Important info below, please share 
You can save yourself time on the way to feeling better by using NHS inform to get the right care in the right place.
Depending on your situation, you might not have to phone 111.
Quick links:
symptom checkers: https://nhs24.info/symptom-checkers
accessing medicines: https://nhs24.info/accessing-medicines
Scotland’s Service Directory: https://nhs24.info/servicedirectory
urgent mental health help: https://nhs24.info/urgent-mental-health
Thank you
The Department of Clinical Neurosciences at Little France recently welcomed a news crew from CNN International to highlight a world‑leading partnership between the neurosurgery team and researchers at the University of Edinburgh.
Spearheaded by neurosurgeon Paul Brennan and Race Against Dementia Fellow Dr Claire Durrant, the programme involves keeping living human brain tissue – removed during routine neurosurgery – alive for study in the laboratory.
This pioneering research has enabled scientists to show, for the first time, how a toxic form of a protein linked to Alzheimer’s can attach to and damage the connections between brain cells.
The team hopes the discovery will help identify medications with the greatest potential to prevent the loss of synapses—the vital connections that allow messages to flow between brain cells and support healthy brain function.
Paul Brennan said: “During neurosurgery, there is always a small amount of healthy brain tissue that must be removed in order to reach, for example, a tumour and typically that tissue would be thrown away. Our partnership with Claire and her team means we can package up that healthy, living tissue and send it to the lab for testing.
“Even the tiniest piece “contains thousands of cells, and we can learn a great deal from it. Research of this type has been underway for some time, but this collaboration allows us to study living human brain tissue in a way that hasn’t routinely been possible before.”
The tissue is collected with the patient’s consent, in a process similar to organ donation. Aidan McAllister (28) chose to donate his healthy brain tissue during an operation to remove a tumour. He said: “My grandad passed away from Alzheimer’s a few years ago. We were really close – he lived just across the road and we saw each other every day. His dementia became so severe that he didn’t know who he was or who we were.
“It’s a really brutal disease. When Paul asked if I’d consider donating some of my brain tissue during surgery, I thought if it could help people like my grandad, then I wanted to do it.”
Dr Claire Durrant said: “We believe this research could accelerate the journey from lab findings to patient treatments, bringing us one step closer to a world free from the heartbreak of dementia.
“It was fantastic to be able to show the CNN team what we do and to highlight the vital, world-leading research taking place in Edinburgh.”
Dear Editor,
Public transport is an essential part of everyday life, but for people who are deaf or have hearing loss – journeys by services like trains, buses or ferries can be a huge challenge.
Inaccessible audio announcements, a lack of deaf awareness amongst staff and no signed information for deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users are all barriers that can lead to stress, missed journeys and seriously affect people’s confidence when using public transport.
That’s why RNID is asking people who are deaf and have hearing loss to take part in a major survey. Whether you use public transport regularly, or avoid it altogether, your answers will be invaluable and help us work with transport providers, policymakers and technology companies to push for real, lasting improvements.
The survey, which closes on the 13th April, is part of a major project funded by the Motability Foundation and can be accessed here: www.rnid.org.uk/transport-survey
Kind regards,
Victoria Boelman, Director of Insight and Policy, RNID
– the national charity supporting the 18 million people in the UK who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus.
For many of us, the news from around the world feels hard to read right now.
If this includes you, and you need to ease how you’re feeling, we’ve got some tips you can try.
Small things like making time for an activity that lifts your spirits, or finding ways to create a positive impact, can help make a difference.
People who are due a payment between Friday 3 April and Monday 6 April over the Easter bank holiday, will receive it by the end of Thursday 2 April.
Best Start Food payments are not affected.
All other payment dates will stay the same.
Cancer Research UK has responded to today’s cancer treatment waiting times statistics published by Public Health Scotland.
Chief executive of Cancer Research UK, Michelle Mitchell, said: “It’s unacceptable that people are waiting too long to start cancer treatment. It’s crucial that cancer is diagnosed early when treatment is more likely to be successful.
“Tackling these delays must be a priority for the incoming government, so that people get the timely diagnosis and treatment they deserve.
“NHS staff are working flat out to deliver services to patients and more needs to be done to support them.
“The solution lies in investing in the NHS workforce and cutting-edge equipment. It will also be essential to introduce innovations that will see more people diagnosed and treated sooner.”
ANALYSIS:
These latest figures show that, during the last quarter for which results are available, from Oct-Dec 2025, around 1,300 (27.4%) patients waited longer than 62 days to start treatment following an urgent suspected cancer referral.
The report shows that only 72.6% of patients on an urgent referral for a suspicion of cancer started treatment within 62 days during this quarter. This is well below the 95% target and is the tenth worst performance on record (since 2012).
More information on how Cancer Research UK believes waiting times can be tackled can be found in:
Longer better lives: a manifesto for cancer research and care in Scotland
The full Public Health Scotland report can be found here:
NATIONAL AUTISTIC SOCIETY
Thursday 2 April marks the start of World Autism Acceptance Month (WAAM). Every year, we come together to raise awareness of autism and this year will be no different. During April, hundreds of autistic people and families across Scotland will be walking 5k to celebrate WAAM, raise awareness and show solidarity with one another.
This year is especially important because it coincides with National Autistic Society Scotland’s Act Now for Autistic Rights campaign, which calls for urgent change ahead of the Holyrood election.
So far, almost 3,500 letters have been sent by autistic people and families calling on all party leaders to Act Now for Autistic Rights by committing to introduce the long overdue Learning Disability Autism and Neurodivergence Bill.
It is clear that in education, diagnosis, healthcare and employment, autistic people are being denied rights and opportunities which should be available to them:
The Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill can make a genuine difference.
Mandatory training in public services can ensure autistic people’s needs are identified and met at the earliest opportunity, rather than only getting support once a crisis point is reached.
Legally binding national and local strategies can also bring about the planning and resources needed to tackle the backlog for assessment and diagnosis, as well as making sure services are properly signposted in our communities.
WAAM leading into the upcoming election is a vital opportunity to ensure parties don’t just talk about the importance of improving outcomes and opportunities for autistic people this election, but that they also Act Now to affect real and meaningful change.
Rob Holland, Director of National Autistic Society Scotland, said: “World Autism Acceptance Month is a time for everyone to get involved, raise awareness and celebrate autism acceptance, and so it couldn’t come at a better time to join the calls for change as part of our Act Now for Autistic Rights campaign this election in May.”
“Now is the time to get involved by urging party leaders to Act Now for Autistic Rights and introduce the LDAN Bill, and to spread the word to your friends and families too. This is our chance to ensure the next Scottish Parliament takes overdue action to ensure autistic people’s rights are understood and respected. We cannot miss this opportunity”.
Becca, NAS Scotland Campaigner, said: ” I’ve spent my life feeling unsupported, invalidated and left out on account of my autism and I’ve known many who’ve felt the same. This has to change.
“The LDAN bill is urgent and will make a vital positive difference to many people, allowing us to lead fulfilling, purposeful and meaningful lives. It must come into effect as soon as possible”.
One small thing to do before Easter 
If you take regular medication, now’s a good time to check how much you have left.
GP practices and pharmacies may have changed opening hours over the Easter weekend, so ordering what you need in plenty of time can help avoid a last‑minute rush.
International travel has changed significantly over the past decade, increasing the need for accessible, high-quality travel health advice and vaccination services. In NHS Lothian, we have worked to develop a modern service that provides safe, comprehensive care before people travel abroad.
As part of Scotland’s Vaccination Transformation Programme, which came into effect in 2022, responsibility for travel vaccinations moved from GP practices to health boards. In Lothian, we used this opportunity not simply to replace the previous system, but to create a more comprehensive service.
Our model brings together NHS travel vaccinations, expert travel health advice, private vaccinations, antimalarial prescriptions and an individual travel health assessment in one place. Previously, many patients received NHS vaccines from their GP but then had to attend other providers for additional vaccines or malaria prevention. By offering a more holistic service, we can reduce the number of places patients need to visit and help them prepare more effectively for their travels.
A travel clinic has existed within the Regional Infectious Diseases Unit for more than three decades, but the service has expanded significantly in recent years. Activity has risen from around 1,600 new appointments each year to around 12,000 annually, reflecting both growing demand and the value patients place on a comprehensive service.
With such high demand on the service, we know that access to appointments has sometimes been challenging. We have listened carefully to feedback and introduced an online booking system to improve accessibility, although we recognise there have been some issues as the new system is being embedded. As an NHS service, our digital systems meet strict standards for IT governance and patient data protection.
Feedback from patients who attend the clinic has been extremely positive. Our team works incredibly hard to deliver high-quality care and expert advice, and we are proud of the service that has been built.
We also want people to know there are other travel health providers across Lothian. Most travel vaccines and antimalarial medicines are not funded by the NHS and can also be accessed privately through pharmacies and travel clinics. Travellers can also check in advance what they may need by visiting TravelHealthPro: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk
We want the NHS Lothian Travel Health Service to continue evolving so that we can provide accessible, high-quality and comprehensive care. We are grateful for the patience, support and feedback of the public as we continue to improve the service.
If you need to arrange an appointment with our Travel Clinic go to:
https://services.nhslothian.scot/travelclinics/find-an-nhs-lothian-travel-clinic/ and select ‘Book Online’
New studies have revealed that Brits are getting just six hours and 27 minutes of shut–eye per night on average, with sleep remaining a clear issue for many in the UK.
Now, new research from Hillarys reveals Britain is spending an estimated £48 billion a year just to function while tired, as millions of workers pay daily to push through poor sleep. With 64% spending money each week to cope, and the average employee shelling out £6.23 a day (£2,274 a year), experts warn the nation’s chronic “sleep deficit” is now hitting wallets as hard as wellbeing.
As Sleep Awareness Month takes place in March, the survey highlights a growing reliance on caffeine, convenience food and other quick fixes – masking fatigue rather than fixing it, and with the clocks about to go forward one hour on March 29th, many could struggle with lack of sleep.
Key findings
New research from Hillarys shows that Britain’s chronic sleep deficit is creating a major consumer burden, with the workforce spending an estimated £48 billion a year just to cope with tiredness. The survey of 2,001 UK employees found that nearly two-thirds of workers spend money each week on coffee, snacks, alcohol, supplements, or convenience food to function after insufficient sleep.
The average daily spend of £6.23 translates into £2,274 per worker annually. When compared with typical disposable income, the impact is striking: research from YBS* shows UK renters have just £440 per month left after bills and essentials, while homeowners have £872 per month.
Put another way, the typical worker’s annual spend on coping with tiredness represents around 43% of a renter’s disposable income and 22% of a homeowner’s, highlighting how chronic fatigue is hitting wallets as hard as wellbeing.
Who is paying the most?
Midlife adults aged 35-44 bear the highest cost of poor sleep, averaging £7.13 per day (~£2,603 per year) on coping mechanisms such as caffeine, snacks and convenience food. Younger workers aged 18-24 spend £6.35 per day (~£2,317 per year), while those aged 25-34 average £6.23 per day (~£2,274 per year). Workers aged 55 and over spend the least at £4.47 per day (~£1,631 per year).
High-pressure sectors such as finance and IT report even greater expenditure, with some workers spending up to £3,100 per year just to stay alert during the working day.
Britain’s top coping behaviours
Sleep deprivation is no longer just a health issue – it has become a consumer economy. Workers routinely spend money on short-term stimulants rather than addressing the root cause, creating a cycle of fatigue and expenditure that compounds across generations and sectors. Younger workers rely heavily on caffeine to get through the day, while older workers invest more in supplements or aids.
Tom Coleman, sleep expert at Hillarys, comments: “Paying to stay awake is only masking a much bigger problem.
“Chronic sleep deficit changes how our bodies regulate energy, stress and focus, and over time it can make fatigue feel normal – which is why midlife workers are spending thousands just to keep going.
“Fatigue also impairs decision-making, so people are more likely to reach for quick fixes like coffee, snacks, energy drinks or takeaways, even when they’re costly or not the healthiest choice.
“The solution isn’t more stimulants – it’s reshaping daily habits to reduce sleep debt: scheduling regular bedtimes, building natural tiredness through daytime activity, and managing stress early in the day rather than in the evening.
“Organisations can help by recognising the hidden costs of fatigue and supporting healthier work-life patterns. Addressing sleep now is an investment that pays back in alertness, better decisions, and real money saved on coping mechanisms.”
Source:
*https://www.ybs.co.uk/w/renters-have-half-the-disposable-income-of-homeowners
Please find the full survey responses here.
