Tag: Health and wellbeing

BHF awards Edinburgh scientists over half a million pounds to determine best treatment after heart attack

Every 20 minutes someone goes to hospital in Scotland due to heart attack

Nearly 20,000 people in Scotland will be included in a clinical trial to determine the best drug treatment after suffering a heart attack. The trial is being funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) which has awarded a grant of £630,000 to BHF Professor of Cardiology David Newby and his team at the University of Edinburgh. Continue reading BHF awards Edinburgh scientists over half a million pounds to determine best treatment after heart attack

Health services under pressure: Flu cases are more than double last year’s figure

The number of people suffering from flu in Scotland has more than doubled compared to the same time last year. New statistics published by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) show around 46 Scots in every 100,000 were suffering from the virus during the last week in December 2017 – this compares to 22 in every 100,000 for the same week in 2016. Continue reading Health services under pressure: Flu cases are more than double last year’s figure

Full to bursting: Health services struggle to cope with 20% rise in numbers over Christmas

Accident &Emergency attendances in the week leading up to Christmas Day rose by almost 20 per cent compared to the same period last year. Across Scotland, 26,569 people visited A&E in the week ending 24th December, up almost 20% or over 4,000 attendances on the same week last year. NHS 24 also reported their busiest period in the service’s fifteen year history. Continue reading Full to bursting: Health services struggle to cope with 20% rise in numbers over Christmas

Quit smoking your way

A poster highlighting free NHS stop smoking services will be in every community pharmacy in Scotland from next week. The brand ‘Quit Your Way – with our support’ was created after research by Health Scotland found smoking cessation services should have one national identity to improve uptake. Continue reading Quit smoking your way

Our NHS turns 70 this year

2018 sees the 70th anniversary of the NHS in Scotland, with a number of significant milestones and records marking the occasion.

Since its creation on 5 July 1948 the NHS in Scotland has seen a number of important and significant developments, including:

  • In its first year, 15 million prescriptions were dispensed in Scotland – today, the figure is over 103 million with these now being provided free as a result of landmark reforms under this government
  • In 1948 1.2 million people were seen as outpatients – in 2016/17, there were around 4.25 million outpatient attendances
  • In 1948 NHS Scotland employed 22,062 nurses and midwives – today, this has risen to a new record high of over 59,000
  • In 1959 Scotland became a world leader in health education, with the UK’s first nursing and midwifery studies unit set up at Edinburgh University – this year saw the highest ever number of acceptances to study nursing and midwifery at Scottish universities

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “Scotland’s NHS has changed significantly in its 70 years, but its best qualities have endured. From the care, compassion, and professionalism of our staff, to remaining a public, universal service based on need – it has been 70 years of striving at all times for the highest possible standards in clinical excellence and patient care,

“The choices, services and outcomes that NHS Scotland provides today would not have been imaginable in 1948, and it keeps adapting, developing and changing. The lesson of the years since its creation is that staying still simply isn’t an option. Through our approach of investment and reform, we will keep driving forward improvements and innovations.

“Everyone will have their own personal stories of what the NHS has done for them – why we must never take our health service for granted. I am delighted to see our NHS reach such a significant anniversary and I hope all of Scotland will join the celebrations this year as we pay tribute to everything it has achieved.”

More information on the NHS in Scotland’s 70th anniversary will be available on http://www.ournhsscotland.com/

Ambulance service reports big increase in Hogmanay calls

Calls on Hogmanay were up almost 40% on last year’s levels, the Scottish Ambulance service has reported. The Service experienced a big increase in demand over Hogmanay, with Control Centres receiving 2,565 calls between 7pm on 31st December and 7am on 1st January – an increase of 38.4% compared to the same time last year. Continue reading Ambulance service reports big increase in Hogmanay calls

Staying safe over Hogmanay

People should ’know who to turn to’ for health advice ahead of the New Year weekend. Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith says it’s really important to know where to go for help over New Year, with seasonal illnesses such as flu and norovirus rising and further weather warnings for snow and ice that can lead to road accidents, slips and falls. Continue reading Staying safe over Hogmanay