Tag: Health and wellbeing

Three in four people don’t know that an irregular heartbeat is a major cause of strokes

  • Stroke Prevention Day is Thursday 12 January 2023
  • Stroke Association urges people to check themselves for ‘silent’ condition, atrial fibrillation

The Stroke Association and BBC Morning Live’s Dr Punam Krishan are urging people to check for a ‘silent condition’ which is one of the leading causes of serious strokes, after a survey showed that few are aware of the link.

It is estimated that around 35,000 people in Scotland are living with undiagnosed atrial fibrillation1 (AF) where the heart beats with an irregular rhythm. When this happens, the heart won’t empty all of the blood out of its chambers with every beat and the leftover blood can form clots which travel to the brain, blocking off blood flow and causing a stroke.

A survey by the charity to mark Stroke Prevention Day on Thursday 12 January revealed that three in four people (75%) did not know that AF is a major cause of stroke2.

AF is linked to around one in five strokes3 – that’s 40 strokes per day and strokes in people with AF are more severe and are more likely to result in death or serious disability.

John Watson, Associate Director for the Stroke Association in Scotland, said: “It’s worrying that so few people know that a little thing like how your heart beats can lead to a massive stroke. 

“AF often has no symptoms and a stroke can strike without warning. Don’t let the first sign of your AF be a sudden and life-changing stroke. With early diagnosis and effective management of AF, your risk of a stroke dramatically decreases so it’s vital for people to check it regularly.

“It’s really easy to check your own pulse and our research told us that most people are able to. Feel for your pulse on your wrist or neck to make sure it has a regular beat. If you suspect you have an irregular pulse, contact your GP Practice.”

The survey 2 also revealed that:

  • Six in ten (67%) said they had never checked themselves for AF
  • Almost half (46%) said they had never been checked for AF by a healthcare professional
  • More than eight in ten (86%) said they would be likely to seek medical advice if they felt something was wrong with the rhythm of their heartbeat/pulse
  • 62% said they knew someone who had had a stroke
  • 24% knew someone who had had AF

The charity has a video guide on its website at www.stroke.org.uk/spd23 showing people how they can check their own pulse on their wrist or neck.

Alex Trench had a stroke at the age of 52.  Alex ran his own business, a grocer at the time. He describes it as a stressful job. It was a massive stroke leaving Alex unable to sit up, walk or use his arm.  

Only two months earlier, Alex had been diagnosed with AF following a check-up with his GP about another health problem. He said: ““I didn’t know anyone with AF nor did I know anyone who had had a stroke, I was only 52! 

“Whilst I wasn’t given a definitive answer as to the cause of my stroke, I do wonder if AF may have played a part. I have since sold my business, eat healthily and watch my weight to reduce the risk of having a stroke. 

“Importantly, I am now on medication to manage my AF. I would urge people of any age to check their pulse regularly to look out for possible AF. Having a stroke is devastating. I know it.  Please do as much as you can to prevent it.”

 Although Alex still still relies on a delta frame to walk very short distances and struggles to use his hand, thanks to Alex’ determination and support from others, he has made quite a good recovery.   

 “I am really pleased to be ‘giving back’ doing voluntary work for the Stroke Association.”

Dr Punam Krishan, a Glasgow GP and presenter on BBC Morning Live, said: ““The good news is that if AF is identified it can be managed really easily.

“If you’ve got AF, you might be given anticoagulant medication to reduce your risk of stroke by making a clot less likely to form, or you might be able to have a one-time electric pulse to get your heart beating regularly.

“The most important thing is to check yourself and contact your GP practice if you think you might have AF. It’s so much better to get your AF sorted before it becomes a problem. Get it checked for your own health and for the sake of your loved ones.”

Trudie Lobban MBE, Founder of the AF Association, said: “The AF Association welcomes Stroke Prevention Day to help detect more people living with AF, yet to be diagnosed.

“Raising awareness of the importance of pulse checks is key to detecting the irregular heart rhythm and leading to more people being diagnosed and receiving appropriate anticoagulation therapy to reduce their risk of an AF-related stroke. 

“It is good to see the Stroke Association encouraging the public to be pulse aware to know their heart rhythm – this can save so many from the devastation that strokes can cause, it can even save lives.”

Walk the talk and get active in 2023 with Ageing Well

Ageing Well, run by Edinburgh Leisure in partnership with NHS Lothian is seeking new participants to join various city-wide activities which support people to become, and remain, active in later life.

Available to join are Buddy Swim sessions, a 19-week cycle skills course and a two-week technical skills Nordic Walking course, which is followed by four weeks of walking around Edinburgh.

Cat Wilson, Active Communities Project Officer at Edinburgh Leisure said: “Ageing Well activities have been developed to cater for a wide range of tastes and abilities.  All activities are either led by or supported by fully trained volunteers, who are all older adults themselves.

“The emphasis is on meeting new people whilst making physical activity accessible and enjoyable. For anyone who has made a promise to themselves, or their family, to improve their fitness in the new year, now is the time to walk the talk and to register their interest in any of our Ageing Well programmes. 

“I can guarantee it will be a lot of fun, will improve their wellbeing and fitness, and all our activities are sociable, with plenty of opportunities to make new friends.”

Buddy Swimming is aimed at older adults, who perhaps lack confidence, to get back in the water. Participants are met and greeted by Edinburgh Leisure’s volunteers and ensure they have the support they require in the water, followed by that all-important chat and cup of tea afterwards.

Ageing Well’s Buddy Swimming takes place in three Edinburgh Leisure venues across the city, moving to four, when Warrender Swim Centre, reopens in early 2023.

  • Tuesday – Glenogle Swim Centre – 10.00 – 10.45am
  • Wednesday – Warrender Swim Centre – 10.00am – 11.00am (date of Warrender reopening is still to be announced)
  • Thursday – Drumbrae Swim Centre – 10.30am – 11.15am
  • Thursday – Royal Commonwealth Pool – 12.05pm – 12.45pm

The 19-week Cycle Skills course will start at the beginning of March 2023 and takes place on a Monday at 10am.

The initial level 1 course, based on Cycling Scotland’s Bikeability material is an 11-week course, which will get participants comfortable again on a bike, developing skills, at a pace that suits them, in a dedicated area at Saughton.

Level 2 lasts 8-weeks and gives participants the opportunity to explore Edinburgh’s extensive cycle path network, from the leisure centres at Ainslie Park and Meggetland.

Suitable for anyone who hasn’t been on a bike for ages or for those that don’t currently own one, Edinburgh Leisure can provide bikes, helmets, and hi-viz vests, but people are welcome to bring their own.

Ageing Well’s six-week Nordic Walking course launched in March 2022 and will start again in Spring 2023, day and date to be decided.

Nordic Walking is for everyone. Its origins are Finnish and it provides a total-body version of fitness walking with specially designed poles, not to be confused with trekking poles. It can be enjoyed at many levels, at low, medium, or high intensity.  The poles mean that effort is shared between the upper and lower body, so it feels easier than normal walking, particularly uphill. More than 10 million people globally enjoy this outdoor activity all year round.

Participants will meet at Brighton Park in Portobello and would be expected to attend the first two technical sessions to graduate. Each session will last 1-hour, and poles will be provided, if people do not already have their own.

Once group members have graduated from the 2-week introductory course, they will be eligible to join the Nordic Walking 4-week course, visiting various locations. These walks would take between 1.5 – 2 hours.

The Nordic Walking course complements Ageing Well’s already popular regular walks which take place in different locations around the city each week.

Ageing Well relies on external funding and donations to deliver its programmes across Edinburgh. A contribution of £3 per week for each activity is appreciated. This can be paid in one go or each week. People’s generous support means Edinburgh Leisure can provide a range of activities to reach more older adults in need of their support, protecting their health and wellbeing and improving their quality of life. 

In 2018 the Ageing Well programme was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), which is the highest award given to UK volunteer groups and is the equivalent of an MBE. The award reflects the tremendous contribution of Edinburgh Leisure’s Ageing Well volunteers and the positive difference they make to the lives of participants. 

To find out more about any Ageing Well activities, visit:

https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/activities/active-communities/ageing-well

Don’t delay registering your interest in any of the Ageing Well activities:  active@edinburghleisure.co.uk or call 0131 458 2260.

NSPCC Scotland needs YOU in 2023

As we begin a new year, many people will be reflecting and looking ahead to what the coming weeks and months will bring (writes Adeniyi Alade, Service Head of Helplines (Childline) .

Often New Year’s resolutions focus on healthy living, learning a new skill, supporting a cause, or giving up a bad habit.

This year, NSPCC Scotland is appealing for people to resolve to donate some of their time to one of the charity’s many services for children and young people.

At NSPCC, we are lucky to have a dedicated group of volunteers who give their time week-in week-out to help children and families when they need us the most.

However, to help ensure that we are here for all children, all day, every day, all year round, we need more people of all ages, and from all walks of life, to become volunteers and help us be there for young people.

Our two Childline bases in Glasgow and Aberdeen have a team of amazing volunteers who talk to children about a range of issues including mental health, abuse and neglect, family relationships, loneliness grief, and sexuality.

Childline bases across the UK held over 200,000 Childline counselling sessions with children and young people last year and need more volunteers to enable them to continue being there for children.

Could you be that person?

Our Schools Service volunteers also play a vital role, protecting a generation of children by helping them understand abuse and giving them the confidence to speak out if they need help. 

Could you help children feel empowered to know who they can speak out to if they are worried?

If you aren’t able to commit to a weekly or monthly volunteer role, why not consider joining as a fundraising and events volunteer, or you could even support NSPCC Scotland with your own fundraising event throughout the year.

No matter how much time you have to give, NSPCC has a volunteering role for you. It can be a great way to give back to the community and also learn new skills.

At NSPCC, we give you all the training needed to get you ready for your role, as well as a hugely supportive team of volunteers and supervisors to guide and help you on your volunteering journey.

You can get more information at: www.nspcc.org.uk/volunteer

Could you help us be there for all children?

Most popular workout tracks for January gym return revealed 

  • A new analysis of monthly Spotify playlists reveals the most popular songs for a January workout, as Brits head back to the gym
  • ACRAZE’s Do It To It proved best for getting hyped back up after Christmas, as well as Eminem’s Till I Collapse and The Chainsmokers’ Closer
  • Google searches for new gym memberships have increased by 111% since the end of December – perhaps due to New Year’s resolutions

A new analysis of user’s monthly Spotify playlists has revealed which tracks are best for getting hyped for the gym again in January – with ACRAZE’S Do It To It on top. 

The research, conducted by fitness experts Fitness Volt, analysed over 9,353 tracks from Spotify’s most popular January gym and January workout playlists to determine which songs feature most – creating the ultimate back-to-gym playlist for the new year. 

ACRAZE’s Do It To It – featuring girl group Cherish – is the best-suited track, appearing in seven of the playlists analysed. With a tempo of 125 BPM, the song is ideal for cardio.

Next up was Eminem’s Till I Collapse, also appearing on seven playlists, which would work well for a high-intensity workout thanks to its higher BPM of 171. The third-most popular track was The Chainsmoker’s Closer, which appeared in six workout playlists. 

It makes sense that high-tempo songs appear frequently in January playlists, given many people are now getting back to their usual workout routines and will be trying to hype themselves up again after the festive break.

Some artists also appear more frequently in gym playlists than others; Lizzo is amongst the most popular, with featured tracks including Fitness, Water Me, Grrls and Truth Hurts.

Other artists that appear numerous times across the analysed playlists were Kanye West, Big Sean, Flo Rida, Rihanna and Tiesto. 

Top 20 tracks for January workouts

  1. Do It To It, ACRAZE
  2. Till i Collapse, Eminem
  3. Closer, The Chainsmokers
  4. The Motto, Tiesto
  5. Elated, January’s Blessing
  6. Where Are You Now, Lost Frequencies
  7. INDUSTRY BABY, Lil Nas X
  8. POWER, Kanye West
  9. Shivers, Ed Sheeran,
  10. The Box, Roddy Rich 
  11. Can’t Hold Us, Macklemore
  12. Stronger, Kanye West
  13. Numb/Encore, Jay-Z
  14. Acapulo, Jason Derulo
  15. Abcdefu, GAYLE
  16. Levitating, Dua Lipa
  17. We Own It, 2 Chainz
  18. Boom Boom Pow, Zafrir
  19. HERO A, Yuki Hayashi
  20. Feels Like Summer, Weezer

There’ll also be an influx of new gym-goers who have dedicated themselves to pursue working out as their New Year’s resolution, and who’ll be listening to more motivating music. 

It seems that Brits are already keen to get themselves back to working out, with Google Trends data showing that searches for ‘gym memberships’ are 111% higher now than they were at the end of December. 

A spokesperson at Fitness Volt commented on the findings, saying: “Many gym-goers will find it hard to motivate themselves to get back to working out after some time away from the gym – and one of the best ways to amp ourselves up is to listen to high-tempo music.

“For those who are looking to create dedicated gym playlists, it’s recommended to include some slower tracks that will work for warming up and cooling down after your workout. You may also want to consider noise-cancelling headphones to enhance the experience.”

‘Robotic Surgery saved my life’

A patient at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary has praised NHS staff after undergoing robotic surgery that she claims saved her life.

Deborah Speirs, 46, from the Tollcross area of Glasgow was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer in March 2021 and, thanks to the innovative surgery and a dose of chemotherapy, she has now been given the all-clear.

Following a consultation with Professor Campbell Roxburgh, a surgeon at the GRI, Deborah decided to opt for the innovative surgery over the conventional method. 

Deborah is grateful for all the care she received at the GRI, but she is convinced that the robotic surgery saved her life. She said: “I cannot thank the staff at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde enough for all the help, care and treatment they provided for me.

“When you are told you are diagnosed with cancer, it takes a while for this to really sink in as you never think it is going to happen to you.

“I had never heard about it this type of procedure before. An operation is a scary word in itself and I never thought anything about a robot being directed by a surgeon.

“I met with Prof Roxburgh and he explained everything in detail and I was happy to go ahead with it.

“The technology is amazing and I was up and walking around in a matter of days after my surgery. I wanted to start hoovering when I got home from hospital but my daughter made sure I rested up. It just shows you how great this is for recovery.

“In what was a very traumatic and difficult time for me and my family, I genuinely think that robotic surgery has saved my life.”

L-R Deborah’s daughter Antonia, dad Thomas, Deborah, Deborah’s partner Paul.

More than 60 doctors are trained in the use of robotic surgery systems across NHS Scotland, with 15 machines in operation. NHSGGC offers robotic surgery across multiple specialities including colorectal, urology, gynaecology and head and neck surgery, at both the GRI and Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

The robotic systems have four arms that hold a camera and the surgical tools. A surgeon controls the robotic system from the surgeon console, which is in the operating theatre.

The systems allow doctors to use tiny wristed instruments that move like a human hand, but with a greater range of motion. The precision of the surgery can reduce the amount of time patients are required to stay in hospital post-surgery.

Prof Roxburgh said: “Robotic surgery has already shown huge improvements in patient care and recovery times. It is not complete devolution of the surgery to a robot and the surgeon still has absolute control of everything that is going on. What we are adding, is that we are using a console that controls instruments and these go in through robotic ports.

“We have seen a halving in the length of time patients are required to stay in hospital in comparison to conventional key hole surgery as it is less invasive.

“In addition to this, it helps have reduce complications, imaging assessments, blood transfusions readmission rates and infections.

“Deborah is just one example of a number of successful surgeries using this type of equipment.” 

Neil McCallum, director for NHSGGC’s North Sector, said: “This innovative technology allows us to reduce the amount of time a patient has to stay in hospital following their surgery.



“At a time when we are facing increased pressures, it is great to highlight the extraordinary work our teams are undertaking and this procedure will enable us to treat more patients more quickly, and with better outcomes.

“I would like to thank our teams who are continuously going over and above to provide the best possible treatment and care for our patients.”

David Marante, Regional Director at Intuitive, the maker of the da Vinci surgical systems used by surgeons and their teams at NHSGGC, said: “The progress that has been made at NHSGGC over the past 18 months is a huge accomplishment and is testament to the commitment of the team to expand robotic-assisted surgery so that more patients will have access to minimally invasive care with our technology.

“Our continued focus is to provide technology training to more surgeons, trainees and care teams across Scotland as they grow their da Vinci robotic programmes with the aim of further reducing rates of open surgery to improve patient outcomes and lower the total cost of care.”

Healthy Tip: Setting Effective Goals for Your Health

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK


Healthy Heart Tip: Setting Effective Goals for Your Health
January marks the start of a new year and it is a good time to evaluate the current state of your health.

Many of us use the new year to set health related goals, which often include stopping a bad habit or introducing a new healthy one.

However, a goal without a plan is just a dream and it is worth spending some time to set effective goals if you want to make positive strides towards better health in 2023. Here we outline some tips to set effective goals.

Make them SMART

SMART goals are:

SPECIFIC: ‘Eat healthier’ sounds like a good idea, but what does that look like for you specifically? It could be eating five portions of fruits and vegetables a day or increasing the amount of water you drink to two litres. Whatever it is, make it as specific as possible.

MEASURABLE: Set goals that are trackable and allow you to measure your success. For example, a goal to reduce your alcohol consumption is hard to quantify, but a goal to limit your alcohol consumption to three drinks a week is measurable.

ATTAINABLE: It can be tempting to set huge goals when we are feeling really inspired, however, it is important to think realistically and set goals that you can actually achieve. For someone who has never run before and doesn’t have a good level of fitness, setting a goal to run a marathon may be a bit of a stretch.

RELEVANT: Make the goal align with your values and longer-term health goals. Why is this goal important to you and what impact will it have on your health if it isn’t achieved?

TIME-BOUND: An effective goal has an end date, when will you achieve this goal by? Planning to stop smoking by 1st August 2023 is a time-bound goal. It enables you to plan what steps you need to take to achieve it by the end date.

Track your progress

It’s a good idea to write your goals down on paper or in a journal and keep track of your progress. You could break down the year by quarters and plan what you want to have achieved in relation to each goal by the end of every quarter.

For example, by the end of quarter one (January through March) you will have achieved consistently drinking one litre of water a day and by the end of quarter two (April through June) you will have achieved consistently drinking two litres a day. 

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers:https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.

Health and social care crisis: Sturgeon and Sunak host emergency meetings

Clinical leaders, health experts and ministers will convene in Downing Street for an NHS Recovery Forum today. Scotland’s First Minister hosted a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Committee yesterday to discuss ongoing pressures on Scotand’s struggling health service.

In addition to his regular meetings on the health service, the Prime Minister will host the Forum to bring together experts from across the health and care sector to identify opportunities to go further and faster on improving performance and outcomes.

The Forum will major on four crucial issues: social care and delayed discharge; urgent and emergency care; elective care; and primary care.

Some of the best health and care minds in the country will use the session to share best practice and to understand whether any innovations developed at a local level could be applied to other regional areas or on a national basis.

As the Prime Minister set out in his speech earlier this week, innovation is at the heart of the UK government’s approach and will be a vital aspect of the solution, and so Forum attendees will include representatives from both the public and independent sector to ensure we’re harnessing a wide spread of expertise and talent.

The Forum is the next step in the significant action that the government has taken to improve outcomes and relieve the immediate pressures on the NHS and in social care caused by the pandemic, with further pressures due to the recent rise in covid and flu cases.

On improving capacity in the NHS, the government has provided an extra £500 million to speed up hospital discharge this winter and we’re also increasing bed capacity by the equivalent of 7,000 more beds.

The NHS is rolling out virtual wards across England, with an ambition to establish 40-50 virtual ward beds per 100k population, by December 2023. Virtual wards are where people, for example, who have acute respiratory infections can actually be treated at home with telemedicine or pulse oximeters and there is also a new fall service which can save about 55,000 ambulance call outs a year by treating people with falls at home.

In total, the government will invest up to £14.1 billion additional funding over the next two years to improve urgent and emergency care and tackle the backlog – the highest spend on health and care in any government’s history. £7.5 billion of this support is for adult social care and discharge over the next two years, which will also help deal with immediate pressures. 

91 Community Diagnostic Centres have been opened so far and they have delivered over 2.7 million tests, checks and scans to help diagnose patients earlier.

The government is also continuing to grow the NHS workforce, with around 42,000 more staff than a year ago, including over 10,500 more nurses and almost 4,700 more doctors.

The government is investing at least £1.5 billion to create an extra 50 million general practice appointments by 2024, while the NHS is accelerating the rollout of new state-of-the-art telephone systems to make it easier for patients get through to their GP surgeries.

Earlier this week, the Prime Minister set out one of his key promises that NHS waiting lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly. He also pledged to make sure the NHS is built around patients.

The Forum will run for the majority of Saturday and attendees will include chief executives and clinical leaders from NHS organisations, local areas and councils from across the country, clinical experts from Royal Colleges and independent sector organisations working with health and social care services to deliver services for patients. 

The Health and Social Care Secretary, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NHS England will attend the Forum.

A Downing Street Spokesperson said: “As the Prime Minister made clear this week, easing the immediate pressures whilst also focussing on the long-term improvement of the NHS is one of his key promises.

“That’s why we’re bringing together the best minds from the health and care sectors to help share knowledge and practical solutions so that we can tackle the most crucial challenges such as delayed discharge and emergency care.

“We want to correct the unwarranted variation in NHS performance between local areas, because no matter where you live you should be able to access quality healthcare.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government resilience committee (SGoRR) to discuss the response to ongoing winter pressures on the health and social care system.

In addition to the FM, yesterday’s meeting was attended by Deputy First Minister John Swinney, Health Secretary Humza Yousaf, other Cabinet ministers, and key partners from across the system including senior representatives from NHS Boards, COSLA, Integration Joint Boards and the Scottish Ambulance Service.

The latest situation with flu and COVID-19 infections was covered, along with the increased demands on acute sites and social care which have been experienced over the Christmas and New Year period.

A number of measures are being taken to alleviate pressures on the system, improve patient flow and ensure people receive the right care in the right setting. These include the use of Flow Navigation Centres as part of the redesign of urgent care, Hospital at Home and ambulance service staff providing treatment, where appropriate, to help avoid hospital admission.

The Health Secretary will update parliament at the earliest opportunity on ongoing work to support the system, and further resilience meetings will be held to monitor the situation in the coming days and weeks as required.

The First Minister said: “It is clear that health and social care is currently experiencing a period of intense and indeed unprecedented pressure. Staff are working exceptionally hard and have been doing so throughout the Christmas and New Year period.

“This comes after nearly three years of pandemic-related demands on the system, and we are all incredibly grateful to them for their efforts.

“I am clear that the Scottish Government must and will do everything it can to support our health and care service throughout the next few weeks. We remain in daily contact with Health Boards and there is already a huge amount of work being done, but we will leave no stone unturned to explore and implement any additional measures that could be taken to help alleviate pressures.

“With that in mind we will continue to work with all partners to implement actions that can help ensure the workforce is supported to deliver the high standards of care that we want everyone to receive.

“This will include actions to reduce unnecessary attendances at A&E – ensuring people get care in more appropriate settings, and those who need hospital care get it quickly, and also on effective discharge arrangements to reduce pressure on hospital occupancy. My thanks go to all those working incredibly hard across the whole health and care system during this period of exceptional pressure.”

2023 Wellbeing: New Year, New You  

Check out some courses for well-being  

A hammock on a beach Description automatically generated with medium confidence

Mondays

Latin and Salsa Dancing at Rosebery Hall in South Queensferry from 4pm

Wednesdays

Drawing and Painting at Broughton High School at 7pm

*Fencing for Wellbeing (fun and playful -no need to be fit) Brunstane Primary at 6.30pm

Quiltmaking (sewing by hand) at Drummond High School 7pm

Horror Film Discussion at Drummond High School 7pm 

Sketching Animals in the Zoo at the Zoo 

Thursdays

Drawing and Painting at Leith Community Centre 3pm

Crochet for post beginners at Drummond High School 6.30pm

Felt Making at Drummond High School 7pm  

Fridays 

Dressmaking Alterations at Craigroyston Community High School 2pm

*Fencing is specifically a meditative well-being style of fencing movements to give you time and space to reflect 

Enrolling right now at https://www.joininedinburgh.org

Book on asap to confirm a place or ring 0131 556 7978

Standard fee £69.60 & senior / student concession £34.80 & reduced fee for benefits £17.25

Talk about sport? Reminisce, Replay, Reconnect with Sporting Memories

Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland, in partnership with Edinburgh Leisure, is running a weekly club for older adults to stay active, connected within their local community and build amazing friendships through their common love of sport. 

Held on Tuesdays from 10.30am to 12.00 at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, the club runs weekly and is free to attend. No need to book – just turn up.

They are the perfect forum to reminisce about local sporting heroes, share stories about past playing days and show off your knowledge over a quiz or fun game. Everyone is welcome and a cuppa is available too.

Donna Mackey, Partnership Manager, SMFS, “The Royal Commonwealth Pool is a venue at the real heart of Edinburgh’s sporting heritage. 

“We believe there are lots of older adults in the area who have a passion for talking about sport and who will benefit from attending a weekly group with like-minded people.  The clubs are a great opportunity to build new friendships and become more active by taking part in some of our indoor games.”

Edinburgh Leisure’s Community Development Officer, Active Ageing, Ryan Dignan said: “Edinburgh Leisure’s partnership with Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland makes perfect sense, as does hosting these clubs at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, a building steeped in its own sporting history. 

“These clubs support the work we are already doing working with people living with dementia through our Movement for Memories programme and other older adults in our Ageing Well programme, who are keen to keep active and engaged, which we know is particularly beneficial for their well-being.

“Using the rich history and heritage of sport, the Sporting Memories clubs are open to older adults, both men and women, who enjoy reminiscing about their experiences of watching or playing it. We just want anyone, with a love of sport, to come along and refreshments are provided.”

The clubs are run by trained Sporting Memories volunteers who use a wide range of Sporting Memories reminiscence resources developed specifically to help prompt conversation and discussion. There is always great fun and laughter, friendships are forged, and some remarkable sporting stories often emerge.

Sporting Memories has developed an innovative and engaging approach to tackling the challenges of our ageing society.  Their work focuses on reducing loneliness and isolation; getting older people physically active; and helping people to live well with dementia and other long term conditions.

For further information, contact Donna Mackey donna@thesmf.co.uk

Innovative therapy revives paralysed dad’s dream of walking daughters down the aisle

A dad-of-four who was left with almost no hope of walking again after a horrific car crash in 2020, is now dreaming of walking his daughters down the aisle thanks to an innovative therapy he is receiving at the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit (QENSIU) in Glasgow.

Luke Louden, 32, suffered a broken neck and back, alongside multiple serious leg injuries, in the accident in August 2020, and for more than two years he was forced to contemplate the end of his life as he knew it.

“I was a dairyman before the accident,” said Luke, from Whauphill in Dumfries and Galloway, “and when I had the accident I knew instantly I was paralysed. The doctors didn’t say there was no chance of walking but they said there was a slim chance.

“It was really hard at the start, and I didn’t really know what to do. I was really fit and active, so to lose the use of my legs was tough.

“Early in my therapy, I put so much work in and didn’t see any return, and I could feel my hope just draining away. To make things worse, it was in the middle of lockdown, and I couldn’t see my family for months. That was really hard.”


However, in September this year Luke became the first patient to receive treatment with the newly installed ZeroG Gait and Balance System, a robotic apparatus where a patient is supported during therapy, automatically synchronising with their movements to help them walk and prevent falls. It is the first of its kind in Scotland.

“Quite quickly I began to feel the benefits, and now there’s less pain, fewer spasms, I sleep better and I have lost weight. It’s also been huge for my mental health.

“It’s transformed my life and how I feel. I’ve gone from hardly being able to move to being able to walk 20 metres non-stop on the bars. My record on the ZeroG system is 57 metres!

“I’d love to keep improving but, to be honest, if I couldn’t achieve any more I’d be happy the way I am. Just to be able to stand, even if it’s with a frame, is amazing.

“If you’d asked me six weeks ago if I could even achieve that I’d have said don’t be daft. But now I can stand next to my kids.”

Claire Lincoln, Senior Research Physiotherapist at the QENSIU, is one of the team who use the ZeroG system to work with patients. She said: “There is an understanding that the more repetitions of a movement we can manage, the better the neurological recovery.

“Before we installed this system, we were often limited in the number of repetitions we could achieve, given that we needed up to four physiotherapists for any session, and the patient would quickly become fatigued.

“Now we can achieve so much more. We only need one physio to support a patient using ZeroG, and the patient can do a lot more before becoming too tired. The system also allows us to be more creative with the activities we undertake, which means the patient gets more enjoyment and satisfaction while also seeing additional benefit.

“We are still learning the full potential of the system, but because of the support and added safety it gives patients, already it’s allowed us to try therapies earlier than would have been possible before.

“We have so many more options. We’re not necessarily doing anything different, but it allows us to try things in a different way.”


Consultant in Spinal Injuries Dr Mariel Purcell is lead clinician at the unit and director of medical research. She said: “When the unit first opened 30 years ago, a lot of the patient we saw were completely paralysed, from the neck or waist down. Now we are seeing different types of injuries, and more patients have the potential to get back on their feet.

“We used to see a lot of young males, who had perhaps been in a car crash or suffered an industrial accident, but the advances in safety – seat belt wearing and health and safety laws – have made a real difference.

“Now we are seeing damage that isn’t as bad, and we’re seeing older patients who have experienced lower-velocity injuries. This gives us a real chance to help these patients – and the ZeroG system will be instrumental in this work.”

Luke has a wife, Anna, and children Anna, 8, Chloe, 6, Mary, 4, and Isaac, 3, and they have been his inspiration and support.

“They have kept me going – especially my wife. I don’t know how I would have managed without her. I’ve had some really dark times, but now I can look forward with real hope.

“The dream would obviously be to walk my girls down the aisle, so I’m going to keep going, to keep trying, for Anna and all my children. I mean, look what this system has done for me up to now – you never know what further advances are round the corner.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s been tough, and the future is daunting, but the team here have been amazing, and I know they’ve got my back.”

Since September, Luke has been involved in one of two research studies using the ZeroG system.

The first is eWalk – which Luke is involved with – which involves patients with an chronic incomplete spinal cord injury (which means there is some function below a patient’s injury), who have been living with their injury for at least a year. They receive intensive walking training with body weight support from the ZeroG system, alongside spinal cord stimulation.

The second also involves patients with acute incomplete spinal cord injury. It involves an addition 12 hours of therapy on the ZeroG system every week, over and above their usual care.

Both studies are ongoing and the results will be published in due course