Scots urged to vote for their favourite Green Flag Award park
Scotland’s treasured green spaces are going to the polls, as the vote opens to choose the UK’s top award winning parks. The People’s Choice vote allows members of the public to have their say – selecting the parks that will be crowned the top ten in the country.
Following expert-led judging, Scotland has 77 parks this year with a Green Flag Award to choose from. These include spaces managed by community groups, universities and local authorities.
The voting is open from 30 October to 25 November with winners announced on 3 December. To vote for your favourite, simply find it on the map at www.greenflagaward.org and click on the vote button.
Last year, Strathaven Park in South Lanarkshire placed in the top ten for the sixth time in seven years and was awarded the accolade of “Scotland’s favorite park”. This year, parks stretching from the Western Isles to the Scottish Borders are all in with a chance.
Jamie Ormiston, Beaches and Parks Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful said, “Living through a pandemic has made this year particularly challenging, and it has shown us the vital role our green spaces play to our health and wellbeing.
“The Green Flag Award acknowledges the hard work that goes on to keep these important greenspaces available for us to enjoy. We encourage everyone to vote for their favourite Green Flag Awarded park and we look forward to finding out the results later this year.”
A list of Scotland’s Green Flag Award parks is attached.
Scots have been encouraged to build extenuating circumstances into their plans, look at the smaller goals and reward themselves to help them stick to their routines during this difficult time.
The team from Blackwolf Workout have offered those struggling four tips to help keep their days more structured.
A lack of motivation and productivity is normal for anyone during a global pandemic, whether this is in terms of keeping to a gym routine or adapting to working from home.
Everyone is feeling different day to day so it’s important to not let your entire week or routine be overshadowed by one slip-up.
A spokesperson for Blackwolf Workout said: “This has been a very uncertain year for everyone where normal routines, such as commuting to and from work, have been disrupted.
“It can be difficult to stick to the routines of the ‘new normal’ when everything is so uncertain with further potential lockdowns still possible.
“By planning ahead and building any uncertainty into your routine you’re more likely to stick to it.”
Everything seems more achievable with smaller goals. If you have one finish point in mind, try and break down the journey between where you are now and the endpoint. Within the journey, you should highlight several markers or smaller goals to help show you’re on track.
2.Reward
Everyone likes a reward and they can sometimes be just the motivation you need. If you’re struggling to motivate yourself to go to the gym, why don’t you treat yourself to your favourite meal on a Saturday night if you go three times a week? Be careful not to burn yourself out otherwise you’ll never want to get back to a routine.
3.Remind
Write down exactly what you want to achieve by our routine. Do you want to lower your body mass, look more toned or reach a lifting goal? By writing your goal down and displaying it somewhere within your house, maybe on your desk or the door of your fridge, it’ll remind you of why you’re doing what you are and help motivate you.
4.Location
With further potential lockdowns looking likely it can be hard to create a routine which you know will look the same in the next few months. Try and incorporate things that you can do at home, such as home workouts, into the routine.
If you do want to go to the gym, consider how you could do this at home if they shut. By planning as much as you can and considering these options before they happen it means you’re less likely to be thrown out of routine if they do.
National Stress Awareness Day falls on the first Wednesday in November each year.Some stress is good for us. It helps us to respond to changes in life. However, too much stress causes harm to our health and relationships. This year has been highly stressful for most of us.
However, you’re not alone with your mental health.
The Together Let’s Care for your Mental Health campaign aims to raise awareness of a range of mental health information and services to support people experiencing anxiety and other common mental health concerns.
Under the banner ‘Together Let’s Care for your Mental Health’ NHS 24, Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service are able to signpost to a range of self-help guides and options for further support.
Information is available for a range of day to day concerns such as stress and anxiety, depression, young people’s mental health needs, alcohol, gambling and drug use.
Users are able to choose strategies for immediate support, using tried and tested self-care options, or where appropriate, may be guided to other means of support such as telephone helplines.
NHS 24 offers a range of mental health services in addition to the NHS inform self-help guides, including the 111 Mental Health Hub, and Breathing Space’s telephone and web chat services.
A new 24/7 Mental Health Hub provides support for those contacting the 111 service. In addition, people calling Police Scotland in mental health distress are also now offered access to the 111 Mental Health Hub service.
Collaboration work with the Scottish Ambulance Service is also underway to develop a similar pathway.
The British Dental Association Scotland has warned that the reintroduction of the ‘full range’ of NHS treatments from Sunday 1 November will not signal a return to routine care, as a new poll reveals the limited capacity in the service.
According to new data from practices across Scotland:
Two-thirds (66%) are operating at less than a quarter of their pre-COVID capacity, with social distancing and new operating procedures leaving them capable of seeing a fraction of their former patient numbers.
80% report less focus on routine NHS dentistry, with 53% report more focus on urgent cases, with 63% stating less focus on cosmetic dentistry.
The greatest levels of concern with the Scottish Government’s performance has been on managing patient expectations, where 84% of practices expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s record. This compares to 43% dissatisfied with access to PPE, 58% on financial support. 82% were dissatisfied with the government’s overall performance during the pandemic in relation to the service.
The BDA has welcomed positive signals that the Scottish Government is developing communications to provide a needed ‘reality-check’ to patients. It has said clear and consistent messages from government and all NHS Boards are now essential to reduce patient frustration and prevent practices and their staff from being overwhelmed.
Dentist leaders have stressed that the pandemic has caused a huge backlog in unmet treatment built up over lockdown, and will require continued priority to be given to urgent cases, those midway through courses of treatment, and high-risk patients who have not been seen for several years.
While the BDA has recognised growing anxiety about an increasingly ‘two-tier’ system in Scotland it has questioned the timing of reintroduction of a full range of NHS dental services when COVID transmission rates are increasing significantly, and a huge swathe of the country is already facing Level 3-type restrictions.
David McColl, Chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee said:“November will not mark a return to ‘normal’ dental services in Scotland.
“Since the return to a ‘full range’ of services was announced the phones at many practices have been ringing off the hook. Dentists may be able to offer a wider range of treatment but now face demand that simply cannot be met.
“The Scottish Government is making the right noises, but we need every Health Board onside to prevent practices from being overwhelmed. Dentistry remains a skeleton service and urgent and high-risk cases need to be at the front of the queue.
“It is paramount that officials communicate this message effectively to the public. It now takes a nurse 42 minutes to thoroughly deep clean a surgery following a procedure. Rules designed to keep the public and staff safe mean dentists that once saw twenty patients a day are now capable of seeing just five.”
A new minor injuries services helping people to access advice about minor injuries more quickly, easily and safely has been officially launched across the Lothians.
Introduced by NHS Lothian, Call MIA offers patients a confidential online video consultation with a Minor Injuries Nurse Practitioner. It provides advice on a wide range of injuries, less than 14 days old, from sprains, cuts and burns to suspected broken bones.
The launch follows a successful pilot of the service at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh earlier this year, which received extensive positive feedback from patients and staff. During its first six months Call MIA helped over 1,000 patients with minor injuries, saving many an unnecessary trip to hospital.
The service has now been extended to include all minor injuries services across the Lothians including the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and St John’s Hospital in Livingston.
Gillian McAuley, Acute Nurse Director responsible for introducing the service, explained: “We’re asking anyone with a minor injury to Call MIA first”.
“A qualified nurse will advise if you can self-treat the injury or with the help of a local pharmacy. If you need to go to a minor injury service, you’ll be given an appointment, so you don’t need to wait when you attend. All of this can be done from the comfort of your home or workplace.”
The video appointment service is available 7 days a week by calling 0300 790 6267 between 8am and 9pm. It is open to children over the age of eight and adults of all ages who live in Lothian.
Dr Tracey Gillies, Medical Director of NHS Lothian added: “Not everyone with a minor injury needs to be seen in person. Call MIA provides an extremely valuable service for patients, helping people to access the right care in the right place, and get help quicker and closer to home where possible.
“As we approach winter it will be essential in reducing overcrowding in hospital waiting areas and keeping patients and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Call MIA can help patients with injuries including: strains, sprains and suspected broken bones; wounds and burns; damage to joints ligaments, muscles, nerves and tendons; minor bumps to head and face; eye injuries and insect bites and stings. It is operated using secure online software.
Anyone with a life-threatening emergency should always call 999.
Following the success of NHS Lothian pilot, Call MIA is being extended to other health board areas including NHS Forth Valley and Fife.
Funding of £15 million is being made available to respond to children and young people’s mental health issues, with a focus on those brought about by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The funding will be distributed to local authorities to support a local response for five to 24-year-olds, their families and carers.
Of this, £11.25 million will be for services in response to the pandemic, such as support for children who are struggling emotionally due to returning to school under new restrictions.
The remaining £3.75 million will be the first instalment of an annual £15 million fund to provide new and enhanced community mental health and wellbeing services. These new services will have a focus on prevention, early intervention and the treatment of distress.
Minister for Mental Health Clare Haughey said: “The pandemic has been very hard for everyone, but for many children and young people it has been particularly difficult.
“Families have told us they need more support for mental and emotional distress and for their wellbeing and resilience, delivered in a community setting. By providing funding to tackle the impacts of the pandemic, alongside a separate fund to provide long term mental health and wellbeing support, we aim to deliver help where it is needed.
“This funding is in addition to supporting the recruitment of an additional 80 mental health professionals to work with children and young people, and our recent announcement of a further £3.6 million to help provide more than 80 additional counsellors in every college and university in Scotland over the next four years. We are also ensuring that every secondary school will have access to a counsellor.”
COSLA Spokesperson for Children and Young People Cllr Stephen McCabe said: “The wellbeing of our children and young people is of upmost importance to local authorities and has been a particular priority in recent months due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This funding will allow local authorities to continue their work to support young people’s mental health and wellbeing needs arising as a result of the pandemic, and to implement new and enhanced services, providing early support for children and young people experiencing wellbeing issues, and their families. These actions will help ensure the best outcomes for our children and young people in the short and longer term.”
Joanna Barrett, NSPCC Scotland policy and public affairs manager, said: “We know that many children in Scotland have suffered difficult and traumatic experiences over the past few months.
“During lockdown, we saw a rise in contacts to Childline about mental and emotional health issues, with some children saying they had experienced suicidal thoughts. Our counsellors heard from children struggling with family relationships, sharing that arguments, increased parental stress levels and abusive home environments had impacted their mental health.
“So this investment by the Scottish Government to address these issues is crucial for the recovery of our younger generation. But it is important we also remember and support our very youngest and most vulnerable members of society, those under five, who cannot voice the impact the pandemic has had on their mental wellbeing.”
Figures released by Reform Scotland this week show a yearly increase in the number of pupils that have less than a 50% attendance.
In Edinburgh the number of pupils who have a below 50% attendance has increased from 354 in 2016/17 to 457 in 2017/18 and 419 in 2018/19. This is 0.7%, 0.9% and 0.8% of total enrolled pupils in Edinburgh schools.
In East Lothian number of pupils who have a below 50% attendance has increased from 128 in 2016/17 to 163 in 2017/18 and 209 in 2018/19. This is 0.9%, 1.1% and 1.3% of total enrolled pupils in East Lothian schools.
In West Lothian number of pupils who have a below 50% attendance has increased from 329 in 2016/17 to 412 in 2017/18 and 444 om 2018/19. This is 1.2%,1.5% and 1.6% of total enrolled pupils in West Lothian schools.
Midlothian Council did not respond.
Latest CAMHS waiting times figures show over a thousand children and young people waiting 0-18 weeks and 427 children and young people who have been waiting over a year for mental health support.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“This is an important report from Reform Scotland which highlights how many young people are being let down by the education system in Edinburgh, West Lothian and East Lothian.
“It is extremely worrying that so many young pupil have a lower than 50% attendance rate at school and the number of pupils has risen in all three local authorities.
“CAMHS services in Lothian have been struggling to cope with the significant increase in demand for services and young people must be fully supported to get back into full time attendance at school.”
As part of Occupational Therapy Week 2020, the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) has launched a campaign to inspire people from all backgrounds to become occupational therapists.
Although there are over 41,000 occupational therapists, across the UK there is still a significant shortage and the profession is included on the UK’s Shortage Occupations List.
RCOT also wants to encourage people from a variety of backgrounds to qualify as occupational therapists and ensure that the profession reflects the diversity of the population it serves.
Through a social media campaign, #ChooseOT, RCOT is reaching out to school students and the people who support them to encourage more people to consider occupational therapy as a career.
RCOT Chief Executive, Julia Scott said:“I’m sure I speak for our members in saying that being an occupational therapist is the best job in the world. It brings immense benefits and opportunities, and training to be an occupational therapist leads to a nationally and internationally recognised qualification.
“No two days are ever the same. You can change people’s lives on a daily basis working in the NHS, social care, schools, prisons, the emergency services and in the private and voluntary sector. The list is almost endless.
“The profession needs people from all backgrounds. So if you are a problem solver, people person, good at sizing up situations or enjoy helping people – now is the time to #ChooseOT.”
Occupational Therapy Week 2020 takes place from 2-8 November,
NHS Lothian announced last week that visiting across sites will be suspended unless for essential visits only.The decision is designed to help protect patients and staff by limiting the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19)
Fiona Ireland, Deputy Director of Nursing, NHS Lothian said: “Across Lothian, Scotland and the UK, we are seeing rising levels of COVID-19 within the community.
“We have taken the difficult decision to suspend visiting across our sites to help minimise the risk of transmission, to protect patients, our staff and the wider community, and to manage the increasing pressure on our acute and community sites.”
Where possible, ward staff have been contacting relatives, who had previously been identified as designated visitors, to advise them of the new arrangements and to provide more information.
Under the current guidance, some essential visits are still permitted; for example patients receiving end-of-life care, for patients with mental health issues including dementia, for inpatients in our children’s services and those accompanying partners during childbirth. Visiting arrangements for these groups should only take place following discussions with senior charge nurses or midwives.
Ms Ireland added: “I understand that not being able to visit family members while they are in hospital may be upsetting, but I would like to assure the public that this decision has not been taken lightly.
“With higher levels of COVID-19 cases within the community, there is an increased risk that visitors could inadvertently bring COVID-19 into our hospital sites, especially if they are not showing any symptoms.
“This decision will help manage the increasing risks of COVID-19 transmission and protect the safety of your loved ones, our staff and the wider community. I would urge our patients and families to help us by respecting this difficult decision.”
NHS Lothian understands that the public may have questions in relation to this decision, so have prepared some FAQs:
Why can’t I visit?
Cases of COVID-19 within the community have been rising. With more people potentially exposed to the virus, there is a real risk that visitors to our sites may be infectious, but not displaying any symptoms.
By suspending visiting, we hope to limit the spread of COVID-19 and in doing so help to protect those individuals, including your loved ones, who may be more at risk.
What is classified as an essential visit?
As per the Scottish Government guidance, essential visits include the following –
For patients receiving end of life care
For patients with mental health issues including dementia
For patients with learning disabilities
For patients with autism
For birthing partners
For children
Can I get personal items like clothes, nightclothes, toiletries to my loved one?
If you are in hospital, we understand how important it is to have personal items such as clothes and your own toiletries. If relatives need to bring personal items to their loved ones, they can still do this, but are expected to leave the items with the ward staff and not enter the ward.
If I want to give my loved one a phone or an iPad to communicate with me can I hand this in?
Yes, but like handing in clothes or toiletries you will be expected to leave the items with the ward staff and not enter the ward.
What if my child is in an adult ward, can I visit them?
If your child (up to the age of 18) happens to be in an adult ward, the nurse in charge will be able to advise when to visit and any constraints that may be placed around the visit. We would remind families, that if they have any symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) such as a high temperature and/or a new persistent cough, they should remain at home. Similarly if you have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) you should remain at home for the required isolation period, which is currently 14 days.
My partner is due to give birth, will I still be able to attend?
At present, birth partners are permitted to attend, however we ask that this is limited to just one person. The midwife in charge will be able to advise. We would remind birth partners, that if they have any symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), such as a high temperature and/or a new persistent cough, they should remain at home.
Similarly if you have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) you should remain at home for the required isolation period, which is currently 14 days
