Health and wellbeing – Page 45 – The NEN

Blind comedian highlights accessibility barriers at Fringe

Performing at the world’s largest arts festival is no small feat. But for blind comedian Jamie MacDonald, just getting to his venue each day reveals a challenge that blind and partially sighted people face every day: getting to work.

Jamie, who is blind due to a degenerative eye condition, is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe with a brand-new show. Navigating busy streets, temporary venues, and the unpredictable festival layout can be difficult without the support that many sighted performers might never need to consider.

“Getting about Edinburgh is already a total nightmare for blind people and folk with mobility issues,” Jamie says. “Medieval folk seem to have been four-feet tall with a love for steep, stone stairs.

“When you add in the road closures, crowds and performers that the biggest art festival in the world brings, moving about becomes lethal!”

With no official assistance service available, Jamie reached out to RNIB, the national charity supporting people with sight loss. Two of the charity’s volunteers, Bill and Iain, stepped forward to support Jamie with getting to and from his venue throughout his run. Although providing one-to-one travel support isn’t within the charity’s usual role, RNIB Scotland was happy to help connect Jamie with volunteers ready to help, coordinated by Community Social Action Manager Jane Coates.

Although Jamie is known for tackling blindness with humour, he’s serious about challenging the way society views disability. As he puts it, being blind seems to automatically make him a “role model,” whether he wants to be or not. He’s using comedy to question why disabled people are expected to be heroes rather than simply being complex, contradictory, or even a bit difficult – just like anyone else.

That same questioning extends beyond attitudes to the practical barriers disabled performers face.

“There must be a tonne of disabled performers who face the same or similar struggles to me,” Jamie says. “It would be sad, but not surprising if it put some people off coming to perform. I’m not pointing the finger at anyone here, I just think there could be more of a focus put on accessibility.”

The Fringe has introduced several accessibility initiatives in recent years such as audio-described and BSL-interpreted performances. However, support and accessibility can vary depending on the venue. The historic layout of Edinburgh, coupled with the festival’s pop-up nature, adds to the challenge.

Jane Coates, Community Social Action Manager for RNIB Scotland, says Jamie’s situation reflects a wider issue: “Accessibility shouldn’t come down to individual goodwill,” she says. “We need systemic solutions that make it easier for blind and partially sighted people to access cultural life, as audience members, and as creators and performers too.”

For Jamie, the support from volunteers hasn’t solved the wider challenges, but it’s made all the difference in making the Fringe possible this year.

“Bill and Iain are legends,” he says. “I’m lucky. I’ve got my volunteers in shining armour, Iain and Bill, guiding me through the mayhem.

“Legends without whose help and support would probably see me seriously injured or worse, late for a show. So a heart-felt thanks to them.”

** Jamie MacDonald is performing ‘Toxic Bastard’ at Venue 24: Dram at Gilded Balloon Patter House from 15 – 24 August.

Tickets available at:

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/jamie-macdonald-toxic-bastard

Annual Showcase Event: The Forget Me Notes project

TUESDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER at ST BRIDE’S CENTRE

The Forget Me Notes project, an established Edinburgh based charity which offers a wide range of musical entertainment, therapy and support to those who are living with, or who are affected by dementia, will be hosting its annual showcase event on Tuesday 2nd September at St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace.

The showcase will feature a number of drop-in events between 1045am and 2pm, enabling those in attendance to learn more about the activities of the charity, including an introduction to its volunteer project and an opportunity to meet the chief executive of Forget Me Notes along with one of the charity’s trustees.

Music is at the core of Forget Me Notes’ activities and this will be provided throughout the event by both Kenny Vass and his band along with a series of musical interludes from the various musicians and singers who perform for the charity on a regular basis at care homes, day centres, community centres and other venues, including a fortnightly concert at the Saughton Park bandstand.

Admission to the showcase is free and lunch will be provided.

Later in the day, starting at 6.30pm, there will be a live performance from Kenny’s band featuring music from the1950s and 1960s. Dressing up to reflect the fashions of that period is encouraged (although not essential).

The evening event is ticketed, with tickets available from eventbrite.com at a cost of £10 for adults and £5 for children.

Further details regarding the activities of the Forget Me Notes project and be found at www.forgetmenotes.org.uk

Helping people stay in employment

Pilot projects launched

Three new initiatives to help people find and stay in work, including disabled people and those with long term health conditions, have been announced.

The pilot projects will share £228,000 of Scottish Government funding to enable people with diverse needs to enter, stay in or progress in the workplace. They will be used to expand flexible working in sectors such as manufacturing and help diversify the public sector workforce.

Business and Employment Minister Richard Lochhead welcomed the launch at Scottish Leather Group in Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, where staff are already benefiting from initiatives such as compressed hours and reduced hours for people approaching retirement.

He said: “This new funding will help provide flexible and supportive working environments and contribute to a more dynamic, diverse, and resilient jobs market in Scotland.

“This has significant benefits for workers and means employers like Scottish Leather Group can draw from a wider talent pool.

“The Scottish Government is committed to helping people remain in work and strengthening pathways into employment for those furthest from the jobs market. This new funding will promote flexible working, support disabled employees and people at risk of economic inactivity.”

Nikki Slowey, co-founder and director of Flexibility Works, said: “People’s lives are constantly changing, whether that’s with children, caring for older relatives or for health needs, and we know many people drop out of work altogether if the juggle between work and home life becomes too stressful.

“Employers that are attuned to this and are able to be flexible can keep hold of talented and experienced staff. Often people only want small changes, such as a little home working or to start and finish at slightly different times.

“This enables people to keep working, which is good for their finances and wellbeing as well as delivering benefits for their employer and our wider economy.”

The funding is part of wider Scottish Government efforts to enable people with diverse needs to enter, stay in or progress in the workplace, which in turn will help boost the economy and tackle child poverty.

It will allow three separate organisations to run distinct pilot projects – all with the aim of providing workplace support:

Training specialists Flexibility Works will receive £96,100 to equip manufacturing sector employers with knowledge and tools to adopt and embed sustainable, flexible working practices.
National representative body the Scottish Union for Supported Employment (SUSE) will access £98,737 to support employers, disabled people and people with long term conditions, to stay in work helping to reduce the Disability Employment Gap. SUSE will work intensively with a group of 16-20 employers over the life of the pilot, delivering training and practical support.
Business in the Community will use £33,969 to deliver workshops on inclusive hiring and progression initiatives within public sector organisations and help managers to attract and support diverse talent.

Risk of dying from cancer at lowest on record

11.1% reduction in mortality rates since 2013

New figures show the risk of dying from cancer for people living in Scotland is at the lowest on record.

Public health Scotland (PHS) statistics show from 2013 to 2022 the risk of dying from cancer in Scotland decreased by 11.1%, from 333.7 per 100,000 in 2013 to 296.8 per 100,000 in 2022. This is the lowest rate in the data published by PHS today that goes back to 1998. In 2022, there were 16,265 deaths from cancer – 8,453 in males, 7,812 in females.

Due to an ageing population and the fact that more people are living with cancer, there has been an overall increase in the total number of cancer deaths since 2013, but a slight decrease from 2021 to 2022. In 2022, more than two-thirds (69%) of all cancer deaths were in people aged seventy and over.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “It is encouraging to see the risk of dying from cancer in Scotland is at a record low.

“This is down to the hard work of NHS staff, improved treatment options, and people reporting their symptoms at an earlier stage. We are determined to further improve cancer survival, reduce waiting times and provide excellent, equitably accessible care right across Scotland.

“We are taking action to improve the awareness and earlier diagnosis of cancers, including expanding our Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services and our investment of more than £14 million towards cancer waiting times this year.

“Reducing health inequalities is a clear ambition for this government. Cutting smoking rates is key to tackling lung cancer incidence in areas of deprivation – our world-leading tobacco control measures are helping us in our goal of a Tobacco-Free Scotland by 2034.”

Cancer mortality in Scotland – Annual update to 2022

University to hold first Osteoporosis Community Café

In a bid to raise awareness of osteoporosis, the Lydia Osteoporosis team at Queen Margaret University (QMU) will be holding its first Osteoporosis Community Café at QMU.

The event offers a supportive environment for people with osteoporosis or caring for someone living with the condition to share their experiences, challenges and successes and learn more about ways of living well with the condition.

In the UK, osteoporosis affects over 3 million people, including 250,000 in Scotland, causing approximately 527,000 fractures each year. Although it is frequently perceived as a condition primarily affecting postmenopausal women (affecting 1 in 2 women over 50), evidence indicates that osteoporosis affects approximately 1 in 5 men over the age of 50. Given its often ‘silent’ progression until fractures occur, it frequently evades diagnosis until it reaches an advanced stage.

Osteoporosis is a common condition which silently undermines bone strength, due to a loss of bone mass, over time. It can go undetected until a simple fall or sudden impact results in a debilitating fracture. Typically, individuals with osteoporosis experience fractures in their wrists, hips, or vertebrae. Compression fractures in the spine can happen with little or no trauma, leading to back pain, loss of height and changes in posture.

The group, which will bring people together from across Edinburgh, The Lothians and beyond, will enjoy a light lunch and the opportunity to chat with each other and the research team at Queen Margaret University.

The Lydia Osteoporosis Project team conducts research, education and awareness raising about osteoporosis, and was established by a group of nurses at Queen Margaret University in 2011, and has since grown to include additional nurses and Allied Health Care Professionals.

Dr Karen Matthews is the lead for the project and is on a mission to highlight the risks of osteoporosis and increase awareness of it as a public health priority. Preventative strategies, such as promoting healthy lifestyles, calcium and vitamin D intake, as well as weight bearing exercises, are so important in both preventing and managing osteoporosis.

As part of her outreach work, Victoria Waqa, Nurse Lecturer for Lydia Osteoporosis Project, is keen to bring people together who are living with the condition, and enable supportive conversations around osteoporosis. She said: “Often people are unaware they have osteoporosis until they facture a bone, so the condition can creep up on people.

“A diagnosis of the condition can be a major shock and often people don’t know which way to turn or how to move forward with managing the condition, but there is so much people can do to live well. It’s important we share that message.”

Victoria confirmed: “Currently, there’s just not enough public awareness of osteoporosis – how to avoid it or how to best manage the condition after diagnosis. The point of the Osteoporosis Community Café at QMU is to find out what people need and want to know more about, and to support them with helpful information and tips for managing the condition.

“This may be around safe exercise, healthy lifestyle choices, or so much more. We can also share our research with people and inform them about our Osteoporosis Symposium that we are planning to hold at Queen Margaret University in 2026.”

The group will meet on Thursday 28th August from 1-3pm (meet at reception at 12.45pm).

Secure your place by email by 21st August to lydiaosteoporosisproject@qmu.ac.uk

Give details of any dietary or accessibility needs when booking.

Car parking is free for visitors in August (access QMU car park off A1).

Today: BLAST Boxing at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre

TUESDAY SESSIONS

9.30 -11.30 BOX N’ BLETHER

5 – 5:45 youth boxing and fitness session

6 – 7pm BLAST BOXfit!

All sessions are aimed at mental aswell as physical well-being.

Delivered in a friendly fun but challenging manner focused on having a laugh and building positive relationships within the groups.

BLAST, it’s more than just boxing!

Government works with TikTok to help safety for treatments abroad

Patients who use social media to plan cosmetic procedures will now access more reliable information thanks to a ‘landmark new initiative’

New online campaign to give people clear, reliable advice before travelling overseas for cosmetic or medical treatments.
It aims to raise awareness of the risks, protect patients and reduce costs for the NHS of fixing botched procedures.
Part of wider government initiative to improve safety of cosmetic treatments.

Patients who use social media to help plan cosmetic procedures will now be able to access more reliable trustworthy information thanks to a landmark new initiative between the government and TikTok.

More people are using social media apps like TikTok to research potentially risky operations – like hair transplants and dental work – abroad as they are often cheaper or more readily available than in the UK but are often presented with slick marketing campaigns that do not highlight the dangers of the surgery.

To help keep these patients informed, TikTok and the government have partnered with medical influencers, like Midwife Marley and Doc Tally to create content to show the risks, help carry out thorough research and provides advice on how to make trips as safe as possible.

The Foreign Office will also provide more detailed travel advice for those seeking to travel abroad for ‘tweakments.’

Health Minister Karin Smyth said: “Too many people are being left with life-altering injuries after going abroad for medical procedures, without access to proper advice or safeguards.

“Often drawn in by deals too good to be true and promoted by influencers – some of whom have never been to the practice in question.

“By partnering with TikTok, we’re helping people make safer, more informed choices before they go under the knife – wherever that may be.

“Through our Plan for Change, we’re determined to protect patients, ease pressure on the NHS and make sure taxpayers are not left paying the price when things go wrong.”

The campaign warns that when it comes to cosmetic surgery abroad, the lowest price can come at the highest cost.

It urges people to think beyond the slick brochures and marketing, and to consider clinical standards, complication risks, and language barriers.

It will urge potential patients to speak to a UK doctor, take out travel insurance, and steer clear of package holidays that bundle in procedures. The medics will provide a check list to go through before considering booking a procedure abroad: research thoroughly, check the clinic’s regulation and the surgeon’s credentials, know the full cost, understand the aftercare, and ask the vital question – if it goes wrong, who will fix it?

The online campaign is part of wider government efforts to curb medical tourism. Work is underway to stop events in the UK that promote procedures abroad and the government is working with other countries to improve patient care from initial consultations to post-surgery recovery.

The government is looking at additional ways of protecting patients who go abroad for these types of procedures, while ensuring the NHS is not left to pick up the tab of botched or harmful work.

The move follows the announcement last week to crack down on dodgy cosmetic practitioners in England. The new regulations will mean the highest risk procedures, such as non-surgical Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLs), can only be carried out by qualified, specialised healthcare professionals, registered with the Care Quality Commission.  The measures also include developing a licensing scheme for lower risk procedures like Botox and fillers, alongside introducing minimum age restrictions. 

Minister Doughty, Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories: “Our aim is to explain the risks and help British people understand the actions they can take to keep themselves safe when abroad.

“If you choose to travel abroad for medical treatment, it is vital you do your research and are fully aware of the risks involved.

“We urge anyone considering a medical procedure abroad to review our travel advice, relevant guidance from the NHS and other professional bodies, and research foreign providers thoroughly to ensure they meet the highest standard of care.

“Informed choices today can help avoid serious complications tomorrow.”

Ali Law, Director of Public Policy, Northern Europe said: “At TikTok we are committed to providing our community with information from trusted sources when searching for topics related to physical and mental health.

“We’re pleased to work with the government on this new initiative to improve the safety of people going abroad for treatment and we will continue to promote credible content through our Clinician Creator Council made of NHS practitioners.”

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office has also updated its online travel advice advising people on how to stay safe when traveling abroad for medical or cosmetic reasons.

This work will help improve patient safety and reduce costs for the NHS by reducing the number of people needing medical support when things go wrong, providing greater value for the taxpayer and reducing pressure on staff.

‘Shocking and shameful’

51,400 older people endured dangerous 12 hour waits in Scotland’s A&Es last year

Extreme long waits in Emergency Departments across Scotland are a political responsibility that can no longer be ignored as more than 51,400 older patients endured stays of 12 hours or more last year – the worst on record.

New analysis from the Royal College of Emergency (RCEM) reveals in major EDs, one in every eight patients (51,423) aged 60 or over waited more than 12 hours to be transferred, admitted or discharged in 2024.

That’s 14,407 more patients than the year before (2023).

And is over 16 times more people than in 2019 when just 3,135 older people endured waits of this length.

The figures, obtained by RCEM via Freedom of Information requests to Public Health Scotland, also reveal that, concerningly, the older a patient is the longer they are likely to wait in A&E.

People aged 70-79 have a 12% chance of waiting 12 hours or more – almost 16 times higher than it was in 2019.

Meanwhile, people aged 80-89 have a 16% chance of enduring extreme waits, and the likelihood rises to 19% for those aged 90 and above.

Compare that to patients aged 18-29, whose average likelihood of experiencing a 12-hour wait last year was just 2.2%.

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Older patients often arrive to the Emergency Department with more complicated or multiple health issues.

This, when combined with the inability to admit them onto a ward due to the lack of available in-patient beds, means older people can become stuck in Emergency Departments – enduring extreme long waits, often on trolleys in corridors.

And when patients do finally get admitted, they often find themselves stranded in hospital, unable to go home when they are well enough to leave, frequently due to a lack of available social care support.

Public Health Scotland recently revealed that in 2024/25, there was a record 720,119 days spent in hospital by patients whose discharge was delayed – 474,153 of which were experienced by people aged 75 or over. This accounted for two out of every three (66%) delayed discharge bed days.

Dr Fiona Hunter, Vice President of RCEM Scotland, said, “This data is both shocking and shameful, and it is abundantly clear that older people are bearing the brunt of a system in crisis.

“Hundreds of thousands of dearly loved people – great-grandparents, grandmas, grandads, parents – forced to experience extreme long stays in our Emergency Departments every year mainly because we don’t have enough in-patient beds to admit them to when they need one.

“Often enduring these waits on trolleys in areas that aren’t designed to deliver care in – corridors or even cupboards.

“It’s a failure of the system. It’s unacceptable, it’s dangerous and it’s putting lives at risk.

“Enough is enough. The government can’t ignore the ongoing crisis our Emergency Departments – the workforce and patients – continue to face day in, day out.

“We all deserve an Urgent and Emergency Care system that works as it should and not letting people, our most vulnerable, down when they need it most.”

Dr Bob Caslake, Chair of the BGS Scotland Council, said, “This report highlights the urgent attention that is needed across the health and social care system to allow older people to access the care they need at the time they need it.

“The current waiting times faced by older people in Emergency Departments are unacceptable, and reducing these delays is a matter of equity, dignity, and patient safety.”

Professor Andrew Elder, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh said, “It is disappointing that this information is not routinely collected, analysed and published and it is unacceptable to see so many older people waiting hours — sometimes days — in A&E wards for the care they need.

“These older people are often living with frailty, dementia, and multiple other health conditions. They deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion.

“Long waits for care are neither dignified nor compassionate and can also lead to serious harm. This is not the standard of care we should accept for our parents, grandparents, or neighbours.

“With the numbers of older people in Scotland in need of care expected to increase dramatically, we urgently need a system that prioritises timely treatment and supports frontline staff in delivering the respect and care our older population deserves.”

The figures come after the Royal College of Emergency Medicine published a report earlier this year looking at the care older people, aged 75 and over, receive in Emergency Departments across the UK.

Titled ‘Care of Older People 2023-24’, the research found there was insufficient screening for three common conditions which primarily affect this age group, including delirium and for general frailty.

RCEM also released analysis in February which found the number of people experiencing stays of longer than 12hrs in Scotland’s ED last year was a staggering 99 times higher than 2011 when records began.

New figures show ongoing failure to deliver life-changing stroke treatment

Scot suffers life-changing disability after missing out on stroke treatment

John Watson, Associate Director for the Stroke Association in Scotland, said: “Stroke is the third biggest killer in Scotland, and the leading cause of complex adult disability. But the latest official figures show the ongoing failure of health boards to make stroke the priority it needs to be.

“The failure is most striking in thrombectomy, a life-saving, life-changing treatment that should be a normal part of any modern healthcare system. Thrombectomy also saves the health and care system £47,000 per patient over five years2, potentially providing part of the solution to the current NHS and social care crisis.

“A Scotland-wide, round-the-clock thrombectomy service was promised years ago, yet less than a fifth of eligible patients get the intervention1 that could transform their lives. The thrombectomy rate elsewhere in the UK3 is more than double that in Scotland.

“Today we highlight the harrowing story of one man who was unable to get treatment because he had his stroke in the wrong place, at the wrong time of day (see Graham’s story below). Last year over 1,000 people were similarly let down by health board’s who offer thrombectomy in some places, at restricted times.

“We work closely with stroke teams and recognise the tremendous efforts made by staff on the ground. But they can’t sort this on their own. It is political decisions, from the Scottish Government and health board leadership, that determine the resources, equipment and staff available to them.

“Small sums of money, such as investing in new operating suites to perform thrombectomies, would remove an existing bottleneck, save lives and quickly pay for themselves.

“But more than anything this requires political leadership.

“Oversight of the thrombectomy programme has now been passed to the NHS Planning and Delivery Board – it needs to own this problem and make it the priority it should have been all along.”

Graham McGowan, 53, from Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, suffered left-sided paralysis when he was unable to have a thrombectomy, for a stroke he had in 2022, due to restricted availability of the procedure.

The former performance improvement consultant, trail runner and skier was rushed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on the evening of 20 May 2022 with a brain scan revealing a blood clot, which doctors advised should be treated with a thrombectomy.

Thrombectomy is a medical procedure that removes blood clots in a large artery, which can otherwise cause disabilities such as paralysis, blindness and communication problems.

However, Graham was told he couldn’t be transferred for the procedure because he arrived at hospital outside “office hours” at around 9pm. Otherwise, he would have been air lifted to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, which is one of Scotland’s three specialist thrombectomy hubs.

Ninewells is only able to perform thrombectomies from 9am-7pm, Monday to Friday. The Stroke Association is calling for a 24/7 Scotland-wide thrombectomy service, which it says has been a Scottish Government commitment for years.

Instead, Graham had thrombolysis, a drug which is used to try to disperse clots and help restore the blood supply to the brain.

Three years later, Graham lives with life-limiting disability including total immobility on his left side, and is keen to raise awareness of the importance of 24/7 access to a national thrombectomy service to prevent future stroke patients in Scotland missing out on the procedure and all the positive outcomes it can bring.

He said: “I don’t want to dwell too much on the ‘what ifs’ and the cost of me not getting a thrombectomy, as it doesn’t help me mentally.

“But if you take me as an example, I was working and had an active, healthy lifestyle before I had a stroke. Now, I can’t live independently. I can’t work. I can’t drive, ski, run or mountain bike. My wife is now also my carer and there has been a dramatic change in our circumstances.”

Graham’s stroke was caused by a carotid arterial dissection – a tear in the carotid artery, which leads to a blockage or formation of a blood clot. The clot had broken up and travelled to Graham’s brain, causing the stroke. He stresses: “I’d been running the day before I had my stroke. I was fit and healthy – there were no signs that I could have a stroke, I had no risk factors.”

The immediate effect was paralysis down the left hand side of his body, leaving him unable to sit up, stand or walk, which Graham describes as, “disturbing”.

He continues: “It was difficult to deal with, but even then I thought it was temporary. I thought I would be treated and I’d be OK again.”

His rehabilitation and life since have proved otherwise. After four days of constant sleep and “unbelievable pain in my head”, Graham’s four months of hospital recovery and intensive physiotherapy began.

He returned home to his wife, Heather, and their two dogs in September 2022.

He says the support he received at Woodend Rehabilitation Hospital in Aberdeen was invaluable.

“The physio team helped me take my first, single step and taught me to walk again. But there were significant challenges at home. Heather has always been so upbeat and supportive but I can’t really do anything around the house anymore. It puts a lot of responsibility on her.”

Initially, Graham relied on a wheelchair, with Heather or a retired neighbour pushing him around the village or the woods to experience a little of the outdoors he loves so much. With perseverance and patient support he is now able to walk around the same places.

Graham now aims to walk 50km every month and is applying the same determination to volunteering with the Stroke Association’s Deeside Stroke Group.

Graham found the group online and was delighted to find it had an exercise focus. He says: “Heather pushed me in my wheelchair along to my first group session that autumn and I walked the few steps into the hall where it was held.”

In March 2024, Graham was appointed chair of the group and has found a renewed sense of purpose in using the knowledge and skills he gained in his 26 years of work to help the group thrive and welcome new members.

Deeside Stroke Support Group currently has around twenty five members, meeting weekly in Aboyne and Banchory for exercise sessions and monthly for social get-togethers. For more information, contact engagementteamscotland@stroke.org.uk.

John Watson, Associate Director for the Stroke Association in Scotland, said: “Graham’s story pulls the need for a 24/7 Scotland-wide thrombectomy service into sharp focus. Getting the best stroke care shouldn’t depend on where or when your stroke happens.

“We are enormously grateful to Graham for sharing his story to help us campaign for better stroke treatment and remain indebted for the wonderful job he is doing at the Deeside Stroke Group.”

Scottish children’s Wonders of the World revealed for the first time – from Sunflowers and Seashells to Caterpillars and Diggers

Sunflowers, seashells and caterpillars are ranked the top ‘wonders of the world’ according to Scottish children.
But around 1 in 5 children under the age of 10 in Scotland have sight conditions that can get in the way of all that wonder.
Specsavers launch museum-style exhibit in Edinburgh showcasing these everyday wonders to highlight the importance of childhood eye checks.

FOR ADULTS, there are seven wonders of the world, but in children’s eyes, there are seven million. Sunflowers (60%), seashells (54%) and rocks (40%) top the list of Scottish children’s ‘wonders of the world’ according to a new study.

Other everyday wonders which stop Scots children in their tracks include caterpillars (37%), puddles (29%), and diggers (9%).

To highlight just how crucial good eyesight is for children to experience all this wonder, Specsavers has created a Wonders film and launched museum-style exhibits across the UK.

Each installation in Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Belfast and Cardiff features a ‘wonder’ chosen by a local child.

These include a life-sized digger, a perfectly imperfect rock, a carefully collected seashell, a curly caterpillar and a colourful sunflower.

The first Children’s ‘Wonders of the World’ exhibitions celebrate children’s natural curiosity and remind parents how important good eyesight is for kids to keep exploring the everyday wonders around them.

“Children see the world in a way adults often forget – full of magic, mystery and wonder,” says Professor Sam Wass, a child psychologist and neuroscientist.

“Good vision is essential to this journey of discovery. It helps children explore, ask questions and learn through play, all of which are essential to children’s development.”

Research among over 380 six and seven-year-olds reveals the places where children are most likely to spot their top wonders – with the beach (71%), the garden (44%), the park (29%) and even the journey to school (41%) ranking highest.

More than a quarter(26%) of the 600 parents surveyed said this happens on average five times a day, totalling 1,825 moments of wonder per year. Nearly a quarter (24%) report often being late because their child is busy inspecting an object. That’s 156 million times annually that parents are delayed because of their children discovering wonders.

Nonetheless, over two thirds (70%) of parents said they would be concerned if their child stopped pointing out these everyday wonders.

As a result, a quarter (25%) said this would be among the reasons they would book an eye test for their child, as well as if they were struggling to read or write (43%) or rubbing their eyes frequently (38%).

Sarah Joyce, Director of Optometry at Specsavers, says: “Being able to see clearly is vital to children as they learn about the world – around 80% of learning in school is visual.

“But around one in five children under the age of 10 have sight conditions that can get in the way of all that wonder^[1].

“Conditions such as long- or short-sightedness, astigmatism or a squint can often be treated more effectively if they are picked up early, so regular eye tests from the age of around four are essential or sooner if you think they are having any problems.

“The great news is, for children under 16, the NHS will cover the full cost of the eye test.”

To find out more or to book an eye check for your child visit: