Tag: advice

Outdoor fire safety message pitched at campers

Safety advice to prevent avoidable fires in the Scottish countryside is being pitched at campers this summer.

Warmer weather and the increased numbers of people visiting the countryside as pandemic restrictions ease create a greater risk of fire.

Not using candles in tents or never leaving camp fires unattended are just some of the tips being highlighted for a safer summer.

The advice comes as new data shows the number of grass fires more than doubled in some parts of Scotland last summer, such as Aberdeenshire & Moray and Highland – see table below.

A nationwide increase of nine percent was recorded, with incidents going up across Argyll & Bute, East and West Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, Midlothian and Scottish Borders, Edinburgh City, Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Fife, as well as Aberdeen City.

Between June 22 and August 24, 2020, fires affecting grassland, woodland and crops went up from 656 total incidents in 2019 to 712 in 2020.

Many outdoor fires are started deliberately or are due to careless or irresponsible behaviour.

Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Alasdair Perry, SFRS Head of Prevention and Protection, said: “We want people to enjoy spending time outdoors, but it’s important to create a safe environment for you, your loved-ones and the surrounding environment because even small fires have the potential to turn into a wildfire.

“Before lighting any outdoor fires, check for any restrictions or permissions required by the landowner and make sure you use a fire safe pit or container that can be properly extinguished before you leave.

“The vast majority of us wish to keep our country beautiful, but litter can seriously injure wildlife and items such as glass bottles in strong sunlight have the potential to start a fire. Remember to keep your area tidy and always clear up when done.”

There are also other dangers associated with camping as DACO Perry continued:

“Be aware that fire destroys tents very quickly, so use torches instead of candles.

“Never take a portable or disposable barbeque inside a tent to cook or to use as a heat source because Carbon Monoxide is also a potential risk.

“And gas barbeques should also be used in a well-ventilated area.”

Those choosing to go away in caravans for a staycation are also being reminded to have a working smoke alarm fitted.

A fire in a caravan or mobile home spreads much more quickly than it would in a house or flat and there are on average almost 100 caravan fires in Scotland every year.

Summer also brings with it the temptation to swim outdoors, but lochs, rivers and reservoirs also pose a risk to those enjoying nature.

Cold water shock can leave people gasping for breath and it’s potentially fatal. Therefore, the advice is to avoid unsupervised waterways.

More safer summer advice can be found online at: 

https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-safety/safer-summer.aspx

Don’t forget – if you’re leaving your home for an extended period of time this summer, remember to switch off electrical appliances before you set off.

All grassland, woodland and crop fires:

LSO Area24/06/2019 to 26/08/201922/06/2020 to 24/08/2020
Aberdeen City2327
Aberdeenshire, Moray2765
Angus,Dundee City, Perth & Kinross5555
Argyll & Bute, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire1322
Dumfries & Galloway158
East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire7756
East Lothian,Midlothian, Scottish Borders4246
East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire3830
Edinburgh City5982
Falkirk, West Lothian8174
Glasgow City5452
Highland3265
Na h-Eileanan Siar, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands22
North Lanarkshire3324
South Lanarkshire3731
Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Fife6873
TOTAL656712

Young people speak up to give drowning the boot

National lifesaving charity warns there could be a steep  increase in accidental drownings this summer 

A rise in drowning figures has prompted the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK)  to encourage parents to teach their children how to stay safe and enjoy water safely  this summer, as part of its national Drowning Prevention Week campaign, 19-26 June  2021. 

Throughout 2020 and 2021, millions of children have missed out on vital swimming, lifesaving  skills and water safety education during the pandemic due to pool closures, leaving a dramatic  gap in school swimming and water safety education.  

Young people from low incomes and ethnic minority communities have been the hardest hit.  A staggering 95 per cent of black adults and 80 per cent of black children do not swim, and  this gap has widened still further as a result of Covid-19. 

Accidental drowning takes an average of 402 UK and Irish citizens each year, and the Royal  Life Saving Society UK fears that with lockdown restrictions lifting and staycations on the up, families will flock to inland water locations and beaches this summer, without the right  knowledge and skills, putting themselves and others at risk.  

Fourteen-year-old Teya Davies tragically died after slipping into Sniggy Pond in Widnes, trying  to help her friend who had fallen into the water before her.

Teya’s story is not a ‘one off’- it’s  one of many, so RLSS UK has teamed up with Teya’s friends and family to create a powerful  video highlighting the importance of water safety, in Teya’s honour.  

Teya’s friend, Liv Eren said: “We sadly lost our friend, Teya, at the age of 14. When looking  back on Teya’s story, we now know how preventable her death could have been if only she  knew how to swim, or to keep herself safe in the water.

“We are pleased to do our bit to prevent  others from going through the heartache of losing a friend like we have.” 

RLSS UK’s Charity Director Lee Heard, said: “We are surrounded by opportunities to be in or  near water. Whatever their age and activity level, everyone should be having fun, creating  memories and feeling at ease around the water. The inequality in access to swimming and  water safety education, and subsequent lack of potential interaction with the water is a big concern.  

“RLSS UK believes that through free, accessible education and training, everyone can enjoy  water safely, have fun in the water and develop an essential life skill. We urge as many parents  and carers as possible to get involved with the campaign, use our free online resources, and  give children the skills to enjoy a lifetime of fun in the water.”

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “We want every primary school pupil to learn to swim and to  have water safety lessons, not just because it can improve their physical health but also  because it is an important life skill.  

“The Royal Life Saving Society UK’s work in raising awareness about the importance of water  safety is very welcome, adding to the work we continue to do with schools to promote water  safety and swimming.  

“We must do all we can to eliminate the tragedy of children drowning.” 

Statistics (based on five-year average totals) show:  

• Over 55% of parents surveyed said they would not be confident their child would know what to  do if they fell into open water 

• 1 in 3 of those surveyed said their swimming abilities limited the activities they could do • Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in children and the risk of drowning increases  from the age of 15 

• More than 46% never intended to be in water 

• 62.4% of accidental drowning happen in inland water 

• Over 80% of those who drown accidently, are male 

Drowning Prevention Week aims to equip everybody across the UK and Ireland with the skills and  knowledge, to make the right decisions about water safety. 

The Royal Life Saving Society UK believes that drowning is preventable and that even one drowning is  one too many. The Charity has produced a range of free water safety advice, resources and online  lessons to help parents, schools, leisure centres and other organisations to teach water safety to  children.  

Edinburgh Staycation: Ultimate Road Trip Guide

Western Honda Edinburgh offers some handy tips and advice

As temperatures begin to rise, staycation season will soon be upon us. With 4 in 5 Brits (84%) planning a UK break this summer, we know that many people will be setting out on a road trip.

As with any long journey, it’s really important to make sure cars are in the best possible condition, and can deal with whatever the trip might throw at them.

To make sure your vehicle is in the best shape possible, Western Honda Edinburgh has created the ultimate road trip guide. With invaluable vehicle and travel tips, it’s sure to help you get the most out of your summer journeys:

  1. Do the ‘Big Three’ checks ahead of the journey – There are three key checks to do before you set off. Tyre pressure, washer fluid and engine oil levels should be monitored before any long trip. Many car owners especially forget to check their engine oil levels, which is vital to keep internal parts moving as they should. If the oil level in your engine drops too low, it’ll stop working efficiency and could even lead to significant engine damage.
  1. Bring the fun – A key part of any road trip is ensuring that the fun never stops. This is often difficult on long car journeys, so why not avoid the 100th round of ‘I Spy’ by bringing travel board games for your passengers? Crosswords or Card Games are a great way to pass the time and inject some competitive spirit into your journey. As well as games, make sure you bring in-car snacks too, to keep your passengers fed and happy throughout the journey.  From a full picnic to crisps and sweets, it’ll be sure to maintain the energy levels throughout your trip.
  1. Packing – Perhaps the most obvious of all is making sure you’re packed for your destination! What would a summer road trip be without the luggage, bikes and snack bags that are essential for a summer day out. Squeezing everything in can be a challenge, but our range of Honda vehicles has been designed with space in mind. From roof-bars to bike-racks, our host of innovative space-saving features will ensure your road trip has everything you need.

Aftersales Manager, Jonathan Wilson  from  Western  Honda commented: “Now that the warmer months are upon us, it is really important to consider the impact longer road trips will have on your car.

“Not only to avoid any potential damage, but to make sure you are keeping safe on the road. Whatever your needs, we are always here to offer help or advice on this. Simply pick up the phone and our expert team will be delighted to help.”

For those keen to purchase a new car, the Western Honda Edinburgh range features the all-electric Honda e alongside our popular Jazz and CR-V Hybrid models.

The dealership is now back open and welcoming shoppers. Extensive measures have been put in place to keep the process as safe as possible, including staggered appointment times and sanitisation stations for staff and customers. This also includes the thorough cleaning of all vehicles before and after handover.  

According to a recent study, Cornwall is among the most sought-after destinations in Europe for road trips. With 78 boards dedicated to the county on social media site Pinterest, the picturesque coast has also seen a surge in Google searches, with a 50% increase in people searching for ‘Cornwall’ from January 2021 to March 2021. 

With that in mind, Edinburgh Honda have pulled together a list of the UK’s best road trip routes, so why not try visiting some of the following spots on your summer journey?:

  • Wild Wales – Explore some of the UK’s most stunning scenery with a drive through Snowdonia National Park and out to the Menai Strait. Starting at Betws-y-Coed, head west past Swallow Falls and into the heart of Snowdonia. Outside the park, take the scenic route via Caernarfon, before heading over the water to explore the beautiful Isle of Anglesey.
    • Route Distance: 50 miles
  • Peak District National Park – Why not take a tour through one of the country’s most beloved national parks, the Peak District. Start in Glossop and head into the Pennines via the famous Snake Pass. A small detour to the south-west will take you to the Blue John Cavern, a cave system that’s ideal for an exciting alternative to rambling. For even more of a thrill, take to the skies with Derwent Valley’s cable car.
    • Route Distance: 40 miles
  • Atlantic Highway – The A39 is a long stretch of road in South West England, running between Bath to Falmouth. A particularly picturesque part is from Barnstaple in Devon to the Cornish seaside resort of Newquay. Just a short journey from the road are breath-taking views of the Atlantic as you pass through Bude, Camelford and Wadebridge. Active groups will love walking and cycling through North Devon’s Adventure Coast.
    • Route Distance: 77 miles
  • Norfolk Coast – England’s eastern coastline is full of scenic waterways and wildlife, so starting out from Norwich, take the coast road north towards Cromer for a traditional seaside resort. Further along the coast, Brancaster Beach is the perfect option for an afternoon on the sand. With more than 40 miles of sandy shores and six Blue Flag beaches, Norfolk is also home to the country’s largest seal colony at Blakeney Point.
    • Route Distance: 90 miles
  • The UK’s Route 66 – For the ultimate summer road trip, why not venture up to Scotland to enjoy some of the UK’s most spectacular vistas. Starting and ending at Inverness Castle, The North Coast 500 goes via Ullapool, Durness, John O’Groats and Dornoch. A full 500 miles in length, it’s advisable to book accommodation well in advance. Plenty of adventurous opportunities exist on route, with surfing, canyoning and diving all available to beginners.
    • Route Distance: 516 miles

Contact your local Honda dealership on 0131 657 3000 or email 

info@westernhonda.co.uk 

to get yourself road trip ready with Western Honda  today.

NHS Lothian: right care, right place for minor injuries

If you have a minor injury please call 111 free to be referred to the right service.

They will arrange an appointment if you need to attend hospital. Or, if appropriate, they can schedule an appointment for a confidential assessment by video call with a Nurse practitioner.

Post-natal depression: time to talk

GP reveals what to do if you have post-natal depression 

  • A third of UK mothers experience some form of post-natal depression, with 12% considering self harm 
  • Dr. Elisabeth Rosen gives advice for those experiencing post-natal depression 
  • 30-year-old Rebecca Lockwood shares her experience with post-natal depression 

The study, conducted by Livi, the digital healthcare platform, surveyed 1,000 UK mothers and found over a quarter (29%) of young mothers (aged 18-24) considered self-harming after giving birth, but they are the least likely age group to ask for support. 

The main signs include persistent depression or low mood, lack of energy and lack of interest in the wider world. Problems sleeping, difficulty bonding with your baby and having disturbing thoughts can also be symptoms. 

Sadly, such thoughts result in nearly one in eight (12%) new mothers considering self-harm. This is more than twice as common amongst younger parents, with the figure rising to over a quarter for mothers aged 18-24 (29%) and 25-34 (26%). 

One of the best ways to address these negative feelings is to talk about them with other people. Unfortunately, however, more than one in seven (15%) say they found it difficult to talk about their post-natal depression, with one in ten (10%) calling it a taboo subject. 

This could explain why so many new mothers are reluctant to admit their symptoms and ask for support (15%), despite it being a great way to alleviate the strain. Young mums (18-24) in particular feel uncomfortable asking for help with their babies (22%) and they are the least likely to seek professional advice for their depression (4%).  

An often-overlooked aspect of the condition is that it is not always exclusive to the mother. Over a quarter (27%) of fathers experience depression after their baby is born and a third (33%) of those with symptoms consider self-harm2. 

If you or your partner are experiencing symptoms of post-natal depression, there are a number of things you can do to help.  

Dr. Elisabeth Rosen, a doctor specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology at Livi, has given her top five pieces of advice: 

1) Talk to family and friends  

Tell them how you’re feeling and don’t be afraid to ask for help with things like looking after the baby, so you can catch up on sleep or socialising. 

2) Find local support 

If you don’t have anyone to turn to – for example, if you’re a single mother with no friends or family close by – look for local support groups. A doctor should be able to help you find one in your area. 

3) Rest 

Try not to be a perfectionist. It doesn’t matter if your house doesn’t look immaculate, or all of the chores aren’t done. It’s more important that you catch up on sleep and rest when you can. 

4) Eat healthily 

Having a baby makes demands on the body, so eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly (or when you can) is crucial. 

5) Seek expert help 

Your doctor can refer you for a course of therapy with a psychologist. Cognitive behavioural therapy is shown to be effective in treating postnatal depression. Antidepressants may also be recommended in certain cases where depression is severe and other treatments haven’t helped. 

Rebecca Lockwood, 30, experienced post-natal depression when she was 24 after the birth of her first child. She said: “For the first six weeks, I would find myself sobbing uncontrollably and feeling helpless.

“Then I would feel even worse because I was wracked with guilt. At first, I found it hard to ask for help as I was terrified that if anyone knew how I was feeling my baby would be taken away.  

“Eventually I was able to admit to myself how bad I really felt and ask for help from my doctor. It started with medication for a short time and then counselling, CBT and psychotherapy over a 12-month period. This helped and left me feeling a bit better, but it wasn’t until I trained in Neuro Linguistic Programming, timeline therapy and hypnotherapy that I finally felt completely better.  

“I became aware of the judgement I held towards myself and my whole perception shifted as I realised that I needed to be much kinder to myself. I understood how my mind works and why I was behaving the way I was.” 

Dr. Rosen adds: “There is an expectation of women that they should feel super happy after having a baby, but many women are hesitant to admit that they don’t feel this way. 

“In fact, it’s common for new parents to feel depressed, confused, frustrated, tired and disillusioned – that’s nothing to feel ashamed of. Support and treatments are available, so speak to a doctor, who can help you to work out what the best options are for you. Whatever you do, don’t suffer in silence.” 

For more information and advice about post-natal depression, visit: 

https://www.livi.co.uk/your-health/help-for-postnatal-depression/  

City council prevents more than 300 households falling into homelessness

In just over a year, more than 300 households living in the private rented sector have been prevented from becoming homeless thanks to city council’s Crisis-run Private Rented Service Team (PRS).

Established in November 2019 in response to a growing number of homeless presentations from the private rented sector, the Private Rented Service (PRS) Team has assisted 324 households since March 2020. This has been done by helping them to keep their existing tenancy or to move to either a new private or mid-market rent secure tenancy.

Edinburgh Help to Rent, which is a service the Council contracts Crisis to deliver, does this by providing rent deposit guarantee bonds. It has provided 50 households with a bond to access properties in the private rented sector since February 2020.

This comes as part of a wider update on the City of Edinburgh Council’s Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan (RRTP), a comprehensive strategy to tackle and eradicate homelessness across the city over the next five years, that was presented at the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work committee this month.

The Council has made significant investment, complemented by Scottish Government funding, to deliver the Plan, which is focused on providing:

  • suitable temporary accommodation for the needs of households;
  • supporting people into settled accommodation as quickly as possible;
  • reducing the number of people sleeping rough on our streets; and overall preventing homelessness in the first place.

The RRPT sets out all the different approaches that are key to tackling a wide range of issues faced by people across the Capital.

Alongside the PRS Team, a team has been set up to provide a ‘multi-disciplinary response’ pilot for Council tenants who are struggling to maintain their tenancy or who are falling into rent arrears.

This multi-agency approach across the Council aims to reach out to our tenants who may not engage with their locality Housing Officer, to offer joined-up support and enhanced engagement to help keep the tenant in their home and so avoiding homelessness. 

Learning from a similar successful innovative programme by Newcastle City Council, this brings together representatives from key Council services including housing, homelessness, advice services, family & household support, adult protection and children and families social work services into one cross-Council response group.

Established as recently as February 2021, since March this year the team has positively engaged 16 (84%) of 19 tenants referred to the team. A further 14 have since been referred and attempts are being made to contact them and offer support.

The Homelessness Transformational Prevention Programme complements the RRTP. Through this programme the Council has recruited 28 additional officers to trial new ways of working that will prevent homelessness in the first place.

When a permanent home can’t be found immediately, the team will continue helping people to access settled housing more quickly, thereby reducing the number of households in temporary accommodation. Through joint funding by the Council and Scottish Government, the RRTP has made this investment possible.

Councillor Kate Campbell, Convener of Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work committee said: “With the severe pressure on housing in Edinburgh, we need to take every possible step we can to tackle homelessness in our city.

“That includes stepping up work on prevention, improving temporary accommodation, making sure that there is support in place for anyone experiencing homelessness, ending rough sleeping and finding as many ways as possible to help people resolve homelessness. The Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan sets out all the different initiatives we’ve put in place to do that.

“This has to start with preventing homelessness wherever possible, so I’m glad that both the PRS Team and the multi-disciplinary response team are working so well. Preventing 300 households from becoming homeless in a year is phenomenal and it shows the real value of the RRTP supporting innovation and new ways of working. This funding from the Scottish Government allows us to try out new services, and where they are successful we can continue, and look to expand them.

“This is more important than ever as we start to see the economic repercussions from the pandemic and expect an increase in homeless presentations.

“The RRTP is a comprehensive plan that sets out all of these new services and innovative ways that we are supporting people to create better outcomes for individuals, and work towards ending homelessness in our city.”

Councillor Mandy Watt, Vice Convener of Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work committee said: “Being homeless can be a horrible experience for people and finding better ways to prevent it is an incredibly important part of the Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan.

“Working with registered social landlords and partner organisations like Crisis has already made a big difference to the numbers of people ending up homeless.

“As we come out of the Covid-19 emergency measures, the need for this service is likely to increase significantly and we’ll be relying on our dedicated prevention team to play an even bigger role in our efforts to end homelessness in Edinburgh.”

Independent local support is available if you are experiencing housing/debt problems. Contact Granton Information Centre by email at info@gic.org.uk or telephone 0131 551 2459 or 0131 552 0458.

Confusion over travel insurance could leave travellers at risk of being out of pocket, says Which?

A lack of clarity from travel insurers over how much protection their policies offer for Covid-related disruption could lead to consumers losing money as international travel reopens, Which? research has found. 

New research from the consumer champion suggests that many travel insurance customers are being left with a false impression about the level of protection they would benefit from if the pandemic was to impact on their holiday plans. 

Which? believes some of this is down to poor communication by some travel insurance providers and the use of often confusing, blanket terms such as ‘Covid Cover’ or ‘Enhanced Covid Cover’ on insurers’ websites.

The consumer champion’s survey of over 2,800 travel insurance customers, conducted between February and March 2021, found that three in 10 respondents (29%) had committed to bookings or arrangements for international trips this year – with around one in 10 (12%) saying that while they’d not booked or arranged travel, they did have specific plans.

Which? asked the survey respondents if they believed that their policies would cover them in the following six scenarios: 

  • Cover for costs if – after booking my trip – the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel to my destination;
  • Cover in the event that a local or national lockdown prevents me from travelling;
  • Cover in the event I can’t travel because I have to self-isolate at home because of NHS Test and Trace;
  • Cover in the event I can’t go on my trip because I’m diagnosed/test positive with COVID-19;
  • Medical cover if I catch COVID-19 overseas; and
  • Cover if my airline or holiday company postpones my travel but will only offer a rebooking or credit and not a cash refund.

Half of survey respondents (50%) believed that they’d be covered should the government’s travel advice change after a trip was booked, and nearly half (47%) thought their policy would cover them in the event that local or national lockdowns prevented them from travelling. Almost half (46%) believed their policy would cover them if their airline or holiday company postponed their travel, but wouldn’t offer a cash refund. 

However, when Which? analysed 73 travel insurance providers between October and November 2020, cover for those three such eventualities – particularly for when government travel advice changes – was very rare, with large discrepancies between what policies included. The consumer champion has been continuing actively to monitor Covid-related cover offered and believes little has changed to improve this situation in recent months. 

Since March 2020, most insurers have considered the pandemic a ‘known event’, and excluded FCDO cancellation cover from new policies and for newly booked trips. However, Which?’s survey found that customers with policies bought after March 2020 were more likely to believe that they were covered for this type of disruption than ones that had bought policies before then. 

For instance, two thirds (65%) of respondents that had bought travel insurance less than six months prior to participating in the survey believed that they would be covered if FCDO travel advice changed and advised against travel after they had booked their trip, whereas less than half (48%) of respondents that bought policies over a year ago did.

While some insurers give upfront information about how extensively they protect against Covid-related disruption on their webpages and in their FAQs, some providers only state key benefits that their ‘Enhanced Covid Cover’ provides, and are less clear about what is excluded.

Other providers describe their policies as covering a ‘range’ of Covid-related scenarios, and direct prospective customers to the FAQs for further detail. 

Which? submitted evidence to the Department for Transport (DfT) ahead of today’s publication of the Covid Passenger Charter calling for travel insurance providers to be clear about Covid-cover terminology.

Which? believes providers should present what is included and excluded in their Covid policies clearly on their websites, and not bury exclusions in their FAQs. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) should be monitoring terminology used by travel insurers in their Covid-19 policies and marketing material to ensure they provide sufficient clarity. 

The FCA should also issue guidance to providers on the use of blanket terms such as ‘Covid Cover’ and ‘Enhanced Covid Cover’, which often overlook what kind of cover is not included – without qualifying them clearly. Doing so would help consumers to make a much more informed choice when booking a trip abroad, and could save them money. 

Which? is also urging the DfT to work closely with the Treasury and sector regulators including the FCA, Civil Aviation Authority and Competition and Markets Authority, as well as with industry, to ensure all travellers adequately understand their travel insurance cover and can access cover that protects them against FCDO advice related to the pandemic when international travel restarts.

Jenny Ross, Which? Money Editor, said: “The ongoing threat of Covid-related disruption means that  getting the right travel insurance for your holiday is more important than ever. 

“Without closer scrutiny from government and regulators of how clearly insurers present their policies, there is a very real chance that many travellers will be left out of pocket yet again this summer.”

Which? advice for consumers before booking travel insurance 

– When looking online for travel insurance policies, consumers should be wary of the variation between the amount of information insurers give on their websites about their core levels of cover, especially when it comes to how covered you are in scenarios related to the pandemic. 

– Terms such as ‘Covid cover’ or ‘Enhanced Covid cover’ mean different things for different insurers, so consumers should avoid making assumptions. Extra caution should be taken if information provided only lists the benefits of the policy, but does not describe what is not included. 

– Some protections will only apply to customers that insured their trip before the pandemic was declared last year.

– The best way to find out about what a policy offers is to spend some time reading the policy document – in particular check the medical expenses, cancellation and the policy’s general conditions and exclusions. If there are protections that you want from your travel insurance, but you find the policy document confusing, contact the insurer directly to confirm before booking.

– A quicker way to check key areas of your policy’s cover is to consult the Insurance Product Information Document, which is designed to provide information on key areas of cover and exclusions, although it will not tell you everything about the policy – so be sure to check with the insurer if you have any concerns. 

– Anyone who is booking a holiday should look for a flexible booking policy that covers them against countries changing from green to amber or red between booking and travel.

UK sends further life-saving support to India

  • The UK will send 1,000 more ventilators for use in India’s hospitals
  • The Chief Medical Officer, Chief Scientific Adviser and NHS staff have given help and advice to their Indian counterparts
  • Fresh assistance follows medical relief sent by the Government last week and a surge in support from the British people to India
  • On Tuesday the Prime Minister will hold a virtual meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi to discuss deepening cooperation between the UK and India

India’s fight against a surge in coronavirus cases will be reinforced by new UK Government support announced by the Prime Minister today. 1,000 ventilators will be sent from the UK’s surplus supply to Indian hospitals to help the most severe Covid cases.

This is in addition to 200 ventilators, 495 oxygen concentrators and 3 oxygen generation units the UK announced we were sending to India last week.

Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance have also spoken to their Indian counterparts to provide advice, insight and expertise to the Indian healthcare system as it deals with the world’s worse surge in Covid levels.

NHS England is also establishing a clinical advisory group led by Chief People Officer Prerana Issar to support India’s Covid response. The group will work with Indian institutions such as the All India Institute of Medical Services to share experience on managing Covid outbreaks.

The group will include researchers in public and global health, alongside nursing and other health professionals who have experience of the Indian healthcare system.

In a powerful demonstration of what Indian Prime Minister Modi has called the ‘living bridge’ between our countries, over the last week British people have come to the support of India in huge numbers. Businesses, civil society and the wider public have responded to appeals for help and launched funding drives.

This includes the British Asian Trust’s ‘Oxygen for India’ emergency appeal, which is raising funds for oxygen concentrators to be rapidly deployed to Indian hospitals. The BAT appeal, which has been personally backed by the Prince of Wales, has raised more than £1.5m in the last week.

Virgin Atlantic also flew 200 boxes of oxygen concentrators to Delhi on Saturday, after partnering with Khalsa Aid. Further cargo space will be given free of charge on 6 flights to India in the next week, in association with The Red Cross.

India has also provided support to the UK throughout the coronavirus pandemic. As the ‘pharmacy of the world’ the country has kept its borders open to supply the UK with vital medicine and PPE – exporting over 11 million face masks and 3 million packets of paracetamol over the course of 2020.

On Tuesday the Prime Minister will hold a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Modi to agree a huge range of commitments to deepen cooperation between the UK and India, including on fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “The terrible images we have seen in India in recent weeks are all the more powerful because of the close and enduring connection between the people of the UK and India.

“I am deeply moved by the surge of support the British people have provided to the people of India and am pleased the UK Government has been able to play our part in providing life-saving assistance.

“The UK will always be there for India in its time of need.”

The world is safer and stronger because of work between the UK and India. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, for example, was developed in the UK, is currently being produced in the millions by India’s Serum Institute and will be distributed to the world at cost through COVAX.

It is those shared values of openness and the pursuit of knowledge and scientific advancement for the betterment of our societies that lie at the heart of the relationship between the UK and India. During his call with Prime Minister Modi the Prime Minister will emphasise the importance of working with India to promote our shared values.

India is the largest democracy in the world, a fellow Commonwealth country and in June Prime Minister Modi will travel to the UK to attend the G7 Summit as a guest – one of four world leaders invited to join the Summit of leading democracies.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “This support will help urgently meet some of India’s acute needs, particularly oxygen for patients. We are determined to help our Indian friends in their hour of need.

“We need to all work together to defeat Covid-19. No one is safe until we are all safe.”

Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock said: “As a close friend of India, we have all felt the harrowing scenes and are determined to do all we can. Only a few months ago we felt the pressure of the pandemic here in the UK. This virus attacks all of us and in the battle against coronavirus, we’re all on the same side.

“This additional support will provide more capacity and expertise to help save lives and support India’s healthcare system. We will continue to work closely with the Indian government during this immensely challenging time.”

Overseeding You Lawn: top tips from Johnson Lawn Seed

Every year up to a quarter of the average lawn may die. By sowing new lawn seed into an existing lawn, a technique used by professional groundsmen and known as overseeding, it is possible to rejuvenate your lawn and reduce weed invasion.

Lawn renovation should be done in Spring or late Summer to early Autumn depending upon the weather conditions. Here are some handy tips and tricks to help you revive your lawn!

1) Remove any debris from the surface of the lawn and when it is dry to mow it closely

2) Rake the lawn using a spring tine rake or a leaf rake to remove and breakup layers of dead matted grass or thatch. This process is known as scarifying and can be made easier with a powered scarifying machine if the thatch is thick or it is a large lawn.

Scarifying in Autumn has the additional benefit of stimulating the side shoots and runners of the grass which tend to develop at this time of year

3) Spike ground with a hollow tine fork, a normal fork can be used, up to a depth of 15cm(6in) to de compact the soil.

4) Top dress the lawn with a good quality topsoil, making sure the dressing fills the holes created when aerating. This allows water, air and nutrients to penetrate deeper into the soil and will result in deeper rooting, dense grass growth.

Minor hollows can be levelled out using this method too, apply the topsoil so the grass tips are just visible, allow the grass to grow back through and repeat the process until the hollow is filled in

5) It is a good idea to apply some lawn fertiliser when reviving your lawn, Johnsons Lawn Thickener and Johnsons Quick Fix already have fertiliser either coated on the seed or mixed with the seed making them ideal for this task.

If you are using a different mix you can apply fertiliser the same day as sowing grass seed or up to a few days later, poultry manure is ideal. Scatter fertiliser evenly over the lawn surface using the recommended rate on the pack and rake in to ensure even distribution, make sure you follow the manufacturers instructions. Ideally the fertiliser can be watered in at the same time as watering the lawn seed.

6) Using your chosen mix of lawn seed you should aim to apply it at the oversowing rate detailed on the pack, this is usually 25g per sq. metre (¾ oz per sq. yard) to 35g per sq. metre (1 ¼ oz per sq. yard). If you calculate the size of your lawn in square metres and then multiply this by the sowing rate you will have a good estimate of the quantity of seed required.

7) You can apply the seed directly from the pack or you can mix the seed in a bucket with some topsoil to make it easier to sow. It’s a good idea to have a trial run by measuring out, for example, 4 sq. metres, weigh out the correct amount of seed for the area, this would be 100g at a rate of 25g sq. metre, and then scatter evenly up and down, left to right.

You can use this method over the entire area. By doing this you will use the correct amount of seed and achieve a more even distribution.

8) After you have sown the lawn seed gently rake the area and then lightly roll or tread in to firm the seed in. This is a very important as it gives the seed good contact with the soil and will really help it to germinate and establish. Keep off the newly overseeded area if possible to allow tender young shoots to gain strength and help with establishment.

9) While it is good practice for the area to be moist when you sow do not water it until you have firmed the seed in otherwise it will stick to your roller and shoes! If dry weather follows overseeding, water copiously with a fine spray, preferably in the evening, keeping the seedbed constantly moist.

10)When grass is 5-8cms (2-3in) high cut for the first time. Trim lightly and very gradually lower blades to an ideal cutting height of between 50mm (2in) to 25mm (1in) for mixtures containing ryegrass and 25mm (1in) to 13mm (½in) for non ryegrass mixtures.

Mow regularly but try not to remove more than a third of the growth at any one time. What may happen is that the existing grass needs a cut before the new grass. To do this raise the cut to a height that just cuts the old grass and leaves the new intact, you can reduce the height of the cut over the subsequent weeks

To find out more about Johnsons Lawn Seed products please visit:

http://www.johnsonslawnseed.com/product-range.aspx