Tag: health and welbeing

New screening for rare condition in newborns

Test could enable earlier treatment and improve life chances

Scotland is now the first part of the UK to screen newborn babies for a rare condition which causes progressive muscle wastage.

The test for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), which can affect movement, breathing and swallowing, began this week. Previously, people affected will have been tested once they displayed symptoms.

The Scottish Government and pharmaceutical company Novartis are funding a two-year evaluation to assess how well SMA screening can detect the condition earlier, allowing babies to receive treatment as soon as possible.

On average, three to four babies per year are born with SMA in Scotland.

All parents are now offered SMA screening for their newborns through the existing blood spot test, which is taken around day four after birth.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “Scotland is the first country in the UK to start the evaluation of SMA screening.

“SMA can have devastating implications for babies and their families, and this investment demonstrates our commitment to early detection through our screening programme.

“I thank SMA UK and local campaigners who have worked so hard to highlight this issue and Novartis for its funding. By detecting SMA before symptoms develop, screening could allow earlier treatment which could be life-changing and help secure the best possible care and support for babies and families.”

SMA UK charity CEO Giles Lomax said: “This milestone represents an important step forward for the SMA community.

“With all three treatments now routinely available through NHS Scotland alongside newborn screening, the future for anyone diagnosed with SMA is very different compared to their peers who were diagnosed symptomatically.

“These babies will now have the opportunity to grow up without life-long health care needs and the complexity and challenges of living with SMA.

“I would like to thank the Scottish Government, the numerous clinicians and the Scottish Muscle Network as well as Novartis for their on-going support to drive change.”

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Consultant Clinical Scientist and Director of the screening laboratory Dr Sarah Smith said: “We are working closely with the UK National Screening Committee and other UK laboratories to assess the screen in a real‑life setting.

“Our staff have worked tirelessly to begin screening as quickly as possible so we can start to understand the impact that earlier treatment may have on babies born with this condition.” 

UK and Ireland Chief Medical Officer at Novartis Rob Hastings said: “We are delighted that Scotland has become the first nation in the UK to introduce newborn screening for SMA, helping ensure families benefit from timely diagnosis.

“This programme marks a significant step forward in early detection and intervention, giving babies the chance to receive the care they need as soon as possible.

“Early identification of SMA can make a meaningful difference to children and their families, and we are confident Scotland’s participation will provide the evidence needed to make SMA a long term screening programme.”

Scottish Director of Screening Dr Tasmin Sommerfield said: “I am delighted that Scotland is following the advice of the UK National Screening Committee and commencing this in-service evaluation of SMA screening.

“It will allow babies with SMA to receive the best care and treatment as soon as possible.”

The Scottish Government provided funding of £95,000 towards the SMA screening evaluation, with Novartis providing £435,400.

Endometriosis awareness – Listen to your body

Endometriosis Awareness Month: Listen to your body 

The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital is home to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Endometriosis Centre, a specialist service supporting women living with the often‑debilitating symptoms of endometriosis.
 
The multidisciplinary team made up of specialist consultants and an endometriosis nurse provides expert care for women with stage three and four endometriosis. The clinic supports and treats patients with complex symptoms, offering pain management, mental health and wellbeing support, and, where required, surgical treatment.
 
This Endometriosis Awareness Month (March 2026), the team is shining a light on the condition estimated to affect around 1.5 million women and girls in the UK, including one in ten women in Scotland.
 
Endometriosis occurs when cells similar to the lining of the womb grow elsewhere in the body, commonly on the ovaries, fallopian tubes and pelvic lining, and sometimes on the bladder, bowel or other organs. It is a long-term condition with no definitive cure, and its symptoms can significantly affect every aspect of a woman’s physical, emotional and social wellbeing.
 
Rosie McCluskey, Advanced Clinical Nurse Endometriosis Specialist at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “We’re spreading awareness because it’s so important that girls and women listen to their bodies and understand the symptoms.

“Recognising patterns in what they’re experiencing, what’s happening, when it happens and how often, can make a huge difference when they speak to their GP and explore support or treatment options.”
 
Rosie explained that symptoms can include heavy periods, irregular bleeding, bowel and bladder changes, abdominal bloating, extreme fatigue and, in some cases, an impact on fertility.
 
“These symptoms can have a profound effect on women’s mental and physical health which in turn affects home life, work life and even financial stability,” she said.
 
Symptoms can begin as early as adolescence and may continue through menopause.
 
They vary widely from person to person and may affect the body in multiple ways.  Common symptoms include:

• Pelvic pain
• Painful ovulation
• Severe period pain, both during menstruation and at other times
• Heavy or irregular bleeding
• Abdominal bloating
• Bladder and bowel symptoms
• Extreme fatigue
• A potential impact on fertility
 
Rosie also explained that early recognition and support are vital in helping women and girls access appropriate care, manage symptoms and advocate for their own health.
 
“By improving awareness, we hope to empower more people to seek help sooner and feel confident discussing their concerns,” she said.
 
Women can also use NHS Inform’s menstrual health symptom questionnaire (PDF, 421KB) to keep a note of their symptoms and how they’re feeling. 

For more information on endometriosis visit:
Endometriosis | NHS inform

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Playlist for Life event at Holyrood

A huge thank you to everyone who supported our parliamentary reception at Holyrood yesterday, whether in person or from afar!

🎶 We had an entertaining and productive evening hearing from some amazing speakers about how personal music can improve wellbeing and why it is crucial that decision-makers support embedding playlists into dementia care to help people across the U.K. now.

💚 Playlist for Life president Sally Magnusson shared her personal experience with using in dementia care with her mother Mamie that led to her founding the charity in 2013, and we heard some powerful testimony from our lived experience ambassador Carol about how discovering and using playlists has been life-changing for managing symptoms.

🤝 We received some wonderful endorsements for our work from MSPs including Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport Tom Arthur, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party @Anas Sarwar and our generous event sponsor Foysol Choudhury. We were also delighted to have Neil Bibby, Kaukab Stewart, Michael Marra and Jackson Carlaw at our event, all of whom have supported our work, including visiting some of our amazing +2600 community partners distributing free playlist resources that make up our Help Point network.

🎸 We enjoyed a performance from our new musical ambassadors The Bluebells, plus our wonderful dementia-inclusive choir and charity partner the Westerton Male Voice Choir whose rousing renditions got the whole room singing, including a track that tops the playlist of our ambassador Sir Alex Ferguson of ‘Moon River’.

🎧We want to see everyone singing from the same song sheet when it comes to embedding personal playlists into dementia care in the U.K., where if nothing changes, 1 in 2 people will be affected by dementia by either developing the condition, caring for someone with it, or both.

There’s no cure for dementia but we know that personally meaningful music can help, so we look forward to continuing our discussions with key decision-makers about making personal playlists in dementia care a reality from diagnosis to end-of-life care 💚

Same-day spinal surgery becomes reality thanks to new technique

Minimally invasive technique makes same-day spinal surgery a reality for NHSGGC patients

A spinal surgery technique that improves outcomes for patients, and has the potential to bring down waiting lists, has been introduced at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Institute of Neurological Sciences (INS).

The INS is currently the only centre in Scotland performing the minimally invasive surgery, which helps people suffering lumbar disc prolapse, and since it was introduced at the beginning of November it has already shown huge potential.

The procedure, called endoscopic lumbar discectomy, involves a surgeon making a tiny incision in a patient’s back – as little as 8mm wide – and then using an endoscope to see inside the patient and remove a prolapsed disc or free up spinal nerves.

And while it’s still a significant operation, the fact the incision is so small, and that the disturbance to surrounding bone, ligaments and muscle is significantly reduced, if not eradicated completely, the post-operative recovery is much better than traditional techniques.

Mohamed Abdelsadg, Consultant Neurosurgeon and Complex Spine Surgeon within the INS, said: “This minimally invasive procedure could offer a quick fix for acute disc prolapse unresponsive to analgesia and physiotherapy.

“After the operation we have seen much earlier mobilisation, and patients are generally treated and discharged within 24 hours – sometimes on the same day. There is also a much lower risk of infection.”

The development was made possible by a major investment of more than £200,000 from the Scottish Government.

Four consultant neurosurgeons at the INS – Mr Mohamed Abdelsadg, Mr Calan Mathieson, Mr Likhith Alakandy and Mr Chris Barrett – have already completed the appropriate trainings and are currently offering the procedure to patients from across the West of Scotland.

While it’s early days and patients are being carefully selected as the new technique beds in, staff are expecting that to change relatively quickly.

Mr Abdelsadg continued: “This is a new technique so we’re not offering the procedure for everyone at the moment and we are being quite careful about the cases we’re selecting.

“However, we’re on a steep learning curve. We’ve been auditing the results of the surgery, reviewing and sharing our data, and we’re seeing a pattern of improvement across the team.

“As our experience grows, we’ll be able to expand considerably the number and type of patients we’re able to treat.”

The minimally invasive technique is a significant departure from the more traditional procedure, called micro discectomy. That involves an incision of 5-8cm in the middle of the back, with the surgeon stripping away muscle and ligaments, often removing bone to create a ‘window’ to work in, and then removing the prolapsed disc or freeing up the nerves.

Because of the amount of tissue affected, this technique can be a more painful process with a raised risk of infection.

In the main, patients are often discharged within 48-72 hours, but they may suffer continuing back discomfort, and in some cases they need to stay in hospital for up to seven days because of the wound pain.

Susan Groom, Director of Regional Services at NHSGGC, welcomed this latest development. She said: “The INS has been in operation for more than 50 years now, and over that time it has earned an international reputation for pushing boundaries and innovation.

“The fact the Scottish Government supported the development of this new service here is testament to that reputation, and I would like to thank all those involved in bringing it to the INS.

“Traditionally, surgery to treat a prolapsed disc can be a painful procedure, so this new approach at the INS will help to reduce the suffering of patients more quickly, with quicker recovery times and with a much lower chance of infection.

“NHS services throughout the UK are under considerable pressure at the moment, and the fact this new minimally invasive technique will help reduce waiting times on top of other benefits is a significant added bonus.”

The INS team plan to continue collating their early results and then present them at the Society of British Neurological Surgeons conference in Belfast in March.

PICTURES

TOP – The INS team involved in the new technique – from left: Janie Smart, William Davidson, Nicola Ferguson , Carla O’Neill , Savitha Meleveedu, Likhith Alakandy, Mohamed Abdelsadg, Marios Theologu, Adam Ross. Kneeling: Johanna Armstrong.

BOTTOM – From left: Marios Theologu, Chris Barrett, Calan Mathieson.

Engagement sessions support Forbes nursery staff health and wellbeing

Staff wellbeing is very important to the management of the Forbes nursery group in Edinburgh. 

The group has four nurseries across the city, and they wanted to introduce a positive way of bringing all of the staff together.  This was so that staff could engage with one another away from work and help them to reconnect after the pandemic.

They are very fortunate that the nurseries are close to a large park and with the help of a local fitness trainer, staff were invited to take part in weekly outdoor fitness classes. 

These classes have enabled staff to mix with one another, have fun and get fit together with a lot of laughter during their workouts.  These classes have been very successful with some staff attending regularly and others dropping in when they can.  On occasion, other family members and even a family pet has turned up and joined in with the fun.

The nursery management were keen to support staff to feel good about themselves and have made sure that the sessions were accessible to everyone.

There is no expectation on staff to have a certain level of fitness, and the atmosphere is very relaxed.  The exercises have been different each week and have included a silent disco, hula hooping, bootcamp and boxercise.  They also try to build in time at the end for relaxation.

These sessions have been a great success with staff engaging with each other and encouraging each other to come along.  Staff have said that it’s helped them to feel more motivated, pick-up old hobbies and sports and get moving a bit more.

Annabel Higgins, admin team said: “Having our weekly sessions with Kim is an incredible employee benefit at Forbes nursery. 

“Not only has it helped with my general energy and fitness levels it’s also a lovely hour to catch up with staff from across the nursery group.”

Abby Whigham, assistant manager said: “Not only have Kim’s classes helped with physical fitness, but it also has a positive impact on our general mental health.

“It’s great coming together each week and seeing team members who work at our other nurseries too. Kim’s positivity and energy is very motivating and inspirational, which is the perfect lift after a busy day at work.”

Recently, they have also returned to visiting the local care home where the residents and children have exercised together.  These activities have included parachute games and sensory balls with children’s songs and music from the 50s, 60s and 70s for the residents to enjoy.

Roll Your Sleeves Up: Scottish Government launches vaccination information campaign

A new campaign encouraging people to get vaccinated for COVID-19 as soon as they are eligible launches today.

The ‘Roll your sleeves up’ campaign will emphasise the importance of the vaccine and its safety, as well as the prioritisation list set out by Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to ensure those most at risk are vaccinated first.

Vaccination will be offered to 4.5 million people in Scotland and is currently underway for residents of care homes for older people and their carers, frontline health and social care workers, and those aged 80 years and over. Local delivery is being led by NHS boards, who will contact those eligible to arrange their vaccination.

Those aged 70 and over and the clinically extremely vulnerable, including those on the shielding list will receive their first vaccine dose by mid-February, those aged over 65 will receive their first doses by the beginning of March, and vaccination of the wider adult population will commence once the remainder of the JCVI priority groups are complete by early May.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Vaccination offers us greater protection against COVID-19 and it offers us hope that this year will be a brighter one.

“It is another vital tool in our work to suppress the virus, but other measures including testing, and lockdown restrictions remain absolutely essential to suppress COVID to the lowest possible level in Scotland.

“These three critical actions will help us protect the NHS and save lives, towards a brighter year ahead. However, we don’t yet know how well vaccination stops people transmitting the virus to others – which is why it’s essential people protect the progress we’ve made, and continue to follow the restrictions currently in place, whether they have been vaccinated or not, while vaccine delivery is rolled out across the country.”

The ‘Roll your sleeves up’ campaign will run from today (21 January) to the end of March 2021 on TV, radio, press, outdoor and digital channels.

Interim Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Dave Caesar said: “No matter which vaccine you receive, each has passed a rigorous three-phase testing process, reviewed by independent regulatory and advisory bodies to ensure it is safe and effective. 

“Your local NHS health board will be in touch with you to arrange your vaccination appointment when you are eligible, and I encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible to do so.

“However, vaccination on its own it won’t be enough to win the race against this virus. 

“Each one of us needs to do all we can – following the guidance, abiding closely to the restrictions, washing our hands, wearing face coverings, maintaining 2m distance from each other – everything we can to slow down the spread of the virus and suppress its prevalence as low as we can, so that increasing vaccination can do the job we need it to do. 

“Doing all of that will help you protect yourself, protect the NHS and save lives.”  

For more information visit nhsinform.scot/rollupyoursleeves or call 0800 030 8013.

Adult-information-covid-19-vaccine-leaflet-Jan2021Download

£250 million to tackle Scotland’s drug deaths emergency

An additional £50 million will be allocated every year for the next five years to improve and increase services for people affected by drug addiction.

Talks have been taking place with people with lived experience, a range of organisations and the Drug Deaths Taskforce following the publication in December of statistics which showed that in 2019 there were 1,264 drug related deaths in Scotland.

In a statement to Parliament, the First Minister said a national mission was needed to turn things around.

She outlined a number of areas where improvements will be made and a further £5 million is being allocated in this financial year to ensure work starts immediately.

These actions include:

  • substantially increasing the number of residential rehabilitation beds across the country
  • reducing stigma and increasing the number of people in treatment for their addiction  
  • allocating funding directly to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships, third sector and grassroots organisations to improve  work in communities
  • widening the distribution of naloxone
  • implementing new standards for medicine-assisted treatment to ensure equitable services for all drug users
  • reassessing how overdose prevention facilities might be established despite legal barriers

The First Minister said: “Anyone who ends up losing their life as a result of drug addiction, is not just failed at the time of their death – in most cases, they will have been failed repeatedly throughout their whole life.

“I believe that if we have the will, we can and we will find the ways to stop this happening.

“Doing so requires a national mission to end what is currently a national disgrace.

“It is a reasonable criticism to say that this government should have done more earlier, and I accept that.

“But I am determined that we will provide this national mission with the leadership, focus, and resources that it needs.”

Full statement

Supporting Scotland’s mental health recovery

A new plan will help ensure mental health and wellbeing remains at the heart of the Scottish Government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Children and young people, those facing redundancy, and people with long-term physical health conditions and disabilities are among key groups the plan focuses on.

It builds on innovations and new service designs that have emerged in response to the pandemic, such as the ‘Clear Your Head’ campaign, the expansion of digital services and the establishment of Mental Health Assessment Centres.

As well as promoting good mental health and wellbeing, the plan prioritises rapid and easily accessible support for those in distress and ensures safe, effective treatment and care of people living with mental illness. A tailored programme of work will help individual NHS Boards respond effectively to the anticipated increase in demand in the months ahead.

Announcing the plan to parliament, Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey said: “If the past few weeks have told us anything, it is that the road to recovery from this pandemic will not be linear. However, one thing that has remained constant is the importance of looking after ourselves, and of keeping well.

“I doubt there is a single one of us who hasn’t thought about our mental wellbeing, or worried about that of others, at some point during 2020.

“Throughout this year, mental health has continued to be an absolute priority for this government, and we’ve invested £6 million of dedicated funding to support the whole population.

“Our Transition and Recovery Plan for Mental Health reflects how fundamental this issue is. It is comprehensive, containing over a hundred actions, and focusses on the specific mental health needs of everyone across Scotland.”

Director of Scotland and Northern Ireland at the Mental Health Foundation, Lee Knifton, commented: “We are pleased to see the Scottish Government embark on a mental health in all policies agenda and to have played a role in shaping this plan.

“We have consistently advocated for all policies approach and today’s plan feels like a breakthrough moment. Mental health is much more than mental illness, it must be considered in our schools, workplaces, our welfare system and our justice system. This plan is an important step in that direction.  

“It is encouraging to see that the Scottish Government has taken our recommendations on board and we look forward to working in partnership to implement the commitments laid out. This ambitious plan will need investment to achieve maximum impact, but any investment in mental health will realise social, health and economic benefits down the line.” 

Mental Health – Scotland’s Transition and Recovery is available on the Scottish Government’s website.

https://clearyourhead.scot/ contains a variety of resources and tips to help people take care of their mental health and wellbeing.

For those who need more support the Scottish Government has expanded the NHS24 Mental Health Hub so that it is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and increased the capacity of the Breathing Space telephone helpline (0800 83 85 87) and web support service.

The Mental Health Foundation’s vision is good mental health for all. The Foundation works to prevent mental health problems and drive change towards a mentally healthy society for all, and support communities, families and individuals to lead mentally healthy lives with a particular focus on those at greatest risk.

The Foundation is the home of Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health in Lockdown: The World From My Window

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (18 – 24th May) comes at an unprecedented time of global change.

As nations all across the planet slowly unfurl the restrictions of lockdown and societies begin to take small steps back to a version of ‘normal’ life, the lack of certainty over what will happen next continues to cause anxiety and distress to many.

During the lockdown, The World From My Window (TWFMW) has shone a spotlight on the stories of the individuals who are living through this difficult, shared experience. So far, hundreds of personal accounts and stories have been collected from 40 different countries across the globe; including, Pakistan, Uganda, North America, Sudan, the UK, Belarus, New Zealand and Palestine.

Everyone has a different story to tell. We have heard from patients in the throes of recovery, parents at home – struggling to balance demands of children and work and popstars – including Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne, who is finding hope in the opportunity to stay still.

What has been the common thread in all the submissions and stories received, is that making the time to write down your anxieties and emotions can bring comfort during a period of crisis.

You can add your voice to the growing digital anthology of stories told by all these global citizens by writing a short story or letter to describe what your world looks like right now. The goal is to gather stories from as many countries and societal perspectives as possible and to build a varied and holistic picture of this moment in our shared history.

Here are some extracts from the stories we have received so far:

“Loneliness is nothing to do with distance. It can happen anywhere, because it’s something we carry inside us, like a pain in our heart. We can be alone in a crowded room, even when people we love are right beside us.” – Paul, London

“Could you ever imagine, even in your wildest dreams, that a pandemic will bring the entire world to a halt? The world so preoccupied that it whooshes by those who take a moment to catch a breath.” – Atif, Islamabad.

“I hear cars and trucks, delivering important things, I hear possums and birds, wandering around, I hear neighbors and pets, living their lives, I hear silence most often and that’s a lovely sound.” – Rebecca, Australia

“I’m grateful for this moment of calm. The pressures of having to be the smartest, the most successful, the prettiest, the thinnest have disappeared and I am now free.” Sophie, West Sussex.

“…what I miss the most? It’s the ritual we were doing to increase our neurotransmitters – oxycontin, dopamine, serotonin and endorphins. The simple ritual of a Hug. – Subhan, Baku.

‘They remind me that outside my little mansion there are other stories, other entities and matter, and everything in our little world will pass, one day at a time. It’s a strange comfort’ – Aurora, Barcelona

During Mental Health Awareness Week, TWFMW is encouraging more submissions through a partnership with Centrepoint and a series of interactive Instagram live workshops and discussions.

Isolation is especially hard on vulnerable young people and TWFMW is feeding into the Centrepoint, #ChallengeAccepted, arts initiative by giving young people an opportunity to share their story via social channels in a series of different tasks and focuses to keep active and engaged during the lockdown.

To tell your story visit http://theworldfrommywindow / Instagram @the.world.from.my.window to find out more about this week’s activities and to share your view from isolation in less than 300 words.

All stories will be read with as many as possible being shared across our The World From My Window platforms.

New road named after ‘brilliant’ emergency doctor

Staff at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh have paid tribute to a “brilliant” former colleague by naming a road on the hospital campus after him.

Colleagues have honoured the late Dr Robin Gordon Mitchell by naming the new road “Robin Mitchell Way”. Continue reading New road named after ‘brilliant’ emergency doctor