Tag: Health and wellbeing

ONS Data Reveals Anxiety Peaks for 30–49s as New Year Starts

As we enter the New Year reflecting on their well-being and setting intentions for the months ahead, a new analysis highlights a group starting the year under pressure:

  • 36% of adults aged 30–49 reported high anxiety, highlighting a group entering the New Year under significant pressure.
  • Women report higher anxiety levels than men, suggesting persistent gender differences in wellbeing as 2026 begins.
  • Expert commentary and practical tips from Neil Gandecha, Manager of Foxholes Care Home, on staying connected and learning together, habits that can support wellbeing beyond the festive season and into the New Year.

As the New Year begins, data suggests many adults are starting 2026 feeling anxious rather than refreshed.

Experts at Foxholes Care Home analysed the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, which asked respondents to rate their anxiety, life satisfaction, and sense of purpose on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being the highest.

Question: Overall, how anxious did you feel yesterday? Score 6 to 10 out of 10 (high levels of anxiety)

Anxiety levels were highest among adults aged 30 to 49, with 36% of respondents scoring 6 to 10.

16- to 29-year-olds came in close second, with 35%, followed by those aged 70 and over with 28%.

However, people aged between 50 and 69 reported the lowest levels of anxiety at just 26%, suggesting that in middle age, we feel less worried.

Meanwhile, women consistently reported slightly higher anxiety than men.

Question: Overall, how anxious did you feel yesterday? Score 6 to 10 out of 10 (high levels of anxiety)

Female 34

Male 29

The survey also found that the sense that life is worthwhile increases with age, rising from an average score of 6.9 out of 10 among younger adults to 7.9 out of 10 among those aged 70 and over.

Overall, to what extent do you feel that the things you do in your life are worthwhile?

Life satisfaction was lowest among adults aged between 30 and 49, and highest among adults aged 70 and over.

Overall, how satisfied are you with your life nowadays?

The survey also found that women reported slightly higher scores for how worthwhile they find the things they do in life.

Overall, to what extent do you feel that the things you do in your life are worthwhile?

This generational pattern may reflect differences in social connections, life experience, or coping strategies across age groups and genders.

Tips for Staying Connected in the New Year

As the festive season ends and routines return, many people may feel the effects of isolation or disconnection.

Neil Gandecha from Foxholes Care Home explains: “I see every day just how important it is to feel part of a community, especially during times when loneliness can intensify.

“Even small interactions, digital or in person, can make a big difference.”

Technology can be a powerful tool to maintain connection, support emotional well-being, and carry those habits into the New Year. Simple digital interactions such as video calls, group chats, or shared photos help people feel seen, supported, and part of something bigger.

Younger family members can often teach older relatives new apps or devices, strengthening bonds across generations. And traditional gestures, like a handwritten card or knocking on a neighbour’s door, remain just as impactful.

Practical Ways to Stay Connected

Video Calls -Use Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp, or Teams to schedule weekly or special holiday catch-ups. Even a 10-minute chat counts.

Messaging and Group Chats -Send memes, voice notes, photos, or updates via WhatsApp, Messenger, Discord, or Snapchat. Group chats keep friends and family involved and engaged.

Share Photos and Memories -Use Google Photos, iCloud, or social media stories to exchange holiday moments. Old photos can spark nostalgia and conversation.

Watch or Play Together Online -Platforms like Netflix Party, Disney+ Group Watch, Twitch streams, or online games let friends and family enjoy activities together even when apart.

Send Digital Greetings -E-cards, personalised emails, or video messages add a personal touch when in-person visits aren’t possible.

Voice Notes and Texts – A short voice message often feels more personal than a text, helping loved ones feel heard and valued.

Collaborate on Digital Projects -Create shared playlists, digital scrapbooks, or TikTok trends for an interactive, fun connection.

Learn New Tech Together -Older adults can benefit from tutorials with younger family members, fostering skills and bonding.

Balance Digital and Personal Touches -Pair online interaction with handwritten cards, small gifts, or thoughtful messages to make connections warmer and more meaningful.

Neil concludes, “Technology can support togetherness, even when families aren’t physically close.

“But pairing digital touchpoints with traditional gestures like a handwritten card creates a stronger emotional impact as we enter the New Year.”

Survey data: Office for National Statistics, October 2025

Families to have better access to childhood vaccinations

A new £2 million pilot in England will see health visitors reach families facing barriers to vaccines, to ensure more children are protected

  • Government to bring vaccines to doorsteps of families who can’t make it to the doctor
  • New pilot will reach families facing barriers like travel costs, language difficulties or vaccine hesitancy
  • £2 million pilot aims to close gap in healthcare inequalities

Health visiting teams will offer vaccinations to children, providing a vital safety net for families who might otherwise miss out. 

The new pilot targets families who’ve fallen through the cracks – including those not signed up with a GP, struggling with travel costs, childcare juggling, language barriers or other tough circumstances that stop them getting to the doctor. 

By offering vaccinations during routine health visits, the pilot removes these obstacles and ensures more children can access life-saving protection. 

Health visitors are specialist public health nurses who support families with children under five. They provide advice on healthy child development, feeding, and family health through regular home visits and clinic appointments.    

The twelve pilot schemes will roll out from mid-January across five regions of England – London, the Midlands, North East & Yorkshire, North West, and South West – designed to boost uptake and protect children from preventable diseases. 

While the scheme isn’t designed to replace your GP – families should continue to get vaccinated at their local surgery first – it supports families with children who’d otherwise slip through the net. 

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: “Every parent deserves the chance to protect their child from preventable diseases, but some families have a lot going on and that can mean they miss out.

“Health visitors are already trusted faces in communities across the country. By allowing them to offer vaccinations, we’re using the relationships and expertise that already exist to reach families who need support most.

“Fixing the NHS means tackling health inequalities head-on. By meeting families where they are, we’re not just boosting vaccination rates – we’re building a health service that works for everyone.”

The year-long trial will be evaluated before rolling it out across the country from 2027. 

Health visitors on the pilot will get extra training to tackle tricky conversations with worried parents – including those who have doubts about vaccination – and to give vaccinations safely. 

Struggling families will be identified by the NHS using GP records, health visitor notes and local databases. 

The pilots form part of the commitment to ramp up vaccination programmes, with over 18 million flu vaccines delivered this autumn – hundreds of thousands more compared to this time last year – and over 60,000 more NHS staff also getting their jab. 

The Westminster government is also investing in better digital services to help families track their child’s health and vaccinations. Through the new NHS App, parents will be able to monitor their children’s health using My Children – a 21st century digital alternative to the Red Book.

The pilot builds on the government’s commitment to Family Hubs and Start for Life programmes, which provide vital support for families during pregnancy and the early years of a child’s life, including health visiting services and parenting support.

From 2 January 2026, children will receive the new MMRV vaccine, protecting against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox in one vaccine. This replaces the current MMR vaccine, and offers protection against chickenpox for the first time while making vaccination simpler for families. 

The UK government’s ‘Stay Strong. Get Vaccinated’ campaign also runs throughout the year to promote confidence in vaccination. 

MHRA approves zapomeran (Kostaive) mRNA COVID-19 vaccine

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) yesterday (2 January 2026) approved zapomeran (Kostaive) mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, for the immunisation of individuals aged 18 years of age and older. 

Zapomeran is given as a single 0.5 mL booster dose by injection into the muscle of the upper arm. It contains a self-amplifying messenger RNA (sa-mRNA) which instructs the body’s cells to temporarily make the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

This teaches the immune system to fight off the virus in the future.  

Julian Beach, Interim Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access at the MHRA, said: “Patient safety is our top priority. 

“The approval of zapomeran (Kostaive) provides an alternative vaccine for use in adults to prevent COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2.  

“As with all licensed medicines, we will continue to monitor its safety closely as it becomes more widely used.”

Very common side effects (which may affect more than 1 in 10 people) include pain or tenderness at the injection site, tiredness, chills, fever, muscle and joint pain, headache and dizziness. Most side effects are mild and disappear within a few days of vaccination.  

A full list of side effects can be found in the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) or the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), which will be published on the MHRA website within 7 days of approval. 

As with any medicine, the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of zapomeran under close review.

Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this medicine is encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme, either through the website (https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk) or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card. 

First Minister announces additional funding for community projects

Supporting mental health and tackling loneliness

First Minister John Swinney has announced additional funding to help people with their mental health. A further £3 million will be made available so people can get early help close to home to improve their wellbeing and tackle loneliness.

Since 2021, more than 6,100 grants have been awarded from the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults to projects, including those that deliver:

  • support groups for people with long-term health conditions
  • walking, cycling and fitness sessions to reduce stress
  • arts and music programmes to build confidence and social connection
  • befriending services for older adults and carers

The additional funding was announced by First Minister John Swinney ahead of a visit to the EATS Rosyth community hub and garden.

The First Minister said: “I am pleased to announce a further £3 million from the Scottish Government for projects to help people with their mental health and wellbeing.

“This investment reflects our commitment to healthcare that delivers prevention and early intervention, supporting people before they reach crisis point and prioritising those who are most at risk.

“Local support for people who need a bit of extra help with their mental health is really important – projects close to home in familiar settings are often where people feel the safest and most comfortable.

“Offering that kind of support is particularly important at this time of year, which many find difficult. But the festive season also reminds us of the importance of kindness, compassion, and caring for one another.

“Getting outside and spending time in the fresh air can really improve our physical and mental wellbeing, and the Fund that I am announcing today has supported projects that support people to do exactly that.

“After seeing the new community hub, I am looking forward to visiting the EATS Rosyth garden to see how local people are benefitting from the chance to enjoy valuable time outdoors.”

With the additional £3 million investment, total funding from the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults in 2025-2026 will be £18 million, and the total provided by the Fund since 2021 will be £84 million.

PCHP Winter Warmer

MONDAY 29 DECEMBER from 11am – 2pm

Seasons Greetings from all of us here at #PCHP.

Don’t forget we’ll be opening our doors on the 29th from 11am -2pm for our annual #WinterWarmer.

Join us as we serve up a warm bowl of soup and some good conversation.

We hope to see you then.

#WinterWarmer

#WarmSpaces

#FiveWaysToWellbeing

#HotChocolate

Opticians reopen its doors in new Edinburgh location

A WELL-LOVED Specsavers store has opened its new doors at a retail park in Straiton to keep up with customer demand in the Lothians.

The brand-new store will provide expert clinical eyecare and audiology services to the people of Straiton and surrounding areas and offer an extensive range of glasses, including designer, as well as contact lenses.

The Specsavers team excitedly opened its doors last week, and members of the community rushed down to celebrate and welcome the new residents.

The store will continue to be run by store manager Roni Finney and store director Rachel McFadyen, who have seen first-hand how in-demand the team’s services are in the area since they opened the store 7 years ago.

Roni says: ‘Demand for eyecare and audiology services has increased significantly in the Lothians in recent years, so we wanted to relocate to a larger unit to increase capacity while still guaranteeing the same quality of service that Specsavers is known for – no matter which store they visit.

‘I’m delighted we’ve reopened our doors to customers and can show off the new space; it’s a fantastic building and we’re looking forward to welcoming back our customers.’

Peter Frame, from Loanhead Miners Football Club, visited the store to check out the new premises, as Specsavers Straiton has sponsored the team for the past 7 years, with the sponsorship set to continue into 2026.

Peter says: ‘We’re incredibly grateful to the Specsavers Straiton team for their ongoing support over the past few years and are delighted for them moving to their new store.

“I look forward to an excellent 2026 for both of us!’

Rachel adds: ‘Grassroots sport plays a huge role in bringing people together and strengthening communities, and we’re passionate about giving back to the community that supports us, whether that’s through providing expert eye care for local families or helping teams like Loanhead Miners achieve their goals on and off the pitch.’

Specsavers Straiton is located at Unit 5, Straiton Retail Park, 11 Straiton Mains, Straiton, Loanhead, EH20 9PW, and is accessible by car or public transport. The store can be found opposite McDonald’s, and next to Bayne’s Bakers and Dunelm.

The store is open from 9am – 6pm Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm on Saturdays, and 10am – 4pm on Sundays.

To book an appointment, please visit https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/straiton or call 0131 357 6551 to speak to a member of the team.

NHS 24: Right Care, Right Place

The 111 service is expected to be VERY busy which may mean a prolonged wait for calls to be answered. Boxing Day is one of the busiest day of the year for our services. Here’s what you can do to help yourself, save time and help us care for those in the most need first.

📱NHS inform has a range of symptom checkers for common illnesses and conditions you can use to help you decide what to do next: https://nhs24.info/symptom-checkers

🤒Check out the winter illness hub on NHS inform if you need help with colds, flu, coughs, sickness bugs, etc: https://nhs24.info/winter-illness

💊If your call is related to medicines please visit https://nhs24.info/accessing-medicines

Whether it is prescribed or non-prescribed medication, our guide to accessing medication can save you time. You might not need to call 111.

✔️By using NHS resources wisely, we can keep well and get the care we need quickly, safely and as close to home as possible.

Find out more about how to access the #RightCareRightPlace: https://nhs24.info/RightCareRightPlace

If you are using a mobile phone to call please switch to WiFi calling and ensure your device is charged. This will help to prevent your call being disconnected. Some mobile providers disconnect calls due to network capacity demand. NHS 24 does not cut calls.

NHS 24’s staff are working exceptionally hard to answer as many calls as we can, quickly and safely. Please be patient and we will answer.

If you can try the above options first, it could save you time. We want to help you get the right care, in the right place. 💙

Edinburgh man who spent ‘half his life in the dark’ looks forward to Christmas after lifechanging corneal transplant

David Watkins (76), a retired college lecturer from Edinburgh, is looking forward to celebrating Christmas with his family after being given the gift of sight after decades of vision loss and having to stay in the dark.

Following the ‘miraculous difference’ made by a corneal transplant at the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, David is set to enjoy being able to see his Christmas celebrations properly for the first time in years.

David suffers from a degenerative condition called Fuchs Dystrophy. He said “I visited the optician around 20 years ago and they saw what looked like birthmarks all over my eyes. I was sent to a specialist and diagnosed with Fuchs Dystrophy.

“It was slow progressing but three or four years later, I got to the stage where I had to sit in the dark and wear sunglasses all the time because my eyes were so sensitive to light. When I got up in the morning, it looked like I was looking through a steamed-up bathroom window. I found lights blinding and felt like I spent half my life in the dark.”

In August this year, David underwent a corneal transplant under local anaesthetic and, several weeks later, his eyesight is so vastly improved he no longer needs to wear dark glasses constantly.

He said: “It took six or eight weeks but one day I woke up and could see again – the difference was miraculous. I can now appreciate being able to see colours again and even dust floating in the air.

“My wife loves Red Kites and I couldn’t see them with her but now I get out walking every day and can enjoy seeing the birds.

“The impact on my life is incalculable, made possible by the generosity of an organ donor and I am and will remain eternally grateful.”

David is now on the list for a second corneal transplant for his other eye.

Dr Naing Latt Tint, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at NHS Lothian said: “It’s fantastic to see how the corneal transplant has dramatically improved David’s quality of life. His journey is testament to the transformative impact that organ and tissue donation can have.

“It takes a dedicated team working together to make each transplant operation happen but, above all, it’s the selflessness of donors and their families that makes it all possible. Donating a cornea is a truly life-changing gift and can help those affected by failing eyesight continue to live independent and fulfilling lives.”

Earlier in December, the Scottish Government announced annual funding for extra specialist staff to support eyesight-saving cornea transplants and help to increase donation rates.

The cornea, the clear outer layer at the front of the eye, can be retrieved within 24 hours of death in hospital or hospice and preserved ahead of transplant but, unlike other tissue transplants, does not need to be a ‘match’ and can come from a donor of any age.

Learn more about organ donation in Lothian:

https://www.nhslothian.scot/healthinformation/organ-donation