Curators have packed away hundreds of artefacts, including dolls, toy cars and even an Emu Puppet as the Museum of Childhood closes for refurbishment. Continue reading Moving Out: Museum of Childhood closes for refurbishment
Tag: Children and Families
Deirdre Brock: “City of Edinburgh Music School must stay open”
Following reports that the City of Edinburgh Music School faces an uncertain future, Deidre Brock MP has written to the Council’s Education Committee calling for a rethink and assurances that the specialist service will remain open. The school is based in Flora Stevenson Primary and in Broughton High, in Deidre’s Edinburgh North and Leith constituency. Continue reading Deirdre Brock: “City of Edinburgh Music School must stay open”
DWP to clamp down on child maintenance cheats
New powers to stop parents avoiding paying child maintenance that they owe have been announced by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). Continue reading DWP to clamp down on child maintenance cheats
Lament as our world renowned Music School faces closure
“It is unacceptable for families whose worlds have been turned upside by discovering overnight that their school may disappear. It is crucial that parents’ and pupils’ voices are heard before any decisions are taken.” – Green Cllr Clare Miller
Edinburgh’s Green MSPs and councillors have reacted angrily to a proposal by the SNP-Labour-run city council to close the renowned City of Edinburgh Music School based at Broughton HIgh School. Continue reading Lament as our world renowned Music School faces closure
St John’s Hospital children’s services: “no quick fix”
A report by clinical experts has recognised NHS Lothian’s commitment to restoring paediatric inpatient services at an NHS Lothian hospital as soon as possible, but warned there was no “quick fix”.
The review, carried out by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), highlighted the dedication of paediatric teams at St John’s Hospital in Livingston and commended the progress being made. It supported the health board’s decision to temporarily suspend inpatient services in order to maintain safe facilities for children and it said the service should only resume once the extra staff are recruited or trained.
Jacquie Campbell, Chief Officer of Acute Services, NHS Lothian, said: “We are working extremely hard to recruit additional senior staff so that we can reinstate 24/7 services at the site and we remain committed to the service. But so far we have been unable to provide sufficient staffing cover to ensure patients receive a safe service overnight.
“We know this is frustrating for patients and families, but the RCPCH has been explicit in their clinical and expert opinion that this decision was the right thing to do.
“Our overarching strategy remains a commitment to St John’s Hospital and the children’s ward and this has been demonstrated by the significant and on-going investment we have made into recruitment.”
The report was carried out after NHS Lothian invited the RCPCH to review progress following their first evaluation of children’s services overall in 2015.
At that time, the RCPCH said that inpatient children’s services should be retained on two sites – St John’s Hospital, Livingston, and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh – and it was recommended that an additional eight consultants were recruited.
The 32 recommendations from the report were taken on board and wide-ranging rounds of recruitment began to help fill the gaps in the rota. However despite extensive campaigns, the required number of posts have not been filled.
The Paediatric Programme Board, which was appointed two years ago to oversee and decide how best to implement the findings of the original report, is now considering the recommendations from the follow-up report.
The RCPCH said that their initial assessment remains the same, but they understand the increasing difficulties in recruitment has caused the current situation.
The report said: “The report reaffirms that for the population of West Lothian the continued provision of inpatient paediatrics is the right model if it can be achieved with sustainable medical staffing.
“This is not a ‘quick fix’ as demonstrated by attempts to recruit paediatricians and advanced children’s nurses. Until sufficient trained medical and nursing staff are available to provide sustainable overnight care, the current daytime only paediatric assessment and decision-making service should be maintained and strengthened.
“Its opening times should be mapped more closely to activity and it should be supported with strengthened community and transport services.”
NHS Lothian is now developing a longer-term strategy to continue to deliver safe and sustainable services, and maintain and strengthen the current provision of the short stay paediatric assessment unit and review the possibility of extending the opening hours.
Ms Campbell added: “We will be looking at these recommendations very carefully in the context of how we can provide patient services safely.
“I would emphasise that parents are not being asked do to anything differently. Most of the children who currently attend the unit will continue to be cared for as normal. They will either be referred by their GP for an urgent medical opinion or attend with a pre-arranged appointment for treatment, assessment, tests or minor day surgery.”
Children will still be assessed and treated in the Emergency Department at St John’s Hospital at night and weekends. A paediatric consultant will be available on-call 24/7. If a child needs to be admitted to hospital a transfer to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, will be arranged. Maternity and neonatal services at the hospital are unaffected.
The full report is can be read here. Continue reading St John’s Hospital children’s services: “no quick fix”
Wanted: 11,000 childcare workers!
A new campaign to recruit up to 11,000 people into the childcare profession is underway. The campaign – ‘Shape their worlds. Shape your career.’ – aims to encourage more school leavers into the profession to deliver the expansion of funded early learning and childcare to 1,140 hours a year, or 30 hours per week, by 2020. Continue reading Wanted: 11,000 childcare workers!
Scotland moves to ban smacking
Smacking children is to be banned in Scotland. The Scottish Government has confirmed it will ensure a bill lodged by Green MSP John Finnie will become law. The legislation would make Scotland the first part of the UK to make the physical punishment of children illegal. Continue reading Scotland moves to ban smacking
Twa Craws are up oan Muirhouse Library wa’!
Do you remember Makin’ a Brew, the music, story and song project for parents and pre school children at Craigroyston Early years Centre, which ran 2014 – 2016? The parents group produced some lovely poems – and one collaborative work, Twa Craws, now adorns Muirhouse Library wall! Continue reading Twa Craws are up oan Muirhouse Library wa’!
Young People from Barnardo’s Scotland deliver their thoughts to the Care Review
A group of care-experienced young people visited the chair of the Care Review, Fiona Duncan, on Thursday to deliver responses collected during a Care Review Postcard Campaign carried out by Barnardo’s Scotland. The young people, representing children and care experienced young people supported by the children’s charity, met with Fiona to discuss their responses. Continue reading Young People from Barnardo’s Scotland deliver their thoughts to the Care Review
Swap Gameboys for Gird and Cleeks this half term at New Lanark
New Lanark World Heritage Site, Scotland
Bring the family along for a fun filled autumn day out at New Lanark, one of Scotland’s 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this October Break. There will be Family Tours with Costumed Guides and Victorian Toy Workshops running during the October Week Holidays (16-22 Oct) as well as the ‘Lifting the Lid’ exhibition. Continue reading Swap Gameboys for Gird and Cleeks this half term at New Lanark