health campaign ‘Healthy Know How.’
Featuring the character Billy, his son, cat and neighbour Mollie, Healthy Know How provides advice to ensure you are prepared for any illnesses or mishaps over the Easter holidays.
Tips include:
Check your repeat prescription, order only what you need, in plenty of time
Keep some medicines to treat common illnesses at home
If you become unwell, NHS inform has useful symptom checkers to help you decide what to do next
Be aware that your GP practice and local pharmacy may have amended opening hours over the Easter weekend
The gig economy: take tiredness seriously to save your life, RoSPA warns
As the UK gig economy shows no signs of slowing, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has issued a warning to Scottish businesses and workers about driving when tired.
In the gig economy, instead of a regular wage, workers get paid for the ‘gigs’ they do, such as food delivery or a car journey. In the UK, it’s estimated that over five million people are employed in this type of capacity.
Drivers and couriers who get their work from apps face a ‘heightened risk’ of collisions, with almost half (42 per cent) of drivers reporting vehicle damage because of a collision, according to research from University College London.
Tiredness from overwork was flagged as a key risk for those delivering food and parcels, while 63 per cent reported to have not been given the appropriate safety training on managing risks on the road.
One in 10 reported someone had been injured in a crash while they had been working, with scores more reporting time pressure as a key factor in their driving.[1]
Karen McDonnell, Head of RoSPA Scotland, said:“With the cost of living crisis continuing to bite, it’s easy to see how those in the gig economy could be overworked and tired. We know that being tired is a huge risk factor when driving, and so it’s easy to see how the roads could get more dangerous.
“While it can be easy to say someone should cut down their hours, it’s not always as simple as that. Responsibility lies largely with the companies employing gig workers, who often have unrealistic targets and are expected to go above and beyond to deliver.”
What to do if you feel tired when driving or riding
When you first start to feel tired, stop and take a break
Stop in a safe place – make sure you’re not on a motorway hard shoulder
If you can, drink some coffee or another caffeinated drink
Take a short nap, ensuring your car is in a secure location.
What to do if you’re driving for a long distance
Even experienced HGV drivers are stopped from driving more than nine hours a day. Many drivers are not used to driving anywhere near this long, so always bear in mind:
Don’t drive for more than eight hours in a day
Take regular breaks, aiming to stop every two hours or so
On very long journeys, try and plan overnight breaks if you can
Don’t begin a long journey if you are feeling tired.
Free sleep courses for Scotland businesses
Lack of sleep doesn’t just affect driving, but overall productivity, too. And with tiredness to blame for 200,000 working days a year in Scotland, The Scottish Occupational Road Safety Alliance (ScORSA) is on a mission to change the way we think about and manage being tired.
That’s why it is holding a limited series of free virtual courses for Scottish businesses relating to tiredness in the workplace and productivity on the 19 April and the 24 May. To book, businesses should visit ScORSA’s website and join for free here.
RoSPA delivers the ScORSA project funded by Transport Scotland , as part of Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030.
GRANTON Information Centre welfare rights advisers Elvira and Pui-Kei will be delivering an advice and information session tomorrow at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre.
Come along if you have any questions about debt/benefits or housing!
· Scottish Gas and Post Office bring the Scottish Gas Post Office Pop-Ups to communities with highest need, with events across Glasgow, Stornoway, Kirkwall and Aberdeen
· Since May last year, the partnership initiative has seen over 122 Pop-Ups in 62 locations take place across Great Britain to support people in need
Scottish Gas and Post Office bring the successful Scottish Gas Post Office Pop-Ups to Glasgow and Aberdeen, as well as two of the furthest corners of the nation – Stornoway and Kirkwall.
The Scottish Pop-Ups follow the 122 events that have taken place across Great Britain since the initiative launched as a pilot programme in May 2022, supporting people with practical and financial advice from expert money and energy advisors and providing grant eligibility assistance to those who need it most.
The Scottish Gas Post Office Pop-Ups aim to reassure bill payers with experts answering their questions and concerns in an environment that’s familiar, safe and local to them.
More importantly, at every event, money and energy advisers from local British Gas Energy Trust funded charities will be offering an in-depth overview of the support available, signposting people to other organisations who may be able to help, checking benefits entitlements and providing free energy-saving tips and advice.
The first of the series of eight Scottish Gas Post Office Pop-ups opens today in Glasgow, providing people with confidential advice from Scottish Gas Energy Trust-funded organisations. Those struggling with energy debt will be directed to the independent advice available through British Gas Energy Trust and the organisations they fund, including energy saving advice and access to grant.
The Scottish Pop-Ups are even offering support to the most remote areas of Scotland, including the Highlands and Islands, as Scottish Gas understands these are the communities with the highest need.
The dates and locations include:
· Glasgow – 21st and 22nd March
· Aberdeen – 23rd and 24th March
· Stornoway – 27th and 28th March
· Orkney – 30th and 31st March
Jessica Taplin, British Gas Energy Trust Chief Executive said:“Helping Scottish people continues to be a priority for us in 2023. With many people unable to access financial support and advice online, these Pop-Ups will be a lifeline to those really struggling this spring.
“As always, our mission is to help alleviate the detrimental impact of poverty. By working closely with Scottish organisations already embedded in the local communities, we can provide much needed financial and practical support to vulnerable members of the community, whether you’re a Scottish Gas customer or not.”
We are pleased to launch our spring health campaign ‘Healthy Know How.’
Check your repeat prescription, order only what you need, in plenty of time
