NHSGGC and Public Health Scotland encourage smokers to ‘Quit Your Way’
A trio of people who quit smoking after a combined 120 years have backed a new national campaign aimed at helping smokers across Scotland quit.
Alan Duthie from Easterhouse, Karen Turnbull from Clydebank and Patricia Weir from Port Glasgow are complete strangers to each other, but they all have one thing in common – they all smoked from their early teens through to middle age, developing an addiction that impacted their health and drained their finances.
However, with free support from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, they now have one more thing in common – they’re all smoke-free thanks to Quit Your Way and they’re urging anyone who smokes to do the same.
Quit Your Way is the free national stop smoking service which offers information, advice and support, including nicotine replacement products and medication, to people who want to stop smoking.
In Greater Glasgow and Clyde, people can get face to face help to quit in groups or one-to-one settings, telephone support, access to a free app or help through their local pharmacy – all at no-cost. There’s also specialist help in maternity, mental health and prison services.
With around 600,000 people in Scotland still addicted to tobacco products, a fresh campaign has been launched to raise awareness of the range of free and confidential support available to help people stop smoking and stay stopped.
And Alan, Karen and Patricia – who all quit individually through NHSGGC support – are collectively encouraging anyone who wants to stop smoking to get in touch with Quit Your Way and take their first step towards going smoke-free.
Alan, 51, who’s six years smoke-free and got support at Easterhouse Health Centre, said: “I now see myself as a non-smoker, and other members of my family have joined me in quitting.
“I’d say to anyone who’s thinking of giving up – seize the opportunity and reach out for support. There’s always help and encouragement and the Quit Your Way team will gladly give you the assistance and encouragement you need.”
Karen, 55, who quit last April through Clydebank Health Centre, said: “Stopping smoking was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do but if I can do it, you can too.
“I called up the help line and got one-to-one support within a week. It made a huge difference and smoking just isn’t a part of my life anymore.”
Patricia, 62, who had her last cigarette in August 2025 and quit using the medication Varenicline, said: “I had tried before but the support from Quit Your Way made a difference this time.
“I’d been really ill and decided it was time to quit and now I feel much better and have more money in my pocket.”
Lisa Buck, NHSGGC Quit Your Way programme manager, said: “Stopping smoking brings health and wellbeing benefits within days and it can also save people thousands of pounds each year.
“Quit Your Way advisers can help people choose the free support that suits them best and with our help you’re more likely to stop smoking and stop for good.”
To find out more or to speak to a Quit Your Way advisor visit www.QuitYourWay.scot, drop in to your local pharmacy or call 0800 84 84 84.
Scotland’s leading healthcare organisations raise serious concerns over proposed changes to Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill
A group of six major medical and healthcare membership organisations in Scotland has issued a joint consensus statement warning of their significant concern regarding changes now being proposed to the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.
The organisations – whose members span a wide range of clinical and ethical perspectives on assisted dying – emphasise that while they take no collective position on the principle of assisted dying, they are united in their concern that provisions relating to no duty to participate and conscientious objection may be removed from the Bill, and the impact that this could have on the workforce.
The Scottish Government has recently indicated that key provisions relating to ‘no duty to participate’, as well as other protections linked to professional regulation and employment rights are not within devolved powers and may be removed from the Bill at Stage 3. These issues would instead be addressed later through a Section 104 Order – secondary legislation that receives only limited parliamentary scrutiny.
The signatory organisations state that removing issues of such significance risk undermining both professional confidence and public trust.
The joint letter, sent today to Liam McArthur MSP, the Scottish Parliament Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, as well as the Secretary of State and Chair of the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee states:
“The prospect of removing matters of such professional, ethical, and legal significance from parliamentary scrutiny at Stage 3, and deferring them to secondary legislation after the Bill has passed, raises important questions about transparency, accountability, and the robustness of the legislative process.
“These protections are central to the safe, ethical, and fair delivery of care, and to the confidence of our medical workforce who may be affected by the legislation.”
The organisations highlight four core concerns:
1. Removal of key safeguards from primary legislation
2. Risk to professional confidence and public trust
3. Inadequate scrutiny of consequential provisions
4. Implications for safe and ethical implementation
The group of organisations in consensus express their continuing commitment to work constructively with the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament to ensure that any legislation affecting assisted dying is developed transparently, rigorously, and with full consideration of the healthcare workforce it will impact.
Signatory organisations:
Association for Palliative Medicine (Scotland)
Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland
Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
Five things stroke professionals believe can improve stroke care in Scotland to save lives and livelihoods
The Stroke Association and Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) have today (23 February) revealed a bid to persuade political parties vying for power in May’s Scottish election to make stroke a priority for the next government.
Stroke is a huge health issue in Scotland. More than 10,000 Scottish residents have a stroke every year1 with about 150,000 people currently living in Scotland with the effects of the condition2. It’s the country’s third biggest killer3 and the leading cause of complex adult disability4, which can leave survivors unable to see, speak, move or even swallow.
Scotland is also being left behind by its UK counterparts on stroke. It has the highest incidence of stroke of the four UK nations and the largest proportion of people living with a disability because of stroke5.
More than 200 health professionals and six major health bodies – the British and Irish Association of Stroke Physicians, the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, the Scottish Stroke Nurses Forum, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow – are proposing radical change.
The Stroke Association and CHSS are supporting stroke professionals in communicating five cost-effective, practical actions to politicians. These are changes developed by doctors, nurses and allied health professionals themselves. They are:
• Deliver an equitable 24/7 national thrombectomy service. Thrombectomy saves brains and money. It is a standard medical procedure in many countries and should no longer be a postcode lottery in Scotland.
• Increase inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation capacity. Front-loading spending on inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation will save money and promote recovery from stroke by reducing the need for ongoing support.
• Give acute stroke care the same hospital status as other specialist units. Stroke is designated a clinical priority and needs the same protection for beds, staff and other resources that is afforded to coronary care or trauma units.
• Develop an innovative long-term stroke specific workforce recruitment and retention plan. Measures to address the shortfall in stroke staff will include a biggerprofile for stroke in education syllabuses and increased opportunities for careerprogression.
• Ongoing failure to meet stroke standards to be escalated to Health Improvement Scotland. This will make the auditing process more robust and ensure NHS boardsplace greater emphasis on meeting the needs of stroke patients.
John Watson, Associate Director for the Stroke Association in Scotland, said:“Successive Scottish governments have not invested in stroke treatment and care to anything like the level it needs, and it’s taking a terrible toll on lives, livelihoods and the NHS.
“A national thrombectomy service has been promised for years, but progress remains glacially slow. According to the latest figures, less than one in five Scots who needed this life-changing procedure, got it. It can be the difference between resuming life as normal and living with life-limiting disability.
“The stroke community’s other proposals not only put the best interests of patients at heart, but they have also thought about whole hospital systems and the immense pressure on the NHS and social care. Sorting stroke can help address the NHS crisis, not least in reducing the need for ongoing support for stroke survivors.”
Chief Operating Officer at Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland, Allan Cowie, said:“Stroke is devastating lives in every community in Scotland – this is impossible to ignore for any successive government. We are seeing more people of working age having strokes, and yet the standard of care they receive depends far too much on where they live and when they arrive at hospital. That is simply unacceptable.
“When only around half of patients receive the basic stroke care bundle that we know leads to better outcomes, and when life-changing procedures like thrombectomy are available to so few, it’s clear that Scotland is still failing people at the moments they need the NHS most.
“The five actions put forward by stroke professionals are practical, evidence-based and affordable – and they would transform the future for thousands of people every year. Investing in stroke care is not only the right thing to do for patients and families, it is one of the smartest ways we can relieve pressure on the NHS and social care.
“Scotland can and must do better. We are calling on all political parties to grasp this moment and commit to delivering stroke as a national priority. Lives, livelihoods and recovery depend on it.”
The latest Scottish Stroke Statistics published in January once again laid out the extent of stroke in Scotland. It devastates lives in all corners of society including increasing incidence of strokes in people of working age (under 65s) over the last 10 years6.
According to the Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme annual report 2025 just 52.9% of stroke patients received the stroke care bundle*, which is associated with better patient outcomesagainst a national quality standard of 80%. In 2019 it was 64%.7 The British and Irish Association of Stroke Physicians (BIASP), the professional body representing stroke physicians across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, added:“We are fully supportive of addressing inequalities in patient access and outcomes across all five nations.
“The situation in Scotland is worrying. Standards of stroke treatment and care are sliding, so we have joined forces with other stroke professionals in Scotland to outline what we believe are affordable, deliverable solutions to an increasingly frustrating position.
“For example, thrombectomy is one of the most effective interventions in modern medicine, as it significantly reduces the risk of long-term disability when delivered promptly. Yet Scotland’s specialist thrombectomy units are hampered by limited operating hours, with only one currently performing the procedure seven days a week.
“As stroke doctors, this puts us in a very difficult position. We want every patient who should have a thrombectomy to have access to this life-changing treatment, but we are thwarted by lack of resources, whether human or material.
“We call on the Scottish Government to take action and support us in ensuring thrombectomy is available for all who need it.”
More than 200 doctors, nurses and allied health professionals have signed the Stroke Association and CHSS’s Scottish election campaign call to make their views known to political parties developing their manifestos for May. It is hoped that parties taking stroke seriously will commit to delivering stroke as a priority.
*The stroke care bundle comprises the prompt delivery of a) admission to a stroke unit; b) brain scanning; c) screening for swallow problems; d) administering aspirin (unless contraindicated).
About Thrombectomy
Thrombectomy is a treatment for ischaemic stroke, which removes large arterial blood clots from the brain and reduces the risk of patients having long-term disability such as paralysis, blindness and communication problems. About 1 in 10 peoplewith stroke could benefit from thrombectomy.8
It should be carried out on eligible patients as soon as possible after onset – and ideally within six hours9.
The thrombectomy rate in Scotland is less than half what it is in the rest of the UK – only 2.2% of the total number of patients who had an ischaemic stroke compared to 4.4% for the UK. In Scotland in 2024 this equated to 212 people10 of the more than 1,000 patients who should have had the procedure.
Case study – Tracey Donaldson
Tracey Donaldson, 56, from Glasgow credits thrombectomy for letting her have the retirement she’s worked hard for. Tracey had a stroke on Wednesday, 19th February 2025 – she thinks about 8.45am.
Tracey served as a school secretary for 19 years, taking early retirement in December last year and having previously worked in banking for 20 years.
Rewind to 19th February 2025 and a work colleague noticed Tracey was showing the classic signs of a stroke – her left-side collapsed and she was struggling to speak. School first aiders rushed to the scene and called an ambulance.
She arrived at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QUEH) at about 10:30am and doctors quickly got to work. She had a CT scan confirming a significant ischemic stroke and was promptly prepared for a thrombectomy, she thinks about two hours after her stroke.
A matter of hours later, Tracey showed nurses that she could walk and her speech had returned.
Incredibly, Tracey passed all the tests set by physiotherapists to check her mobility and was discharged from hospital at 4.30pm on Friday, 21st February.
She said: “I was very tired that first week at home. I had lots of visitors, and it was quite overwhelming at times. But otherwise, it was like I hadn’t had a stroke.”
True to form, Tracey quickly resumed her busy life.
She adds: “I went along to a stroke support group when I retired. Everyone was exceptionally welcoming, but I felt like an imposter as I had no visible effects of the stroke, noting that others around me had not been as fortunate. So, I focused on getting back to normal my way – spending time with family and friends and trying new experiences.”
Tracey concludes: “I strongly believe the recovery from my stroke has been miraculous due to having a thrombectomy quickly. I am forever grateful to the QEUH doctors for saving my life and letting me live life to the full.”
Tracey returned to work in April ‘25, but anxiety brought on by the stroke prompted her to prioritise her health and take early retirement eight months later.
This National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (23 February to 2 March), I’d like to remind children and young people who are struggling with disordered eating that you’re not alone.
I was a confident and happy child, but from a young age I was surrounded by diet culture that made me believe my body should be smaller. What began as insecurity when I was five, slowly developed into years of disordered eating and anorexia. At times, I felt consumed by food, calories, and the pressure to shrink myself. Even when I seemed ‘fine’, I was struggling more than anyone realised.
If you’re reading this and recognise yourself, please know support is available. An eating disorder is not your fault, and you deserve help and compassion. Reaching out for help can feel frightening – I remember that feeling well – but it’s also the first step towards getting better.
Talk to someone you trust, whether that’s a friend, teacher, parent or GP. And if speaking to someone you know feels too difficult, you can contact the NSPCC’s Childline service anonymously by calling 0800 1111 or visit: www.childline.org.uk.
You don’t need to have the right words or even know exactly what’s wrong – they will listen, without judgement, and help you find a way forward.
No one should face an eating disorder alone. Reaching out for support is an act of real courage, and the first step towards recovery.
With all my best wishes, Lauren* (age 24) from Scotland
NSPCC Lived Experience Advocate
*Lauren is not her real name – she requested that we protect her identity
DREW Johnson spent three decades in the security industry, keeping a watchful eye on offices and factories across Scotland.
But later in life, the Paisley-born grandad realised his own senses were fading, leaving him ‘switched off’ from the people who mattered most – his family.
Thanks to the work of Specsavers Musselburgh, the 79-year-old is celebrating a ‘remarkable’ two-month transformation after receiving life-changing hearing devices that has brought the sound back to his home and hobbies.
Before seeking help, Drew struggled with great difficulty in busy environments. Recently, he moved from Dundee to live with his daughter Lynn in Musselburgh, which made the issue impossible to ignore, as the bustling household became a challenge to navigate.
‘I was missing the high notes and the low notes’ says Drew.‘I found myself looking at people’s lips just to understand what they were saying.
“I was worried, and I was annoyed at myself. I just couldn’t believe how small the hearing devices were when I saw them – the stigma of them being off-putting is totally gone.’
Drew visited audiologist Jonathan Bell at the Specsavers Musselburgh store on the High Street. Jonathan diagnosed significant hearing loss in both ears and fitted Drew with discreet, modern hearing devices.
The result was an immediate return to independence and even allowed him to answer his phone with a simple tap of his ear.
As a thank you for Drew’s commitment to his clinical journey and to showcase the brand’s dedication to long-term customer aftercare, drew was gifted a TV Connector worth £229.
The device allows Drew to watch his favourite team, Dundee United, and stream crime dramas, such as Blue Bloods and Chicago Fire, with total clarity directly into his hearing devices without adjusting the volume for the rest of the room.
Jonathan Bell, director of Edinburgh Specsavers Hearcare and the audiologist who led Drew’s care, says: ‘What makes Drew’s story so special is the family aspect.
‘Seeing Drew joined by both his daughters, Lynn and Laura, shows how hearing loss doesn’t just affect the individual; it affects the whole support network.
‘Drew’s journey from being ‘annoyed’ by his hearing loss to being ‘delighted’ and independent is why we are so passionate about looking after our community’s hearing.’
For Drew’s daughter, Lynn, the change has been emotional. She says: ‘He’s so much more involved now. At the dinner table, he’s back in the heart of the conversation instead of being switched off.
“Seeing him have that confidence back at his Friday morning club is amazing.’
Drew is now using his experience to help others, frequently assisting fellow members at a club with their own tablets and phones – all while enjoying the ‘perfect’ sound he thought he had lost for good.
Specsavers offers services across optometry and audiology. With ongoing training and development opportunities, the stores are committed to investing in their teams and helping customers.
Please note: The centralised diary management system means that by calling the Cameron Toll team on 0131 672 9218, patients can conveniently book appointments at any of our Specsavers locations across the greater Edinburgh area.
PATHWAYS clinical trial paused following new MHRA advice
The MHRA have raised new concerns around the PATHWAYS trial looking into the prescription of puberty blockers among young people with gender incongruence.
The preliminary work in establishing the PATHWAYS clinical trial into the prescription of puberty blockers for children and young people with gender incongruence has been paused, following new concerns raised by the medicines regulator, the MHRA.
Discussions between the MHRA and the trial sponsor, King’s College London, will begin next week to address the new concerns. In the meantime, the trial will not start to recruit until issues raised by MHRA have been resolved between the regulator and the trial clinicians.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We have always been clear about the red lines regarding this trial – ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the children and young people involved and always being led by the clinical evidence.
“The MHRA has now raised new concerns – directly related to the wellbeing of children and young people – and scientific dialogue will now follow with the trial sponsor.
“As the evidence is now being interrogated by clinicians, preparations for the trial have been paused while the MHRA and clinical leaders work through these concerns.
“This trial will only be allowed to go ahead if the expert scientific and clinical evidence and advice conclude it is both safe and necessary.
“The safety and wellbeing of children and young people have always been the driving consideration in every decision we have made regarding this trial and always will be.”
An MHRA spokesperson commented: “With all complex clinical trials, MHRA’s top priority is the safety and wellbeing of the trial participants.
“It is part of the usual process that clinical trials are kept continuously under review and for us to have active scientific dialogue with the trial sponsors.
“The safety and wellbeing of the participants to be recruited into the PATHWAYS clinical trial is paramount, particularly in view of the age of the children and young people who may be involved.
“For this reason, the MHRA is applying the highest scrutiny and taking a cautious and measured approach. We have raised some concerns related to the wellbeing of participants and scientific dialogue will now follow with the trial sponsor.
“We rely on the best scientific evidence to ensure all trials are as safe as possible for those participating.”
The MHRA has written to King’s College London. A copy of the letter is available here Sponsor letter (PDF, 1.23 MB, 4 pages)
RECOVERY and resilience are in focus in Edinburgh as one of Scotland’s most pioneering rugby referees begins a new personal collaboration with one of the city’s leading spas.
The new partnership will see Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa collaborate with Hollie Davidson, the trailblazing female Scottish official who continues to break new ground in global rugby. The collaboration will support her recovery both on and off the pitch.
Hollie Davidson, the trailblazing Scottish official who continues to break new ground in the global game, is working with Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa as part of her wider focus on wellbeing alongside the physical and mental demands of elite officiating.
In February 2026, Hollie made history as the first woman to referee a men’s Six Nations match, taking charge of Ireland v Italy. The year before, she officiated a men’s All Blacks Test- another landmark moment in her career and in the evolution of professional rugby.
A former scrum-half, Hollie moved into officiating after her playing career and has since established herself as one of the most respected officials in the professional game, recognised for her fitness, authority and calm decision-making under intense global scrutiny.
For Hollie, prioritising recovery and balance away from match days is essential to sustaining performance at the highest level.
“Elite officiating demands the same physical conditioning and mental sharpness as playing at the top level,” she said. “You’re constantly moving, constantly analysing, and expected to make split-second decisions in front of millions. Taking time to reset and look after yourself away from the pitch is an important part of that.”
Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, which celebrated 40 years in the capital in 2025, is home to the award-winning One Spa, widely recognised as one of Scotland’s leading urban wellness destinations, offering state-of-the-art hydrotherapy facilities, thermal experiences and tailored treatments designed to support both relaxation and performance recovery.
The collaboration reflects the hotel’s commitment to wellness and personalised guest experiences, reinforcing its position as a premier destination for business and leisure travellers seeking both luxury and restoration in the heart of Edinburgh.
Fiona Young, Spa Director at Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, said: “Hollie represents dedication, resilience and professionalism at the highest level of sport. The physical demands placed on international referees are immense, and recovery is not optional, it is integral to maintaining peak condition.
She continued: “At One Spa, our 19m heated indoor infinity edge pool, rooftop hydropool and thermal suite are designed to improve circulation, ease muscular tension and support overall wellbeing. Partnering with Hollie allows us to demonstrate how those facilities can play a meaningful role in elite athletic preparation.”
That sustained pressure makes structured recovery essential, from muscular rehabilitation to mental reset, aligning closely with the spa’s holistic approach to wellbeing.
Copyright Matthew Shaw All rights reserved and all moral rights asserted. See licence supplied with this image for full terms & conditions. Copy available at: www.matthewshaw.co.uk/copyright.html
Not for use by architects, interior designers or other hotel suppliers without permission from Matthew Shaw
Located in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa blends contemporary Scottish style with five-star hospitality, offering luxury accommodation, exceptional dining and modern conference facilities alongside its flagship wellness offering.
People in Edinburgh are being urged to prioritise their heart health by getting a free blood pressure test when shopping.
Tesco have partnered with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to encourage people in Edinburgh to take a moment for their wellbeing this Heart Month by visiting a Tesco pharmacy for a quick and friendly blood pressure check.
Latest information from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities estimates that 62,900 in Edinburgh are living with undiagnosed high blood pressure.*
High blood pressure is one of the leading risk factors for heart attacks and strokes. However, because high blood pressure often has no signs or symptoms, the only way to know is to get tested. When identified early, high blood pressure can be effectively managed, helping to protect long‑term health.
Tom Lye, Category Director for Health & Wellness at Tesco, said:“We want looking after your health to feel as simple as going into Tesco to do a shop. Our pharmacy teams are here to offer a quick, friendly blood pressure check – no fuss, no appointment needed. A few minutes in store can help to give peace of mind or get you support early if it’s needed.”
Tesco pharmacy teams offer the free walk-in and pre-booked 10‑minute blood pressure check, carried out in private consultation rooms. They will explain the results clearly and, if a raised reading is detected, guide customers towards the appropriate next steps or support. All Tesco pharmacists and pharmacy staff undergo specialist Let’s Talk training to help them speak to the public with sensitivity about heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.
The latest campaign, which has launched during Heart Month, builds on the partnership between Tesco and the British Heart Foundation, encouraging the public to fit a blood pressure check into their everyday routine.
As well as the free in store checks, Tesco Magazine and the Tesco Real Food website are featuring heart healthy recipes including dishes with low salt and low saturated fat to help customers cook confidently at home.
The wider Tesco Health Charity Partnership with the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK and Diabetes UK was launched in 2018 and is built on the simple belief that Every Little Help can make a big difference. Until 1 March, customers can also choose to round up their shop to the nearest £1, to raise money for the Health Charity Partnership.
Professor Bryan Williams OBE, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, said: “High blood pressure affects roughly one in three adults, yet many people remain unaware they have it because it usually presents no obvious signs. When it goes undetected, it can significantly raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes, which is why it’s so important for as many people as possible to get their blood pressure checked.
“Although high blood pressure can lead to serious health problems if ignored, the positive news is that it can be managed. Small lifestyle changes like being more active and reducing foods high in fat, salt and sugar can have a real impact – medication is also available when needed.
“Getting your blood pressure checked at a community location like your local Tesco is quick, straightforward and could be one of the most vital steps you take to protect your heart and overall health. Know your numbers this Heart Month.”
A free blood pressure test at your nearest Tesco pharmacy takes about 10 minutes, and Tesco colleagues will guide you through what the numbers mean.
People in Scotland will have access to expanded 24/7 mental health support, backed by an estimated £1.5 billion of investment on mental health and wellbeing support from the Scottish Government.
This funding includes £3.5 million of new investment announced today which will make it easier for people to get the help they need, reducing pressure on A&E and other emergency services like Police Scotland.
The funding will enable the NHS 24 Mental Health Hub to expand, offering psychological support for people who will benefit from early access to treatment. The Hub provides round-the-clock help to anyone in Scotland requiring urgent mental health support or who is experiencing distress, connecting callers to trained professionals for assessment, advice and directing them to the most appropriate support.
A new Crisis Framework for Children and Young People, backed by an initial £1 million, will also improve emergency mental health responses across six NHS Board areas.
This complements the success of the Distress Brief Intervention programme, which has already supported over 100,000 people since its establishment with rapid support and follow-up care.
Visiting The Lighthouse for Perth, which offers mental health crisis support for children and young people, First Minister John Swinney said: “We are working hard to ensure everyone in Scotland, wherever they live, has 24/7 access to the right mental health and wellbeing support.
“Our 24/7 NHS 24 Mental Health Hub has been set up so that calls from anyone in distress are redirected to specially trained practitioners. The service is supporting thousands of people each month and is easing pressure on other frontline services like A&E and the police, and strengthens the range of emergency mental health support available across Scotland.
“We are also launching a new Crisis Framework for Children and Young People today, to improve how young people and their families can access urgent mental health support. I am grateful to organisations like The Lighthouse who have helped shape our approach and who are delivering essential services in our communities.
“Over the last two years almost 80,000 children, young people and family members accessed Scottish Government-funded community services, and our new Crisis Intervention Fund will enable local areas to go further in offering the right crisis response.”
Sharon Thomas Operations Manager The Lighthouse for Perth said: “The new Crisis Framework for Children and Young People will be an excellent resource for everyone working in crisis support.
“The Lighthouse have been working hard over the past 6 years delivering this type of person centred service across Perth and Kinross and we are delighted to have had the opportunity to contribute to the new framework to ensure this will now be available across the whole of Scotland.
“It is a pleasure to have the First Minister visit today and the announcement of additional funding is very welcome. Young people are the future of this country and we need to ensure they have the support they need, when they need it to shape the future of our communities.”
Researchers say previously unidentified feature of myelin couldpave the way to new treatment options
Researchers in Edinburgh have discovered that myelin, the protective coating surrounding nerves, which is damaged in multiple sclerosis (MS), could potentially repair itself instead of being lost, thanks to a newly discovered biological response.
This might offer a significant new opportunity to help slow, stop or even prevent degeneration in MS and other conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
In MS, the immune system attacks myelin in the brain and spinal cord and disrupts messages being sent around the body. This impacts how people move, think and feel. While myelin loss is a hallmark of a range of conditions, there are still no treatments that can replace damaged or lost myelin.
Until now, research has been focused on regenerating new myelin after it has already been lost. But a team from the MS Society Edinburgh Centre for Myelin Research at the University of Edinburgh, led by Professor David Lyons and supported by international collaborators, has shown that when myelin is first damaged it undergoes a dynamic swelling phase.
This can, in principle, be followed by repair, rather than myelin loss. This potentially offers a window of opportunity to intervene before the myelin completely breaks down.
Historically, although this myelin swelling had been observed, it had not been investigated in detail, as researchers thought that it might be an artefact of the way brain tissue is preserved in the lab. But this new study took advantage of advanced technology to observe live zebrafish and tissue from mice and humans who lived with MS to follow what happened to damaged myelin over time.
The team showed that this swelling is in fact a natural process in the body that can be followed by repair of the damaged myelin, and thus one that could be a critical step in the body’s fight to prevent complete myelin loss.
This suggests that the nervous system has a powerful – and until now unrecognised – ability to withstand early myelin damage.
Professor David Lyons, Co-lead of the MS Society Edinburgh Centre for MS Research, at the University of Edinburgh, says:“These findings suggest that intervening during this early swelling phase could protect myelin before it is lost, offering us the opportunity to explore potential new treatment routes that could complement current treatments.
“For decades, scientists have focused on remyelination, the process of rebuilding myelin once it is already lost. This continues to hold promise. But now that we have this new avenue of exploration, it could be the start of something else very special.”
Over 150,000 people in the UK live with MS, with 135 diagnosed each week. More than 17,000 people with MS live in Scotland. The MS Society is the largest charitable funder of MS research in the UK. Its research has helped drive forward treatment options and dramatically improved public understanding of the condition.
The University of Edinburgh is home to one of Europe’s largest groupings of neuroscience researchers investigating the nervous system in health and disease. This includes one of two MS Society-funded Centres of Excellence in MS research.
Work at the Edinburgh Centre for MS Research, co-led by Professor Lyons and Professor Anna Williams, spans investigation of fundamental biological processes relevant to MS, drug discovery to identify treatments for MS, through clinical research and supporting clinical trials in people with disease.
Dr Emma Gray, Director of Research at the MS Society, says:“We know that the body has the ability to regenerate new myelin after it’s lost. But this study shows that existing myelin can sometimes self-heal before it’s fully lost, a process we hadn’t identified before.
“It doesn’t replace current strategies, but it adds another potential way to protect myelin early on. MS can be debilitating, exhausting and unpredictable and for tens of thousands of people there are still no treatments that work for them.
“There’s still a lot to learn, but discoveries like this are essential to help people with MS in the future.”
