Medical equipment and supplies will be sent from Scotland to Ukraine.
The shipment of over 500 items includes oxygen concentrators, electric height-adjustable beds with replacement batteries and mattresses, and ICU ventilators identified by NHS Scotland as surplus to operational requirements
The donation will not impact on services to patients using the healthcare services in Scotland.
It brings the total value of medical supplies donated from Scotland to Ukraine to £3.8 million.
First Minister John Swinney confirmed the latest donation during a meeting with the Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK General Valerii Zaluzhnyi in London. It follows a request from the Ukrainian Consulate in Edinburgh in May 2024 to contribute medical equipment on a humanitarian basis.
The First Minister said: “The people of Ukraine are suffering as a consequence of the illegal invasion of their country, and it is vital we do all we can to support them.
“These supplies, identified by NHS Scotland as being surplus to requirements, will provide direct humanitarian support to Ukraine at a critical time.
“Scotland stands in solidarity with Ukraine and offers unqualified support for its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom General Valerii Zaluzhnyi said: “The act of generosity and solidarity demonstrated by NHS Scotland in extending a helping hand to Ukraine in its time of need exemplifies the true spirit of humanity and compassion.
“It serves as a powerful reminder that, in the face of adversity, solidarity and cooperation can transcend borders and make a meaningful impact on the lives of those in war. The Ukrainian people are deeply grateful for the support and assistance provided by NHS Scotland, knowing that these supplies will make a difference between life and death for many.
“The bonds of friendship and solidarity forged through this act of kindness will not be forgotten and will serve as a beacon of hope for a brighter future beyond the shadows of Russia’s war against Ukraine.”
As the UK gets ready for Challenge Poverty Week (Monday 7th October to Sunday 13 October), Edinburgh Leisure, the largest provider of sports and leisure facilities across the city, is working in local communities to support more people living in poverty and affected by inequalities to be active and well.
Poverty and poor health are inextricably linked. Despite Edinburgh being one of the wealthiest cities in the UK, Edinburgh faces some of the greatest levels of inequality.
The Edinburgh Poverty Commission estimates that almost 82,000 people are living in poverty. And in terms of life expectancy, a person born in an affluent part of Edinburgh can expect to live 14 years longer, than somebody living in a poorer area.
Forty-three percent of adults living in the most deprived communities in Scotland do not meet the recommended amount of physical activity compared with twenty-seven percent of adults living in the least deprived areas.
Helen Macfarlane, Director of Wellbeing at Edinburgh Leisure said: “Being active is one of the best things we can do for our health, wellbeing, and quality of life. Yet many people living in poverty can face barriers to being active, such as cost, lack of confidence and knowledge of what support is available.
“As part of Challenge Poverty Week, we’re aware there are many people experiencing poverty or health inequalities that don’t know about the help and support Edinburgh Leisure can give them.
“We’d like to raise awareness of our £10 Get Active card so that more adults experiencing poverty enjoy the life-changing benefits of being active with us. If you know someone who is receiving benefits, they may be eligible for a £10 Get Active Card, which offers off-peak access to Edinburgh Leisure facilities.”
Edinburgh Leisure’s target is to attract 250 new Get Active Card holders across their venues in October. They currently sell around 600 passes each month.
People in receipt of the following benefits are eligible for a Get Active Card:
Universal Credit
Income support
Job seekers allowance
Guaranteed pension credit
Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
A Get Active Card offers off-peak access to all Edinburgh Leisure gyms and gym classes; swimming, saunas and steam rooms; and group fitness classes. No joining fees are payable, there is no monthly subscription, and people can pay when they can.
If eligible visit a local Edinburgh Leisure venue and speak to one of Edinburgh Leisure’s Welcome Hosts to sign up or top up your card whenever you want to be active.
The Scottish government must heed the ‘alarms bells’ as new A&E data suggests another very challenging winter ahead.
That’s the call from The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Scotland as new data for Emergency Department performance in August reveals it was the worst August since records began in 2011, for patients experiencing extremely long waits.
The figures released yesterday (Tuesday 1 October) by Public Health Scotland, show that the number of patients waiting 12 hours or more in August was higher than in any January or February from 2012 to 2022, despite it being a month in summer when Emergency Department performance tends to improve.
More than a third of people (34.2%) waited over four hours, more than one in 10 (11.3%) waited eight hours or longer, while 4.65% of patients waited over 12 hours in a Scottish ED.
The data shows long waits have increased significantly since the 2010’s.
Since August 2017, for example, the numbers waiting four hours or more has increased by six times (6,743 to 39,096), eight hours or more by 37 times (347 to 12,954), and 12 hours or more by 127 times (42 to 5,312). This is despite attendance only decreasing by 0.7% in the same period.
Dr John-Paul Loughrey, RCEM Vice President for Scotland said: “It once was that the summer months provided some respite from the stresses experienced in Emergency Departments, but those days are long gone.
“Yet again the figures show the reality of the pressure we have been dealing with this summer, which is on a level with what we would have experienced during the busiest winter months just a few years ago. Overcrowding in our A&Es is now at winter crisis levels all year round.
“The alarm bells are sounding loudly as winter approaches, and the government must respond.
“Last week’s Winter Preparedness plan however gives me little hope that they will respond in the ways we have recommended. It lacks any specific measures to address the inevitable spikes in demand for Emergency Care which comes during the colder months, or the lack of capacity in the acute care system as a whole.
“Once again Scottish people seeking emergency care this winter are facing extreme waits and, for many, the indignity of so called ‘corridor care’. These are not just inconvenient, they are dangerous and potentially life threatening.
“The Scottish government must bolster its winter planning to ensure that people who need to be admitted to hospital from A&Es can be, without excessive waits, and that when they are well enough to leave there is the necessary social care in place for them to do so.
“Failure to do so puts us on course for a harmful and incredibly difficult winter which is not what we or our patients want or deserve.”
A graphical representation of the data can be found here.
The full data set can be found on the RCEM website.
Sight Scotland is proud to announce the launch of its first-ever yoga classes specifically designed for people living with vision impairment. These inclusive sessions offer blind and partially sighted individuals the opportunity to enjoy the physical and mental benefits of yoga in a safe, supportive environment.
Led by Community Activity Worker and experienced yoga instructor, Tamas Danyi-Nagy, who moved to Scotland from Hungary around nine years ago, the classes are carefully tailored to meet the unique needs of visually impaired participants.
Using clear verbal instructions and guided movements, the sessions focus on gentle exercises that promote relaxation, strength, and mobility.
Tamas, who lives in Mussleburgh, explains, “These are Scotland’s only yoga classes designed specifically for blind and partially sighted people.
“All exercises are done seated and adapted to suit those with vision impairments. The sessions are great for mental health and help ease the stress of living with sight loss. The classes are calming, social, and beneficial for mobility. Just because someone has vision impairment or mobility challenges doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy yoga.”
The classes include a range of movements, such as shoulder, arm, neck, back, and leg exercises, as well as eye exercises aimed at reducing tension and improving peripheral vision. Meditation and breathing techniques are also a key part of each session, helping participants relax and reduce stress.
Tamas, who is also a volunteer befriender for Sight Scotland, emphasises that yoga is for everyone, regardless of age or physical ability: “In the Western world, yoga is often portrayed as young athletes doing complex poses, but that’s only a small part of yoga.
“My classes focus on slow, controlled movements and mindfulness, which are accessible to all.
“The classes are specially designed for people who are blind or visually impaired, with clear instructions on how to move the body. We focus on slow, controlled movements while seated, helping to strengthen muscles and relieve tension, including around the eyes.
“Meditation and breathing exercises (pranayama) are a key part of the sessions, with mindfulness techniques that anyone can easily use in daily life. If you’d like to feel better in both body and mind, join us at Portobello Library every Friday from 12:00 to 13:00.”
Shona Black, from Musselburgh, attended her first blind yoga class recently, said: “I wasn’t sure how the blind yoga sessions would work, but I really enjoyed it. Tam is a great instructor, and the class was both relaxing and a good workout. It helps ease stress, and it’s a wonderful social experience.
Making yoga accessible for people with vision impairment is such a great idea, as often people with sight loss can be quite isolated and this can affect their mental health. I also take part in all-ability health walks in Musselburgh and Haddington, and an In-Tandem East Lothian group will be launching soon.
“All these activities are ideal for staying active, socialising, and supporting mental well-being.”
Keep the kids entertained while developing their sense of balance, stimulating their mind and encouraging an active lifestyle with the latest Edinburgh Leisure Young Explorer soft play membership.
For new customers signing up to become a member in October 2024, December is completely free. And for existing members referring a friend, if their friends join, the existing member will also receive a free month in December.
From only £18.99* per month, the Young Explorer Soft Play Membership offers incredible value, fantastic flexibility and of course, will keep little ones entertained and burning off energy as they explore the soft plays.
Little adventurers can visit as many times as they wish, enjoying unlimited fun at any of Edinburgh Leisure’s three soft play venues across the city at Clambers at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, Tumbles at Portobello, and Scrambles at EICA: Ratho.
Edinburgh Leisure’s play frames are suitable for children up to ten years old and there are frames for babies, toddlers, and juniors up to 10 years. Each venue has a Café Refresh offering healthy snacks and tasty treats.
With great member benefits, the Edinburgh Leisure soft play is only available to buy online.
As Mental Health Awareness Day approaches on October 10th, former MP Craig Mackinlay is using his platform to call for urgent improvements in sepsis aftercare and mental health support for survivors.
In a new episode of Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron, released in September for Sepsis Awareness Month, Mackinlay shares his personal story of survival after losing both hands and feet to sepsis and becoming a quadruple amputee. Now known as the “Bionic” MP, Mackinlay is a powerful advocate for change.
Mackinlay, who received prosthetics after his sepsis ordeal, criticises the NHS for its inadequate provision of prosthetic limbs, saying, “What the NHS is currently giving out in terms of prosthetics does not do mental health any good.”
He explains how poor access to high-quality prosthetics leaves survivors unable to regain their independence, deeply impacting their mental well-being and ability to return to work.
The economic impact of sepsis-related disability is substantial, with many survivors unable to work due to long-term physical and cognitive effects. The UK Sepsis Trust estimates that 40% of sepsis survivors suffer from ongoing complications, leading to lost productivity and increased financial strain on both families and the economy. Mackinlay highlights how providing better aftercare and mental health support could prevent thousands of cases of long-term disability, allowing survivors to contribute to society and reduce the overall economic burden.
Mackinlay’s advocacy aligns with the UK Sepsis Trust’s recent Step Up campaign, which calls on the government to improve outcomes for sepsis survivors. The campaign’s key demands include:
Measurement and publication of sepsis care performance data – to ensure better accountability and improve NHS care standards.
Integration of rapid diagnostics – allowing healthcare providers to diagnose and treat sepsis faster, preventing severe disabilities and reducing the long-term economic impact.
Increased public awareness of sepsis symptoms – ensuring that early intervention prevents life-altering complications like limb loss.
The charity’s Change.org petition calling for public support of the asks has accumulated nearly 50,000 signatures: https://chng.it/5dnys44wvt
Dr Ron Daniels, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of the UK Sepsis Trust, also highlights the “postcode lottery” in sepsis care, noting that a recent University of Manchester study found that people from socioeconomically deprived areas are nearly twice as likely to die from sepsis.
Both Mackinlay and the UK Sepsis Trust emphasise the need for a national effort to address these disparities and improve both physical and mental health care for survivors.
As the UK Sepsis Trust raises awareness this Sepsis Awareness Month, this episode of Sepsis Voices with Dr Ron brings attention to the need for systemic change in sepsis aftercare and the importance of recognising the mental health toll on survivors ahead of Mental Health Awareness Day.
UKHSA with DHSC and NHS to launch Get Winter Strong campaign to remind those at risk to get their vaccinations to fight off the onslaught of winter viruses
Latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data shows that over the past 2 winters (October to May, 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024) at least 18,000 deaths were associated with flu, despite last winter being a relatively mild flu season.
While pandemic restrictions and social behaviours saw flu levels fall dramatically for a few years, these latest mortality figures are a stark reminder that flu is a deadly virus, particularly for older people and other groups at greatest risk.
Of real concern is the drop in the flu vaccine uptake rates last winter across all eligibility groups in England compared with the previous year (1).
While uptake in older people last year remained high, only 4 in 10 (41%) people with long-term health conditions, just over 4 in 10 (44%) 2- and 3-year-olds, and just 1 in 3 pregnant women received the flu vaccine.
Evidence shows the significant impact from last year’s flu vaccine with a 30% reduction in the number of those aged 65 and over being hospitalised and a 74% reduction in those between 2 and 17 years of age.
In the same two-year winter period the estimated number of deaths associated with COVID-19 was just over 19,500.
To help reduce the impact of winter viruses on those most at risk, as well as ease NHS winter pressures, UKHSA – with Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England – is set to launch a scaled-up Get Winter Strong campaign on the 7 October.
The campaign will urge those eligible to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccination when invited, ahead of winter, targeting those at greatest risk and for the first time will encourage pregnant women to also get their respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and whooping cough vaccination.
Last year saw a sudden increase in the number of people having to be hospitalised, due to a flu peak in the week leading up to Christmas and then again at the end of January.
Pregnant women and older people aged 75 to 79 are also eligible for a RSV vaccination for the first time this year, with the maternal vaccine providing strong protection for newborns in their first few months, when they are most at risk of severe illness from RSV.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, UKHSA Deputy Director of Immunisation: “As winter approaches we see many dangerous viruses circulating in our communities including flu, which tragically can kill thousands of people every year. Getting vaccinated ahead of winter is by far your best defence.
“If you’re pregnant or have certain long-term health conditions, you are at greater risk of getting seriously ill. Older people and young infants with flu are also much more likely to get hospitalised.
“So if you or your child are offered the flu, COVID-19 or RSV vaccines, don’t delay in getting them. Please speak to your nurse or doctor if you have any concerns.”
Maryam Sheiakh, a mother from Manchester, recounts the fear and anxiety she went through 2 years ago, when her then 4-year-old daughter, Saffy, spent more than a week at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital after being admitted with flu, suffering with a severe cough and high temperature.
She was transferred to a High Dependency Unit as she was struggling to breathe and needed oxygen.
Maryam said: “I was seriously concerned we might lose Saffy. I honestly thought she might die from this. I was so distraught watching her struggling to breathe day after day, worried about her breathing difficulties and getting oxygen to the brain – would she be the same little girl before she got ill?
Thanks to the NHS staff, Saffy made a full recovery and, now aged 6, is thriving. Maryam, a nursery teacher, is now urging all parents to vaccinate their children to ensure they have the best protection against flu: “Just go and get it, don’t take the risk. No parent wants to watch their child suffer like we did with Saffy.
As of last week, millions of eligible people in England can now book their flu and COVID-19 vaccines through the NHS, with appointments starting from 3 October. For their RSV jab, pregnant women and older adults should speak to their maternity service or GP practice to arrange it, as the NHS rolls out additional protection for those most at risk ahead of winter.
Steve Russell, NHS National Director for Vaccinations and Screening: “Today’s data showing there were almost 20,000 deaths associated to flu over the past 2 winters is a shocking reminder that this is a seriously dangerous virus, and I urge those who are eligible to book their vaccine appointment as soon as they can as it is our best way of protecting those who are vulnerable as winter approaches.
“Thanks to the hard work of our NHS staff, life-saving flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines are being rolled out across the country in places that are as convenient as possible for people who need them. Flu and COVID-19 jab appointments are now available to book via the NHS website, the NHS App, or by calling 119 for free – making it as easy as possible for people to get vaccinated.”
Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Andrew Gwynne said: “I encourage everyone who is eligible to get their flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccinations as soon as possible. They are without doubt the best way to protect yourself from these viruses that can cause serious harm.
Every year the World Health Organization recommends which strains should be included in the flu vaccine, with the UKHSA contributing to this work. Vaccines are then developed to help fight off the types of flu viruses expected to be circulating in the coming season. As the viruses can change every year, and protection from the vaccine reduces over time, it is important those eligible get a vaccine every year.
The Get Winter Strong campaign will run for 10 weeks and will appear on broadcast TV, on demand and community TV, as well as radio channels, outdoor poster sites across England and on social media channels.
AND IN SCOTLAND …
Vaccination will be offered to those at high risk of serious illness from flu and COVID-19. If you’re eligible, you’ll be contacted with information about your appointment.
For more information about the vaccine and eligibility, visit:
The minimum price per unit of alcohol will increase by 15 pence from today.
MSPs previously voted to continue the public health measure which had been scheduled to end automatically on 30 April as part of a ‘sunset clause’ when Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) legislation was introduced in 2018.
They also voted to introduce a price increase, with a rise to 65p per unit chosen as the Scottish Government seeks to increase the positive effects of the policy and to take account of inflation.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “Research commended by internationally-renowned public health experts estimated that our world-leading policy has saved hundreds of lives, likely averted hundreds of alcohol-attributable hospital admissions and contributed to reducing health inequalities.
“Experts wrote to TheLancet, describing Public Health Scotland’s evaluation of minimum unit pricing as ‘high-quality’ and ‘comprehensive’, and expressing confidence that there are several hundred people with low income in Scotland who are alive today as a result of this policy.
“However, the Scottish Government is determined to do all it can to reduce alcohol-related harm and as part of that, I am working to ensure people with problematic alcohol use receive the same quality of care and support as those dealing with problematic drugs use.
“We have also made a record £112 million available to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships to deliver or commission treatment and support services locally, as well as investing £100 million in residential rehabilitation.
“I have also asked that Public Health Scotland is commissioned to review evidence and options for reducing exposure to alcohol marketing.”
The weekends are never long enough and sometimes it can feel like we’re caught in a cycle of never-ending mundane tasks; take the kids to school, walk the dog, do the washing, go shopping, make dinner, blah, blah, blah!
Sound familiar?
Where are you in all of this? If you’re looking to prioritize yourself more and focus on your wellbeing, why not join Jules on Monday morning for a spot of Breathwork.
Sessions start at 9.30am and last for 30 minutes.
30 minutes just for you
30 minutes of relaxation
30 minutes away from the humdrum
If you’re interested and would like to find out more, email hello@pchp.org.uk or simply drop-in on Monday and see for yourself!
Vaccination will be offered to those at high risk of serious illness from flu and COVID-19. If you’re eligible, you’ll be contacted with information about your appointment.
