Tag: coronavirus

Briggs backs Leith Walk businesses

Call for extra help and Leith Open For Business campaign

Lothian MSP Miles Briggs says that local businesses on Leith Walk will need extra support if they are to survive Covid-19 restrictions and work being carried out on the trams extension.  

Work on the controversial tram extension down to Newhaven has resumed, creating more disruptions for local businesses.

The tram extension has gone ahead, despite the ongoing inquiry being carried out into why the initial project was significantly over budget and over time – the inquiry has so far cost the tax payer over £10 million.

Mr Briggs has said that the combination of Covid-19 restriction and disruptions from the trams have put businesses on Leith Walk under severe pressure and extra support must be offered by Edinburgh Council.

Included in the support measures suggested by Mr Briggs to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture are an advertising campaign to promote businesses on Leith Walk during and after the tram works.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “The current uncertainty for businesses around Covid-19 restrictions and when they will be able to start fully operating again is very challenging.

“Businesses on Leith Walk have been dealt a double blow of Covid-19 restrictions and now disruptions from tram extensions as well, putting businesses at risk.

“I have written to Edinburgh Council to raise these concerns and ask what additional support will be made available for businesses on Leith Walk.

“I have also written to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture to ask what support will be provided by the Scottish Government and if there will be an advertising campaign to promote businesses on Leith Walk during and after the tram extension.”

Lottery boost for Edinburgh groups

Two Edinburgh groups supporting communities in different ways during the COVID-19 pandemic are the most recent recipients of cash from the National Lottery Community Fund.

The Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) receives an award of £10,000 to support children and families who are shielding due to ongoing health conditions.

Welcoming the funding, Victoria Buchanan, Deputy Director of Fundraising at ECHC, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to the National Lottery Community Fund for their incredibly generous contribution towards our COVID-19 Emergency Appeal.

“This is a particularly difficult time for families known to the Sick Kids hospital as they are having to cope with the impact of the pandemic on top of the distress of having a sick or injured child.

“Thanks to donations like this, ECHC is helping to ease anxiety and bring comfort to families both in hospital and shielding at home through the provision of Emergency Care Packs filled with food, toiletries, arts and crafts and books – giving them a few less things to worry about.

“Thank you for standing beside children, young people and families when they need it the most.”

Claire Narrie, 32, from Bonnyrigg, has been shielding at home with her husband, John and son Josh (2) for the past three months.  Claire said: “Our son Josh has congenital heart disease and chronic lung disease and we have had to shield with him pretty much since he was born.

“Getting the care package was such a help as we didn’t want to risk going out and I was emotional when we got it delivered as it was a real act of kindness.  Josh was so excited to open the arts and crafts and it was a real surprise for him.  It really helped alleviate the stress we were going through and was a real lifeline which provided us with a link to the outside world.”

An award of £4,500 means that Passion4Fusion can run a series of online learning sessions and virtual classroom sessions for young people from BME communities living in Edinburgh and West Lothian.

Jonathan Ssentamu, Community Development Worker, Passion4Fusion, said: We are delighted that this funding from National Lottery Awards for All will help out community to thrive in Edinburgh and West Lothian.

“The project is being delivered by a group of staff, peer volunteers and young people who are peer leaders and who fully involved in the development and implementation of the programme. We envisage that this project and funding will put smiles again on the faces of BME young people and their families.”

The National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland Director, Neil Ritch, said:  “I’d like to congratulate Edinburgh Hospital Children’s Charity and Passion4Fusion on their funding which has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players.

“This funding will make a huge difference to the lives of many people and reminds us all how important a package of tailored support can be to improve well-being and keep people connected.”

Working towards economic recovery

Advisory Group report published

Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the recommendations of the Advisory Group on Economic Recovery.

The group, led by Benny Higgins, was tasked with recommending solutions to ensure transition towards a greener, net-zero and wellbeing economy, and to advise on measures to address different challenges the economy will face as Scotland recovers from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The group’s 25 recommendations, which will now be considered in detail by the Scottish Government and its partners, include:

  • an urgent need to access low cost debt requires an accelerated review of the Fiscal Framework, and a significant increase in access to capital investment to support an investment-led recovery
  • a Scottish jobs guarantee, in partnership between business and government, should be introduced to address unemployment, with refocused skills strategies and decisive steps to align teaching and learning in universities and colleges to the needs of business
  • prioritisation of sector plans to deliver a green recovery, where the coincidence of emissions reductions, the development of natural capital and job creation are the strongest
  • critical investment in the country’s digital infrastructure to improve connectivity, reduce inequalities and build the country’s resilience
  • urgent action to develop a stronger relationship between business and government on the strategy for Scotland’s economic recovery

Ms Hyslop said: “I would like to thank Benny Higgins, the independent Advisory Group members and all who contributed to their work in setting out a route to recovery for Scotland to address the economic impacts of COVID-19.

“Scotland, as with other countries, faces enormous challenges, and we need to all work together as never before to ensure our country emerges through this pandemic with a green economic recovery that has inclusion and wellbeing at its heart.

“We wanted the report to be ambitious and far-reaching, and with this strong and comprehensive set of recommendations this has certainly been achieved.

“The report identifies the importance of employment, the environment, education and equality. I agree that each one of these will be vital as we seek to create a society that is resilient, fair, and one in which everyone has the opportunity to be successful. We will now develop a detailed response to the report which will be published before the end of July.

“This report represents a clear call to action that goes beyond the Scottish Government and the public sector. We will only be able to build the kind of post-COVID-19 recovery we want with the active involvement of the private, cultural and third sectors and, importantly, the public.

“It is therefore vital that everyone continues to work together in the crucial weeks and months to come to deliver the action Scotland needs to recover from the impact of COVID-19.”

Benny Higgins, Chair of the Advisory Group on Economic Recovery, said:  “Scotland faces an economic challenge of monumental scale.  If we do not intervene radically to transform our economy, inequalities will drastically widen with long-term scarring for communities across the country, and for our young people in particular. This cannot be allowed to happen.

“The Advisory Group on Economic Recovery has worked at great speed over the past two months, engaging extensively with businesses and with wider civic society to understand the challenges that we face, but crucially to curate a set of recommendations that emphasise the immediate need to protect and create jobs, reduce inequalities by building a green and technology-led recovery, and make Scotland an attractive place to do business.

“To create a robust, resilient wellbeing economy, the public and private sector must now build a new partnership to prioritise and deliver bold action. And they must do so with purpose and urgency.”

Lord Robert Smith of Kelvin, who led the business engagement for the group, said: “It is evident that Scotland faces a lengthy road back to economic recovery and renewal. To succeed this must be led and delivered by the business community with the active support of government.

“I have engaged broadly with the business community over the last two months and there is consistent feedback. Across almost every sector, businesses are exposed to a collapse in demand and profitability, and with the threat of very significant job losses, generations are exposed to chronic economic harm.

“We need to restart the economy, get people back to work across the country, and invest in jobs and businesses that can succeed sustainably. A large part of that will mean securing a significantly enhanced relationship between government and business to ensure that policy and interventions can be delivered practically and with purpose.

“I therefore welcome the speed and conclusions of Benny’s Advisory Group – it has ambition and sets out a clear path for what is needed next for our economy to recover and renew as the restrictions of activity are lifted.”

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Briggs: Unsatisfactory level of Covid-19 testing in Lothian care homes

Lothian MSP Miles Briggs says that the level of Covid-19 testing in care homes still falls well below the level expected.

The latest figures published by the Scottish Government on care home testing shows that 3,345 cumulative tests have been carried out on care home staff, and 2,840 cumulative tests have been carried out and care home residents, as of 14th June.

In Edinburgh and the Lothian only 646 care home staff and 376 care home residents tests were carried out between 8-14 June – despite a promise made last month by SNP Health Secretary Jeane Freeman that all care home staff would be tested.

Mr Briggs has questioned SNP Ministers commitment to testing, which he has repeatedly expressed his concerns about since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak.

There are an estimated 53,000 care home staff across Scotland.

Conservative Health spokesman Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “SNP Ministers have shown an unsatisfactory approach to testing, since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak and testing does not appear to be a central part of the Scottish Governments response to Covid-19.

“The SNP Minister for Health, Jeane Freeman, has shown that she is not committed to her promise last month that all care home staff would be tested.

“The level of testing that has been carried out through Edinburgh and the Lothians has simply not been good enough.

“A deadline must be confirmed for when all Care Home staff will be routinely tested for Covid-19 to keep care home staff and residents safe.”

Rehabilitation support available to Covid-19 patients in Edinburgh and Lothians

Lothian MSP Miles Briggs has praised Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland’s work to reform the way people with lung conditions access rehabilitation and support.

Covid-19 is expected to lead to a dramatic increase in the numbers of people managing what will possibly be long-term lung conditions and needing support for rehab and recovery.

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland have been working with NHS Lothian to make rehabilitation support to accessible to patients who are recovering from Covid-19.

A total of 2,807 people in NHS Lothian have been confirmed as having Covid-19 since that start of the outbreak.

As of 16 June, 131 patients were in NHS Lothian hospitals with Covid-19, 193 patients with suspected Covid-19 and 6 patients in Intensive Care.

3,929 patients who have tested positive for Covid-19, who have previously required hospital treatment, have now been discharged from hospital since the start of the outbreak, with the most serious cases having longer term conditions.

A full list of measures put into place by NHS Lothian and CHSS Scotland is included below.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “I am pleased that NHS Lothian have put a range of measures in place to support survivors who have had severe cases of Covid-19.

“Having rehabilitation support in place for patients is crucial for their recovery and quality of life after having Coronavirus.

“The Covid-19 pandemic will have an impact on NHS Scotland for years to come, with increased waiting times for treatments.

“Prevention and recovery will be more important than ever for keeping people in Scotland healthy.

“I have called on SNP Ministers to develop a national Covid-19 rehab strategy to support people who will have long term health conditions from contracting Covid-19.”

Measures put into place by NHS Lothian and CHSS

Establishment of a comprehensive rehabilitation and support pathway for survivors of severe COVID across all three Lothian acute sites.

An Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) discusses all cases weekly, and agrees personalised requirements for physiotherapy, dietetics, Occupational Therapy (OT), and Speech and Language Therapist (SLT).

In addition, all patients have psychological review and support.

Case management is coordinated by an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) trained nurse, who uses previously established pathways to liaise with relevant health-social care hubs, GPs, pharmacy, and other community based services in relation to anticipatory discharge planning and support post discharge.

Rehabilitation services at Astley Ainslie Hospital (AAH) join the weekly Multidisciplinary Team and where appropriate review patients and transfer them at an appropriate time to the AAH.

NHS Lothian are also working with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) to liaise with their community staff (who are linked with the Managed Clinical Network (MCN) for respiratory).

NHS Lothian are producing a patient/family information resource for COVID survivors in collaboration with CHSS (funded in part by the Edinburgh and Lothian Health Foundation).

There has also been a community advice line resource set up by therapists in Edinburgh which allows patients to access community services such as pulmonary rehabilitation’.

Action plan needed to tackle COVID-19’s effect on BAME community

There have been renewed calls for the UK Government to take real action to protect BAME communities from COVID 19. 

New figures released by the ONS show that the rate of deaths for black males was over three times greater than that for white males of the same age, while the rate for black females was more than twice as great than for white females.

Men of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indian ethnic backgrounds also were found to be one and a half times more likely to die than their white counterparts, after adjustments were made for population characteristics.

The ONS’s analysis also found that Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Sikh people all have higher risks of death.

In recent weeks the GMB trade union has been highly critical of the government’s failure to protect BAME workers from COVID19, with the latest figures a real wake up call.

Rehana Azam, GMB national secretary said: “Why is it that if you are from a black, Asian, and minority ethnic background, are you still more likely to be killed by coronavirus? 

“We’ve known this for weeks, and yet still no major action has taken place to protect BAME communities by government.

“These figures are a huge wake up call. The time for talking is over. We don’t need further data or consultations. We need action from the government, and we need it now.”

British Medical Association (BMA) council chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul has also demanded the Government address the effect of COVID-19 on BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) communities – calling for immediate timelines for action plans instead of further consultations and reviews.

Dr Nagpaul asked the Government to implement the recommendations from a recent PHE (Public Health England) review urgently.

Dr Nagpaul said: ‘Our view as a profession, and my view, is that we’ve had enough reports, we’ve had enough reviews, we’ve had previous commissions. We know what the problems are.

“What we now need is an action plan. That’s what we asked for from the publication of the PHE review so each of those recommendations now needs to be populated with timescales of action plans and what needs to be done.

“Remember, the Government commissioned the PHE review – as the commissioner it now needs to respond not with some other commission but really with what is going to be done now. We’ve discussed many of the issues can be addressed very quickly and others may take some time. That’s what needs to happen.”

Marsha de Cordova MP, Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, said: “Across the globe, racial injustice has always had a devastating impact on society, and coronavirus has demonstrated the deadly consequences of when racial inequalities go unchecked.

“These findings are yet more evidence of the need for urgent action on this issue. But instead we have seen denial and delay from the Government.”

 

Dads in Lockdown: National Poll provides insight into new father-child relationships

  • One in three UK dads now closer to their children
  • Two in three UK dads take on new roles as teachers, head cooks or BFFs
  • Children teaching dads to be less impatient, more supportive and be better listeners
  • Half of dads committed to spending more time with their children after lockdown

 

DADS in LOCKDOWN ‘Human after all’

A new UK-wide poll conducted by retailer Menkind sheds light on how government-imposed lockdown measures have been impacting dads and their relationships with their children over the past couple of months.

Despite several challenges, many families are coming together, with dads not only spending more time at home with their children but also enjoying an improved relationship, making pleasant discoveries, teaching their children but also learning from them.

Challenging period a positive impact on father-children relationship

According to the poll, conducted between 14 and 19 May 2020, almost two thirds of dads (60%) have been spending more time with their kids than before, which contributed to strengthening the family bond significantly.

A third of dads say their relationship with their kids improved and that the isolation period brought them closer together.

There are, however, those who were less fortunate: a quarter of UK dads were forced to spend less time with their kids, as they are either empty nesters, their child is in the care of the other parent, or they were required to work long hours during the quarantine. Nevertheless, dads didn’t let physical distance stop them – 1 in 10 dads spent more time with their kids virtually, either by phone or video call. 

Games, gardening, films and baking to keep sane 

With more time on their hands, dads engaged in the simple pleasure of family activities as a means to overcome the difficulties of spending prolonged time inside: 2 in 5 played board games and computer games with the kids, the same number did gardening, over a third of dads took on DIY projects, while 1 in 10  fathers used sharing life stories with the kids for this purpose.

Among the lockdown activities dads engaged more in, over half admitted they were baking and cooking more than before, close to half said they exercised together with the family more, while a big proportion were playing more with the kids: 2 in 5 played more with toys, on par with dads who played video games, while almost half played board games, puzzles or other traditional games.

It was not all fun and games though, as half of dads say they helped out with coursework/homework more than before, as well as engaged in learning and educational activities.

Health, wellbeing and education as top challenges

The positive effects on the family bond didn’t come without difficulties. The top three challenges for fathers during lockdown with the kids were keeping the kids busy and engaged, the challenges of homeschooling and getting kids to spend less time on their phones/tablets.

Health and wellbeing challenges were also on the list, with a third of dads concerned about kids getting enough exercise and a fifth with cooking varied meals during the isolation period. Emotional wellbeing was a focus, with a quarter of respondents listing “giving each other space” as a challenge.

Dads more in tune with their emotions

When asked about the most important lessons learned from their kids during family quarantine, close to half of dads confessed that they want to spend more time with the kids moving forward, while two thirds want to be more supportive of them when they need it, and the same number said they learned to be less impatient from their kids.

Challenging male stereotypes, 1 in 14 dads said they learned to be more in tune with their feminine side. A significant number, 1 in 4, admitted they learned “that it’s okay to fail” and 1 in 5 confessed that “relationships take work”.

Lockdown funny moments were abundant

The lockdown didn’t come without its funny moments, with many dads experiencing their fair share of comical family situations. Among the most popular funny moments were kids crashing Zoom work calls on several occasions, pets crashing work calls, or dads themselves being the ones crashing their kids school/hobby Zoom classes.

The survey also collected some hilarious anecdotes from dads. While some dads admitted to “countless pranks pulled on each other” with the family and “passing air when online”, others found creative ways to cope with the quarantine: “I had a bit of a melt down and locked myself in our loft, my daughter and wife found this hilarious. Little do they know I have a chocolate stash up there.”

Commenting on the new survey findings, Fred Prego, Marketing Director at Menkind, said: “As kids we grow up with this idealised view of our dads as superheroes, which somehow fades away as we grow older and understand they are human, after all.

“These last few months have seen dads reclaim that superhero role as they’ve been spending more time at home with the family, forming closer bonds, getting more involved in their children’s education, activities and spare time.

“Despite the challenges of lockdown, it’s reassuring to see that most dads have cherished spending quality time with their kids to the point of wanting to be closer to them moving forward – being a father myself, I’m among them.”

To read more about the experiences and challenges UK dads faced during lockdown, please visit: www.menkind.co.uk/blog/lockdown-dad.

Test and Protect advice leaflet to be sent to Scottish households

Households are to be sent information explaining how the Test and Protect system works and setting out what to do if someone develops coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms.

NHS Test and Protect is being delivered by NHS Scotland to reduce the risk of the virus spreading. People with symptoms are urged to get tested straight away, with positive cases then referred to contact tracers.

The advice is being issued as the country moves into phase 2 of the Scottish Government’s exit strategy routemap with more restrictions being lifted and the new message to ‘Stay safe. Protect others. Save lives’.

The information will also be available online in 16 languages, large print and audio files.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport Jeane Freeman said: “NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect plays a vital and central role in protecting all of us and will ensure we move through the phases of our exit strategy. It is a collective effort to help us protect others and save lives.

“We will continue to lift restrictions if we break the chain of transmission and supress the spread of the virus. We need everyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 to isolate and book a test immediately and to work with NHS Scotland contact tracers to identify who they may have had close contact with.

“Please keep the leaflet handy so you know exactly what to do if you need to self-isolate and how to access any support you need.

“NHS Test and Protect is central to keeping this virus under control but so too is physical distancing, wearing a face covering, avoiding crowds and good hand and cough hygiene. Together all of this will help us stay safe, protect others and save lives.”

Test and Protect was rolled out across Scotland on 28 May 2020.

People with any of the following symptoms should book a test at nhsinform.scot/test-and-protect or call 0800 028 2816 if they are unable to access the online service:

  • a high temperature or fever
  • a new continuous cough
  • a loss of, or change in sense of smell or taste

The leaflet will be available online from 22 June 2020.

More health services to restart

Patients will be able to access more health care in the coming weeks and months as NHS Scotland prepares to safely, carefully and in a series of stages, resume some services that had to be paused to ensure COVID-19 capacity and prevent further spread of the virus.

As Scotland moves into Phase 2 of the route map for transitioning through and out of the crisis, health boards will use the NHS Re-mobilise, Recover, Re-design framework to safely and incrementally prioritise services whilst ensuring that staff and patients are safe.

As services resume, the patient experience will look and feel different, and may often take longer because of the demands of ensuring safety, such as the need to reduce numbers in waiting rooms, additional cleaning and the extensive use of PPE.

From Wednesday 1 July, NHS Golden Jubilee plans to resume elective ophthalmology, orthopaedics, cardiac surgery and cardiology based on clinical priority. The Board have continued to provide urgent cancer, heart and lung services, including transplants, throughout the period.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic NHS Scotland has remained open continuing  to provide emergency, urgent, cancer and maternity care, support for social care and maintained COVID-19 capacity and resilience.

“Thanks to the efforts of our health care staff and to all of us for continuing to follow public health advice, we have been able to protect our health service and provide the urgent care required to combat the virus.

“The Scottish Government is working with Health Boards to ensure the safe resumption of paused NHS services.

“We are doing this incrementally to ensure we prioritise patient and staff safety, whilst retaining capacity to treat COVID-19 in our health service, but good progress is being made.

“Patients should not expect to see all NHS services resumed immediately as it will take time ensure physical distancing and other safety measures are in place to protect patients and staff.

“The NHS does not exist in isolation. The ongoing development of these plans needs to be founded on a whole health and care system approach, which involves primary and community care, and engagement with clinical partners, service delivery partners, local authorities and patients.

“As we go forward, our Test and Protect strategy will also be crucial to help break the chains of transmission as lockdown restrictions slowly change. I want to reassure you that we are taking these precautions so that we can safely offer the right care, at the right time, in the right place.”

National Clinical Director Jason Leitch said: “The reality is coronavirus is likely to be with us for some time to come and as we move to restart paused services, we have had to review how we deliver those services to ensure patients both get the treatment they require but also that staff and patients are safe.

“This work takes time and in some cases will mean that how patients access services will look and feel different.

“We would ask the public to keep using NHS Inform as their first source for reliable health information. Community pharmacies remain a widely available resource for minor ailments and General Practice teams are fully available.”

Measures that will come into force in Phase 2 include:

  • Urgent referrals and triage of routine services in key specialties such as Cardiology, Urology, and Trauma and Orthopaedics, will be resumed gradually during phase 2, with patients prioritised by clinical need and in line with guidance to ensure the safety of all patients and staff.
  • Health boards will reintroduce any suspended GP services in a planned and phased way throughout phase 2. The majority of GP practices have introduced a telephone triage system and patients will be navigated to the most appropriate pathway to meet their needs, supporting them to see the right person at the right time.  Patients access to Primary Care Out of Hours Services will continue by contacting NHS 24 on 111.  There will be a greater use of telephone and video consultations and so patients are likely to have a different experience than they had before COVID-19.
  • From Monday 22 June, all dental practices will be able to open and treat patients in need of urgent dental care. The capacity of the urgent dental care centres, established at the start of lockdown, will be increased and will continue to see those patients who require certain treatments involving aerosol generating procedures.
  • From Monday 29 June, health boards will be able to gradually resume some screening services including endoscopies and other diagnostic tests prioritised by clinical need and in line with guidance to ensure the safety of all patients.
  • From Monday 29 June, all community optometry practices will be able to resume seeing patients face-to-face who have emergency and essential eye problems, as well as continuing to manage as many of these patients remotely as possible. The Emergency Eyecare Treatment Centres, which have managed patients with emergency eye problems who needed to be seen face-to-face during lockdown and Phase 1, will close.
  • From Monday 6 July, health boards will reintroduce some chronic disease management, which could include pain services, diabetic services on an incremental basis.

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Police: ‘Advice remains – avoid making unnecessary journeys’

Chief Superintendent Sean Scott has reaffirmed the Scottish Government’s message of ‘Stay Safe, Protect Others, Save Lives’ and appeals to the residents of Edinburgh to keep up their excellent level of discipline and compliance as we move into phase 2 of the coronavirus recovery.

Chief Supt. Scott said: “The regulations remain that people should only leave the house for very limited purposes, for example for basic necessities, for exercise or recreation, for medical needs or travelling for work which cannot be done from home.

“The Chief Constable has made it clear that we are asking people to take personal responsibility to do the right thing and remember the purpose of these measures is to aid the collective effort to stay safe, protect others and save lives by preventing the virus from spreading.

“Our officers will continue to engage with the public, explain the legislation and guidance and encourage compliance. We will use enforcement as a last resort only where there is a clear breach of the legislation.

“We recognise that people have made significant sacrifices but we would ask they use their judgement and avoid making unnecessary journeys to areas in the city such as Portobello beach, Holyrood Park, The Pentlands and The Meadows.

“I appreciate that young people may be particularly frustrated at the current situation, but please resist the temptation to gather in large numbers as these measures are in place to protect you too.”