An awareness campaign is underway to ensure people know the best place to access healthcare this winter.
Right Care Right Place helps the public decide the most appropriate service for their healthcare needs – whether they should contact their GP or pharmacy, call NHS 24 on 111 or use self-help guides on the NHS Inform website. Hospital emergency departments should only be visited for critical emergencies.
The campaign features targeted advertising on television, radio and online and aims to help alleviate pressures on the NHS and social care ahead of an expected seasonal increase in demand.
Health Secretary Neil Gray visited East Lothian Community Hospital to hear about work being undertaken to address delayed discharges. The hospital supports patients leaving acute hospitals who require intermediate care before returning home.
Mr Gray said: “We have been working closely with colleagues across the NHS and social care to make sure we are as prepared as possible ahead of winter.
“Public information and awareness of the treatment options and how to access them when needed is key to ensuring services are directed where they are most needed.
“This will help everyone to get the right care, in the right place as quickly as possible while helping alleviate pressures on the rest of the NHS. People can also help by making sure they receive their Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Covid-19 and flu vaccinations if eligible.”
Self-help guides can be found on NHS inform and include advice on the most common winter illnesses.
‘We have detected a single confirmed human case of Clade Ib mpox. This is the first detection of this Clade of mpox in the UK, the wider risk to the UK population remains low’.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has detected a single confirmed human case of Clade Ib mpox. The risk to the UK population remains low.
This is the first detection of this Clade of mpox in the UK. It is different from mpox Clade II that has been circulating at low levels in the UK since 2022, primarily among gay, bisexual and other men-who-have-sex-with-men (GBMSM).
UKHSA, the NHS and partner organisations have well tested capabilities to detect, contain and treat novel infectious diseases, and while this is the first confirmed case of mpox Clade Ib in the UK, there has been extensive planning underway to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to any confirmed cases.
The case was detected in London and the individual has been transferred to the Royal Free Hospital High Consequence Infectious Diseases unit. They had recently travelled to countries in Africa that are seeing community cases of Clade Ib mpox. The UKHSA and NHS will not be disclosing any further details about the individual.
Close contacts of the case are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. Any contacts will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive.
UKHSA is working closely with the NHS and academic partners to determine the characteristics of the pathogen and further assess the risk to human health.
While the existing evidence suggests mpox Clade Ib causes more severe disease than Clade II, we will continue to monitor and learn more about the severity, transmission and control measures. We will initially manage Clade Ib as a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) whilst we are learning more about the virus.
Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said: “It is thanks to our surveillance that we have been able to detect this virus. This is the first time we have detected this Clade of mpox in the UK, though other cases have been confirmed abroad.
“The risk to the UK population remains low, and we are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce the risk of any potential spread. In accordance with established protocols, investigations are underway to learn how the individual acquired the infection and to assess whether there are any further associated cases.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting, said: “I am extremely grateful to the healthcare professionals who are carrying out incredible work to support and care for the patient affected.
“The overall risk to the UK population currently remains low and the government is working alongside UKHSA and the NHS to protect the public and prevent transmission.
“This includes securing vaccines and equipping healthcare professionals with the guidance and tools they need to respond to cases safely.
“We are also working with our international partners to support affected countries to prevent further outbreaks.”
Steve Russell, NHS national director for vaccination and screening, said: “The NHS is fully prepared to respond to the first confirmed case of this clade of mpox.
“Since mpox first became present in England, local services have pulled out all the stops to vaccinate those eligible, with tens of thousands in priority groups having already come forward to get protected, and while the risk of catching mpox in the UK remains low, if required the NHS has plans in place to expand the roll out of vaccines quickly in line with supply.”
Clade Ib mpox has been widely circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in recent months and there have been cases reported in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Sweden, India and Germany.
Clade Ib mpox was detected by UKHSA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.
Common symptoms of mpox include a skin rash or pus-filled lesions which can last 2 to 4 weeks. It can also cause fever, headaches, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
The infection can be passed on through close person-to-person contact with someone who has the infection or with infected animals and through contact with contaminated materials. Anyone with symptoms should continue to avoid contact with other people while symptoms persist.
The UK has an existing stock of mpox vaccines and last month announced further vaccines are being procured to support a routine immunisation programme to provide additional resilience in the UK. This is in line with more recent independent JCVI advice.
Working alongside international partners, UKHSA has been monitoring Clade Ib mpox closely since the outbreak in DRC first emerged, publishing regular risk assessment updates.
The wider risk to the UK population remains low.
UKHSA has published its first technical briefing on clade I mpox which provides further information on the current situation and UK preparedness and response.
Ensuring Scotland is prepared as mpox cases increase in Central and Eastern Africa
With the World Health Organization declaring a recent rise in mpox cases in Central and Eastern Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, Dr Kirsty Roy and Dr Kate Smith, Consultants in Public Health at PHS, explain more about the current international situation and what is being done to prepare for any cases seen in Scotland:
The recent rise of mpox cases in Central and Eastern Africa is of global concern due to the potential for the virus to spread beyond the affected countries. It’s therefore important that we’re prepared in the event a case is identified in Scotland.
Mpox is an uncommon viral infection compared to viruses like influenza or COVID-19.
It typically causes a blistering rash which can last 2 to 4 weeks and can be accompanied by fever, headaches, muscle and back aches, tiredness and swollen lymph nodes.
There are two main types of mpox – clade 1 and clade 2 that are then further divided into clade 1a, clade 1b and clade 2b. Each type can differ in who they affect, how they spread, and the severity of the outcomes.
Clade 1 mpox is more serious than clade 2, as it can be passed on more easily, can make people more severely ill, and has a higher fatality rate. This is why clade 1 is classified as a high consequence infectious disease (HCID). HCIDs are rare in the UK, and established protocols and guidance are in place to manage these.
What’s the current global situation?
Historically, clade 1 mpox has been associated with Central Africa and linked with more severe disease and higher death rates. Recently, a new type (clade 1b) has emerged and is circulating, particularly in sexual networks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighboring countries.
It was the emergence and rapid spread of clade 1b that prompted the World Health Organization to declare the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in August 2024.
Although most cases are currently confined to Central and Eastern Africa, there is the potential for the virus to spread out with the continent to other countries, as we saw with the global outbreak of mpox clade 2 in 2022.
It’s therefore important to be aware of the above symptoms. Anyone with these should stay at home, avoid close contact with others and get medical help by phone. More information can be found on NHS inform.
How is mpox passed on?
Mpox is not passed on very easily between people. However, you can get it from close contact with an infected person, including during sex or by contact with contaminated materials (for example bedding or towels).
It’s possible that mpox may also be passed on through close and prolonged contact that can include talking, breathing, coughing or sneezing. There is currently limited evidence around this, and information will be updated when new evidence becomes available.
What’s the current situation in Scotland?
Currently, no cases of clade 1 mpox have been confirmed in Scotland. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed it had detected the first case of mpox clade 1b in England on 30 October, however, the risk to the UK population is still considered low.
PHS is working closely with public health partners across the UK, as well as NHS boards, to monitor the situation and prepare for any cases of clade 1 mpox in Scotland.
As part of this, we have rapidly put testing in place to ensure suspected cases can be quickly tested in Scotland at the Edinburgh Specialist Virology Centre (SVC) and the West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre (WoSSVC) Glasgow.
What’s the travel advice?
Currently the risk to most travellers is small. A list of countries where cases of Clade 1 mpox have been identified can be found on the UK Government website
Anyone travelling to an affected country is encouraged to take precautions, such as minimising physical or sexual contact – especially with individuals showing signs of a rash – to reduce the risk of infection.
Working in partnership with Scottish airports, we have ensured that information about the clade 1b international situation is visible to travellers in Scottish Airports. These signpost to key information on affected countries and how to access healthcare services in Scotland if an individual develops mpox symptoms.
Is there a vaccine to protect against mpox?
Mpox belongs to a family of viruses that includes smallpox and a vaccine that was developed to protect against smallpox is also considered effective against mpox.
This vaccine was used as part of the response to the 2022 outbreak of clade 2 mpox, which mainly affected gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), and Scotland continues to offer mpox vaccination to those at greatest risk.
On behalf of Scotland, and other devolved nations, the UK Government has procured more mpox vaccine doses to strengthen the UK preparedness against clade 1 mpox. More information about vaccine eligibility can be found on NHS inform.
Scotland has a robust public health intelligence system, is now able to rapidly identify and test potential cases and has a supply of effective vaccines. There is also public health information available to ensure people are prepared if they are visiting an area of higher risk. These should all ensure Scotland is prepared should cases emerge within the country.
Since the launch of Self-Harm Network Scotland’s (SHNS) live chat service on World Mental Health Day 2023 (10th October 2023), the SHNS team has had 1,273 supportive conversations on the webchat, with an average chat lasting around 29 minutes.
The unique live webchat service can be accessed on the SHNS website and is for people aged 12 and over in Scotland in need of support for their self-harm. The service is available between 6pm and 10pm, seven days a week.
People can anonymously chat to one of the SHNS team about their self-harm and get advice and support outside of standard support hours, when those experiencing self-harm may be most in need of someone to speak to.
As well as offering support via the live chat, the SHNS website has free and accessible resources, tools and information for people who self-harm, their loved ones and for professionals who work with people who self-harm.
SHNS’s team of Peer Practitioners can also provide 12 to 15 free one-to-one support sessions for people (aged 12 and over) who self-harm in Scotland, delivered via video, phone calls and text.
The SHNS service is part of charity Penumbra Mental Health, which provides dedicated services for people with mild to enduring mental ill-health.
We work together with the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) in delivering their self-harm strategy and action plan, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the world.
SHNS is funded by the Scottish Government, and we also work with partners who share our goal of providing compassionate and freely accessible support services to people who self-harm.
In the past year, 90% of people who gave feedback after using the webchat said they found it helpful (71% ‘Very Helpful’, 19% ‘Somewhat Helpful’). Here is some feedback from people that were supported by the webchat:
“[The chat] was so lovely and very logical and helped me into a safe and calmer location.”
“Very patient and convinced me to try the local self-harm services.”
“No pressure was put on me regarding my coping techniques. Very good listening.”
Darren Boyd, SHNS Network Manager, said:
“Since the inception of Self-Harm Network Scotland, it has been important to us that people with lived experience guide our delivery of support. Feedback from people with lived experience revealed to us a need for accessible, national support for people who self-harm. We also know there is still a lot of stigma around self-harm and this can be a barrier to people accessing support.”
He continued: “The Live Chat is a place anyone can come to and can remain anonymous should they wish. They can get support from our team at times they are feeling distressed and may not have anyone else to reach out to. The first year of running this new element of support has taught us a lot, and we look forward to continuing to work with people with lived experience to grow and continue this service.”
Julia, who works on SHNS’ live chat, said:
“The webchat is great, and the users have told me that they prefer it to calling somewhere. They appreciate the anonymity of the webchat a lot. A lot of young people feel anxiety about making phone calls. It’s also good for me as I find it easier to think about what I want to say while I am typing.”
Julia added: “Having lived experience of self-harm makes it easier for me to relate to the people I am chatting to. When chatting to someone on the webchat, I have shared tips that have helped me on my recovery journey, and I feel that I can easily pick up when someone needs to be heard most of all instead of looking for advice.”
Maree Todd, Mental Wellbeing Minister, said:
“I am pleased to celebrate the first year of the webchat that we launched together with Penumbra this time last year.
“To have already supported 1,273 people through the webchat is a huge accomplishment and supports our vision for anyone affected by self-harm to receive compassionate, recovery-focused support, without fear of stigma or discrimination, as outlined in our Self-Harm Strategy and Action Plan.
“We greatly value the expertise peer practitioners and trained volunteers are bringing to this service, which is showing positive results in supporting people affected by self-harm right across Scotland. This is why we are continuing to invest £1.5 million to support Self-Harm Network Scotland.”
Paul Kelly, COSLA’s Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, said:
“COSLA welcomes the ongoing development of compassionate support for those experiencing self-harm. Making services such as the webchat available is essential in ensuring those who need it get the right support at the right time. Through the Self Harm Strategy and action plan we continue to work collectively to improve responses and support for self-harm across Scotland.”
Outside of the live chat operating hours, people can self-refer on to the service via the online contact form.
You can access the webchat between 6pm and 10pm over on the SHNS website:
NHS Lothian has taken the difficult decision to withdraw joint funding from a service that provides support to veterans in Lothian, following a stark financial review.
The health board has told Veterans First Point Lothian staff and patients that it can no longer provide its share – £214,778 – of the total budget required, to maintain the service amid the significant financial challenge facing health boards.
Veterans First Point Lothian was jointly funded by Scottish Government and NHS Lothian as a “one-stop shop” offering support, advice and mental health care for veterans. It is a multi-award-winning service that has provided support to over 2500 different veterans throughout the last 15 years.
By April 2025, the service will cease to exist in its current form and a significant redesign and move of premises is planned by March 2025.
It comes as NHS Lothian is forced to review all services and departments in a bid to make efficiency savings of seven per cent following the budget allocation made earlier this year.
Further reductions in part of the mental health budget of 4.6 per cent means that the health board can no longer continue to find its share of this service.
Tracey McKigen, Director of Royal Edinburgh Hospital and Associated Services, NHS Lothian, said: “This has been a really difficult decision and we apologise to all of our patients and staff who are affected. We would like to thank the team for their dedication and commitment to supporting our veterans over the years.
“This is no reflection on the quality of the Veterans First Point Lothian service, but it does serve as a stark reminder of the extremely difficult choices that we are facing every day as we balance the need to provide safe and effective healthcare while meeting the severe financial challenges facing health board and other public sector organisations.”
Scottish Government will allocate its 40 per cent share of the funding and NHS Lothian is currently reviewing the future service provision possible within the remaining budget.
However it does mean that Veterans First Point Lothian will no longer be able to accept new referrals or commence any new episodes of treatment. Veterans, who are impacted by the change, are urged to contact the team to discuss alternative support.
If veterans feel they need help or support and are not already part of Veterans First Point Lothian, they should contact their GP during the day, and at evenings and weekends they should contact NHS 24 on 111.
Community projects across the city are facing financial armageddon following news that Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB) plans to discontinue funding to 64 community projects across the city.
The EIJB is facing a financial crisis and sees slashing funds to third sector organisations as a way to tackling a massive deficit. If the recommendations are approved by board members at a meeting on Friday, the disinvestment in much-needed community services would save EIJB £4.5 million.
Although rumours of swingeing cuts were circulating for some days, the key papers announcing the plans only appeared online late on Friday afternoon – and they make grim reading for community organisations across the city.
The full papers for Friday’s meeting can be found below – and the Chief Officer’s recommendations make truly awful reading for 64 community organisations and the thousands of citizens they support.
Rubbing salt into the wounds, the EIJB also proposes cutting funding before the end of THIS financial year – two months early – forcing voluntary sector organisations to issue redundancy notices immediately. A fine early Christmas present!
For some projects, cuts on this scale would see a devastating reduction to the services they are able to provide to people living in some of Edinburgh’s most deprived communities. Scores of jobs will be lost if the cuts go ahead, vital services will be slashed and a number of community organisations may even be forced to close completely.
Restalrig’s Ripple Project announced: ‘The Ripple is devastated by the release of proposals to remove a huge proportion of health and social care funding from The Ripple in just 90 days time.
‘Please come to the Ripple next week and join us in our campaign to stop this happening.’ The Ripple provides and hosts a range of services from their busy community hub and they have set up a petition to oppose the cuts.
People Know How have already made the difficult decision to close their doors – and more will undoubtedly follow if the proposed cuts go ahead.
People Know How told service users: “Due to the drastic changes across the fundraising landscape in Scotland, it is with great sadness that we must announce that we are beginning to work towards closing People Know How including the redundancy of all our staff team.”
An online post explains: ‘People Know How was founded in 2013 and has grown to deliver services to thousands of people across Scotland over the past decade. Supporting people to be digitally and socially included through Reconnect, providing help to children as they move from primary to secondary school through Positive Transitions, and enhancing communities with projects including All Aboard, People Know How has always put people at the heart of what we do. ‘
‘A dedicated team of 24 paid staff and around 100 annual volunteers, interns, and placement students (VIPs) make all this work possible, and we collaborate with numerous funders and partners to maximise the reach and impact of the charity. In the last 4 years, People Know How has also expanded its reach to effect social change nationally as well as locally, through research, campaigning, influencing policy and our national Digital Support Helpline.
‘Due to the drastic changes across the funding landscape in Scotland, at the end of September, our Board and Chief Executive were faced with a difficult conversation in light of the lack of funding for the current and forthcoming financial years.
‘In just the last few months, we have seen devastating funding cuts across the sector and a drastic shift in the funding landscape. As a result, we have seen fewer options for long-term funding, with other funders closing entirely and leaving those that remain severely over-subscribed.
‘The Scottish Government is currently examining their approach to funding in the third sector, responding to calls from the sector for longer-term funding, unrestricted core funding, funding to accommodate paying staff a Real Living Wage and more. But as the debate continues, charities like People Know How are dealing with the reality.
‘The decline of available funds is directly at odds with the increasing need of the communities we support. Over the last few months, we have seen attendance to our digital groups and calls on our Digital Support Helpline increase.
‘We also recently partnered with BT to provide information about the digital landline switchover, with many groups across the country eagerly coming forward to work with us on this project. And just 2 months ago, we began our Positive Transitions support in schools for the new academic year, addressing a very real need for support felt by the children, young people and families moving to secondary school.
‘While we have funding for some projects, we will not hear back from our biggest funders until the end of this financial year and cannot move forward without the certainty that we will be able to support our service users and employ our staff beyond Christmas.
‘Since September, People Know How has been undergoing a 30-day collective consultation process to assess its future and options to avoid redundancies, including pausing all new activities to prioritise the support of those using our services.
‘We have also been speaking with our partners and contacts to assess options and opportunities where possible. That consultation process has now come to an end and unfortunately, we have not found a solution to save the 24 jobs and charity and have had to make the extremely difficult decision to work toward closing People Know How.
‘From today, (25 October), we will be working to wind down our projects and identify opportunities for those who use our services to continue being supported by other organisations. Our staff will also be looking for new employment opportunities. We will remain open until December but our capacity will be reducing gradually until then, as our team moves on.
‘Consideration is being made on how we close in the best way possible to value all the work and achievements since 2013. We are proud of what we have achieved over the last 11 years, supporting communities to improve wellbeing across Scotland.
‘The passion we have seen in every single one of our staff members and VIPs during this time has been incredible and we couldn’t be prouder to have been part of their lives and careers. Thank you to all who have been with us on this amazing journey.’
North Edinburgh’s R2 group is a coalition of local projects who united during the Covid pandemic lockdown to support vulnerable local people with food and essential supplies.
Spartans Community Foundation CEO Debbi McCulloch, who chairs R2’s development group, wrote to politicians and members of the EIJB yesterday:
Proposed IJB cuts to third sector organisations
As Chair of R2 Development Group I am writing to express our concern and dismay at the current rumours circulating within the 3rd sector about the IJB cuts to third sector grants, and potential disinvestment from 64 community organisations.
This disinvestment appears to be part of the IJB’s in year recovery plan and savings strategy for 2025/26. We find this particularly surprising given the consultation that the IJB have recently completed on their new strategy which prioritised prevention and closer collaboration with the 3rd sector.
We would also like to acknowledge that the third sector has already taken significant cuts this year from the grant funding and has still achieved (or in many case over achieved) on the targets set, yet the sector is facing the biggest cuts.
In north Edinburgh, it is estimated that this will result in around £1million worth of funding being lost to the area. We are particularly concerned that local income maximisation services could be lost as many of us work in partnership with these services and see the difference they can make in household income for the people we work with. This work is key to our collective contributions to reducing poverty in the City.
While we recognise the significant funding challenges faced by the IJB, disinvesting from the 3rd sector for short term cost savings seems misguided. Such actions are likely to increase pressure on both NHS and Council services, contradicting the Scottish Government, Public Health Scotland, and the Audit Commission’s strong advocacy for enhanced prevention and early intervention strategies which are known to take time and require investment.
Evidence consistently shows that investment in prevention is one of the most cost-effective methods to improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities, ultimately fostering greater sustainability with economic, social, and environmental benefits.
We hope for a constructive discussion with the IJB and other partners on how we can best support our communities together. We would be very grateful if you could investigate on our behalf and advise us accordingly.
We ask that:
• The funding for this year is guaranteed and runs the full length of the contract. • That the 25/ 26 grants are not cut in entirety and that we can be part of a conversation regarding how we maybe able to assist in making savings.
• That there is recognition that is these “savings” are to go through, we are shoring up future impacts.
We’d ask you to explore this matter further and share anything you find out with us. In particular we would like to know:
• What consideration has been made for the Audit Scotland, Chief Medical Officer and Scottish Government guidance to invest in health prevention, health activities in community? • If an equality impact assessment on these proposals has been carried out and what the conclusion of this was?
Finally, we’d ask you to talk your party colleagues, particularly if they sit on the IJB and ask them to do all they can to prevent these cuts.
We know, that when local community sector organisations get cut, it can take years to rebuild projects and relationships with local communities. As the social and health issues in our communities are continuing to increase, we want to continue to do all we can to alleviate the current crisis and build towards a more positive future. Please help us do this.
Edinburgh Community Health Forum (ECHF) has called for an immediate halt to the funding cuts announced by IJB.
ECHF’s Strategic Development Manager, Stephanie-Anne Harris, said: “This drastic cut threatens the very fabric of our community support systems and undermines our collective commitment to health and wellbeing in Edinburgh.
“This disinvestment will lead to the closure of numerous charities and an increased reliance on statutory services, including the NHS and Council.
“Furthermore, it contradicts the Scottish Government’s and Public Health Scotland’s advocacy for prevention and early intervention strategies.
“Evidence overwhelmingly supports that investing in prevention is one of the most cost-effective methods to improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities.
“This short-term approach to achieving savings is fundamentally misguided.”
Historically, core funding for the Third Sector was managed by the Council before being transferred to the IJB.
The current proposed cuts pose a severe threat to organisations that provide essential services to some of Edinburgh’s most vulnerable residents.
Catriona Windle, Chair of ECHF and CEO of Health All Round, a charity dedicated to supporting residents in Gorgie Dalry, Saughton, Stenhouse, and surrounding areas, added: “We call for an immediate halt to cuts scheduled for 2025 and urge the IJB to engage in meaningful discussions with the sector about sustainable funding solutions.
“While we recognise the need for budgetary considerations, we cannot afford to compromise on the vital support that Third Sector organisations provide. We propose delaying cuts until September 2025 to allow for a proper conversation about the future.
“The IJB must recognise that resourcing for the Third Sector is not non-essential; it is crucial for the wellbeing of our communities.
“We implore Council leaders and the IJB to consider resuming full responsibility for funding these vital services or to engage the Third Sector in developing a strategic funding model that ensures ongoing investment in our collective health.”
EVOC, the voice of Edinburgh’s voluntary sector, said: “We are devastated to see the depth of the cuts proposed to the Third Sector in the EIJB Meeting Papers: https://bit.ly/4eZsPXL
“Our sector has an essential role to play in delivering key health and social care services for some of the most vulnerable people in Edinburgh and contributes to the four priorities of the @EdinburghHSCP ‘More Good Days Strategy’.
“Our Board and staff are meeting key colleagues and partners to move quickly on a strategic response and will share more details in the coming days.”
The first option would close the existing programme early, giving grant recipients only three months’ notice and saving £700,000 in this financial year. This would be extremely disruptive for both organisations and people accessing their programmes. Third sector organisations are reasonably entitled to expect to receive funding for the entire grant period. We are especially concerned that this could lead to sudden job losses and financial hardship for affected third sector workers.
The second option would be to end the grants programme entirely in future years, and develop an alternative approach, saving £4.5mn in direct costs next year and beyond. Whilst this would mean existing grants would continue for the remainder of this financial year, it would result in significant uncertainty for the future of some organisations and programmes and for the people who ultimately benefit from these supports and services.
Nevertheless, it is claimed that only one of the funded services represents “value for money”. Our understanding is that this assessment has been made via an additional, retrospective EIJB evaluation, and it is unclear if organisations were given adequate time and direction to monitor and evidence the value of their programmes.
In many cases the impact assessment refers to the availability of statutory services as an alternative, for example in relation to maternal mental health. However, the extreme pressures on statutory services, especially mental health services, are well documented.
Third sector services are in many cases supporting people who have fallen through the gaps in or been unable to access statutory services. The withdrawal of grant funding for third sector services will therefore leave those people with no support at all.
Responding to the proposals, the ALLIANCE Chief Officer of Development, Sara Redmond, said:“Third sector organisations provide a range of invaluable services that help to reduce health inequalities and support a preventative approach to health and wellbeing. We are therefore extremely concerned by the proposals from Edinburgh IJB that could see their entire health inequalities grant programme close.
“The EIJB’s own impact assessment acknowledges that these proposals will negatively impact the health and wellbeing of people in Edinburgh, especially in areas already experiencing higher levels of health and socio-economic inequality. In addition to the risk of job losses, these proposals also risk seriously damaging the relationship between the third sector and statutory sector funders, especially as there has been no public consultation in advance.
“Third sector organisations must be able to trust when bidding for contracts or grants that funding will be provided for the entire contracted period. They must also be consulted as equal partners to find a way forward when circumstances change, and for the responsibility to be shared for evaluating the impact of what are complex social policy agendas.
“We urge the EIJB to reject these proposals and develop a fairer way forward that will ensure people receive the support they need and that the third sector can continue its invaluable work to mitigate and prevent health inequalities.”
Work has urgently been going on behind the scenes since the EIJB papers were released and a number of meetings have taken place with more to follow in the run-up to Friday’s crucial board meeting.
Deputations are being arranged, community support is being harnessed across the city and politicians are being lobbied – and opposition to the draconian proposals has gained political support.
SNP Councillor Vicky Nicholson is a member of the EIJB board and she announced last night that the SNP will oppose the report recommendations:
Labour’s Cammy Day said in a statement on Twitter yesterday: ‘After over a decade of @theSNP cuts& under funding Edinburghs health &social care, proposals to cut the third/voluntary sector are here.
“Edinburgh Labour will propose a way forward to engage the sector, work with them & city partners and stop the in year cuts wherever we can.’
Edinburgh Integration Joint Board meets on Friday 1st November at 10am in the Dean of Guilds Room at the City Chambers.
You can read the full details of the recommendations here:
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Carbohydrates and heart health
Carbohydrates are one of the main food groups, but many people are unaware of the different types of carbohydrates and the impact they have on your health. Did you know that sugar is a form of carbohydrate?
Carbohydrates come in all different shapes and sizes, some are good for our health and some are not so good. Fibre, which is a form of carbohydrate that is beneficial for heart health, should be eaten regularly as part of a healthy balanced diet, however only 9% of the UK meet the recommendations.
This tip shares the importance of carbohydrates in your diet, where you get them from, and how to increase your intake:
Importance of carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are your bodies main source of energy and should make up 45 to 60% of your total daily energy intake. They fuel most of your body’s cells to allow you to carry out everyday tasks and extra ones like exercise.
Any excess carbohydrates that you’ve consumed but not used up are stored in your liver and muscles, these are slowly released throughout the day for blood sugar stability and brain function.
Fibre, a form of carbohydrate that is naturally found in plants, promotes digestive health and helps to reduce your risk of heart disease.
It does this by helping to stabilise blood sugar levels, lower bad (LDL) cholesterol levels, reduce blood pressure and inflammation.
Sources of carbohydrates
Some sources of carbohydrates are more well-known than others, such as pasta, rice, bread, potatoes and cereal. These are often your main sources of energy and ones that you pair with other foods to create your meals.
It is recommended for better heart health to follow a diet higher in fibre and choose wholegrain or wholemeal varieties of pasta, rice, cereals and bread where possible.
Sugar is also a form of carbohydrate called a simple carbohydrate.
Your body can break it down quickly to provide immediate energy however, it doesn’t have much nutritional value and can be the cause of weight gain. You should consume this in small amounts infrequently.
Increasing your fibre intake
Increasing your fibre intake to meet the recommended guidelines of 30g per day should be done gradually to avoid any unpleasant symptoms such as bloating. It is recommended that you drink plenty of fluids when adding more fibre to your diet to keep your digestive system working effectively.
Making healthier choices and increasing your fibre intake will benefit your overall health. Make sure you eat 5+ a day of fruit and vegetables, whilst swapping your carbohydrates to wholegrain varieties where possible.
If you’re ready to embark on a journey towards a healthier, more active lifestyle, there has never been a better time to take the first step with a special promotion at Edinburgh Leisure – just in time to drop a few pounds before the Christmas festivities.
From 25th October to 10th November, you can join any of Edinburgh Leisure’s fitness, climb or golf memberships for a joining fee of just one penny. This limited-time offer is your golden opportunity to experience the benefits of being a part of Edinburgh Leisure.
Their memberships are designed to cater to all fitness levels and interests. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just starting out, they have something for everyone. The new Evolve Membership at Meadowbank Sports Centre is also included in this offer.
By taking advantage of this offer, you’ll gain access to 50+ venues, including 17 top-notch gyms, 12 swimming pools, 6 golf courses, 1 world-class climbing arena, and sports facilities across the city. Enjoy the flexibility of choosing from over 750 fitness classes each week, including yoga, pilates, spinning, and more.
Their expert trainers are there to support and motivate you every step of the way, ensuring you achieve your fitness goals in a fun and engaging environment.
And as a member, you can also enjoy additional member benefits like priority bookings, and free gym introduction. There is no contract – and you can freeze or cancel your membership at any time.
So, wherever you’re at on the map or in life, Edinburgh Leisure has something to suit your needs.
MEDICAL professionals from across Edinburgh were recently invited to a city-centre opticians and audiology practice to discuss how to alleviate pressure on eye and hearing care services in the capital.
GPs and pharmacists were invited to Specsavers in Morningside to consider how community-based optometrists and audiologists could support medical practices in managing certain eye and ear conditions, such as glaucoma and hearing loss.
The event included discussions on best practices, protocols for managing a range of ailments like red eyes and allowed local clinicians to share their preferred methods of communication with each other and the Specsavers team.
Attendees also gained an insight into a range of other specialist services offered at the clinic, including foreign body removal; independent prescribing optometry services; the NHS community glaucoma scheme; paediatric eye examinations; myopia management; ear wax removal and hearing tests.
It’s hoped the event will help to increase accessible care for patients in the area while supporting local GPs and other medical practices in managing certain eye and ear conditions.
Michael O’Kane, clinical director at Specsavers Morningside, says: ‘We were thrilled to host medical colleagues from across the city for an evening of learning and collaboration.
‘Not only were we able to showcase some of the state-of-the-art equipment we have in store, such as our Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) technology for early detection of conditions such as glaucoma, but we also had the chance to demonstrate our first-class audiology services too.
‘With the current demands on NHS and other clinical services, it was great to build on the relationships we have with other medical professionals in the community and demonstrate our commitment to providing high quality, accessible care for people in the community.
‘Events like these allow us to foster even stronger bonds with other local healthcare providers as we work towards a seamless care experience for patients across Edinburgh.’
Specsavers Morningside is located opposite Morningside Medical Practice at 85 Morningside Road in Edinburgh and is open seven days a week.
Specsavers is celebrating 40 years of care this year and is now the largest privately-owned eye care and audiology company in the world with more than 2,500 businesses in 11 countries.
The company is committed to changing lives through better sight and hearing by making expert care accessible and affordable for everyone, and also offers a Home Visits service for those unable to travel to one of its 1,000 locally owned stores.
This is a safe space to come together and enjoy a boxing workout and all its great benefits. It’s also the opportunity to meet and socialise others in our community. We’re here to chat, help and support wherever possible.
This is open to everyone who may benefit from the service. Please drop a message to register interest or for more info.
Wet Wet Wet star Marti Pellow put on a special performance for patients and staff at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre.
The singer has re-released the band’s hit single Love Is All Around as part of a campaign with ITV’s Lorraine Kelly to raise awareness of breast cancer symptoms and to encourage early detection.
He visited the Beatson this morning, performing in the Beatson Cancer Charity Café on NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Gartnavel campus.
Marti also met patients who are undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the Centre’s Radiotherapy Department and Macmillan Day Bed Unit, as well as staff members who support them.
During his performance, he was joined by former Beatson patient, Mairi Milne, 55, from Bridge of Weir, who sings on the track as part of a choir of women who discovered they had breast cancer after watching Lorraine’s chat show.
And he was given a signed copy of a book by former patient Gillian Shirreffs, 54, from the west end of Glasgow, which was written before her breast cancer diagnosis in August 2021. The proceeds of Gillian’s book, Brodie, will go to the Beatson Cancer Charity as her way of giving back for the care she received.
Marti said: “This is a very special place with such a big catchment area for the whole of the west of Scotland for people receiving treatment.
“Since I’ve come in the door I’ve been met with so many smiles and hugs.
“It’s quite poignant for me too because my father was given his diagnosis here and I’ve always driven by and when I look at it it makes me think of my father.
“If there’s anything there that’s not your normal, go and get it checked. There’s a good chance there’s nothing wrong with you but it’s important to be aware and get checked if there are changes.
“The beautiful thing about this is that we are giving the message through the gift of song, and that’s what makes it special and so powerful.”
Lorraine’s Change+Check campaign is now in its sixth year. It encourages women to check their breasts for changes and stresses the importance of seeing a GP if they notice anything unusual.
Last year’s campaign single with Joss Stone, Golden, reached number one in the charts.
Love Is All Around, which was originally released almost 30 years ago, is out now, with proceeds going to Breast Cancer Awareness UK.
Cathy Hutchison, NHSGGC Cancer Consultant Nurse at the Beatson, said: “We were delighted to welcome Marti to the Beatson today, where patients and staff were able to meet him and enjoy a special performance.
“Having someone of his profile highlight the importance of routine checks and screening for breast cancer is invaluable.
“We’re grateful to Marti for coming along and helping to raise awareness of the work we do here at the Beatson.”
