Tag: Health and wellbeing

NHS Lothian: severe weather update

Statement issued yesterday Thursday 1 March:
Due to severe weather conditions and transport difficulties, NHS Lothian has taken the difficult decision to cancel all routine, non-urgent  elective procedures and all hospital outpatient appointments today (Thursday 1 March) and tomorrow (Friday 2 March).   

Continue reading NHS Lothian: severe weather update

Extreme weather: NHS 24 battles to provide service as staff struggle to get to work

Service Update: statement from NHS 24

NHS 24 has been affected, as with all public services across Scotland, by the extreme weather over the past 24 hours. This has meant that many staff have been unable to get to work and we have been operating on approximately 50% capacity. Overnight we answered 1730 calls. Continue reading Extreme weather: NHS 24 battles to provide service as staff struggle to get to work

Tens of thousands of drivers get increased fines for using mobiles at wheel

More than 26,000 motorists have been caught using a handheld mobile phone while driving in the first year since harsher penalties came into force. Among these are 500 novice drivers who have had their licences revoked for using their phone behind the wheel in their first 2 years of driving. Continue reading Tens of thousands of drivers get increased fines for using mobiles at wheel

Scots urged Scots urged to stay well in wintry conditions, to look after themselves and vulnerable neighbours.

NHS 24 is advising people to take a few simple steps to stay well during this blast of wintry weather and what to do if illness does strike. Continue reading Scots urged Scots urged to stay well in wintry conditions, to look after themselves and vulnerable neighbours.

Significant rise in human trafficking numbers

“Trafficking and exploitation can take place in any community and does not only affect people from overseas. It is essential that if we see or suspect something then we contact the appropriate authorities.”

The number of potential human trafficking victims identified and given help in Scotland has risen over the last year. There were 213 referrals to Police Scotland in 2017, a 42% increase from 2016. The greatest increase was in labour exploitation referrals, and over half of reports referred to a male victim, a rise of 64% from the previous year. Continue reading Significant rise in human trafficking numbers

Minimum Unit Price awareness campaign kicks off

Owners of the 5,300 convenience stores across Scotland will be the focus of a new awareness-raising campaign on the introduction of a minimum unit price for alcohol. This is the first stage in a large-scale campaign to ensure retailers and customers are ready for the implementation of the new legislation on 1st May.

It comes as the Scottish Government is set to recommend a minimum unit price to the Scottish Parliament.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “Minimum unit pricing will tackle the scourge of cheap, high-strength drink that causes so much damage to so many families and is going to save the lives of thousands of Scots.

“Retailers are the key to ensuring the legislation is implemented, which is why it is crucial we raise awareness of this change in the law early and give people time to get prepared.

“These materials will allow shop-owners to access a valuable bank of information to educate themselves and their staff ahead of the change on 1 May.

“Our consultation on the price of a unit of alcohol recently closed, and I am looking forward to presenting our recommendation to the Scottish Parliament next week.”

Posters, leaflets and adverts in trade magazines will be distributed from next week highlighting the changes to alcohol licences from 1 May.

Online resources will be available shortly after to provide guidance for retailers on issues like calculating the minimum unit price of a product, enforcement, and money-off vouchers.