Dr Owl's wise winter advice

Dr Owl will soon be making an appearance in Edinburgh offering his “wise” winter health tips as part of a major public health campaign.

With Christmas only a few weeks away, NHS Scotland’s Be Health-Wise this Winter campaign is visiting the capital next Thursday (4 December) to offer advice on some simple steps locals can take to help themselves and their families enjoy a healthy festive period.

Dr Owl is advising people to check they have cold and flu remedies in their medicine cabinet, make sure they have enough repeat prescription to last over the festive period, and to make sure they know when their GP surgeries are open over Christmas and New Year.

Staff from Scotland’s national telehealth service, NHS 24, will be on hand at the event to offer advice on how to stay well this winter and answer questions about winter health issues.

This year’s Be Health-Wise this Winter campaign is being supported by The Co-operative Pharmacy and winter health packs – containing an information leaflet, lip balm, hand sanitisers and plasters – will be available to visitors to the roadshow.

NHS 24’s Medical Director Professor George Crooks said: “The Be Health-Wise This Winter roadshow in Edinburgh offers the ideal opportunity for locals to take some time out from their Christmas shopping to get some important information about their health this winter.

“By preparing ahead, people can ensure they make the most of the festive period, by not allowing winter coughs and colds to spoil their holiday. Listen to the wise words of Dr Owl and make sure you have cough and cold remedies at home to deal with any winter ailments that may strike this winter.

“Your local pharmacist is also a good source of information and advice on what to have in your medicine cabinet. If you need to visit your GP, try to schedule an appointment before the festive period and make sure you submit your repeat prescription request in plenty of time and pick it up in plenty of time.”

Nisith Nathwani, Regional Development Manager for The Co-operative Pharmacy and General Council Member for Community Pharmacy Scotland, said: “We are very pleased to support NHS Scotland’s Be Ready for Winter campaign and our Co-operative Pharmacy branches up and down the country will be on hand to offer health advice and winter remedies to our local communities throughout the winter.

“Our pharmacists are trained to offer health and medication advice and should be the first port of call throughout the winter months.”

This year, GP surgeries throughout most of the country will be closed for four days at Christmas (25-28 December), before re-opening on Monday 29 December and again for four days at New Year (1-4 January), before re-opening again on Monday 5 January.

The national Be Health-Wise this Winter campaign is supported by NHSScotland in partnership with NHS 24, the Scottish Ambulance Service and all 14 Scottish Health Boards.

General advice and information on how to stay healthy this winter can be found at www.nhsinform.co.uk or contact NHS inform on 0800 22 44 88.

The Be Health-Wise This Winter roadshow will be at the Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre on Thursday 4 December between 10am and 4pm.

Check you have cold and flu remedies

Many children and adults pick up common winter ailments such as a cold or flu-like illness. These can often be effectively treated at home with readily available medicine. Parents are reminded to restock their medicine cabinet with remedies suitable for children.

Use your local pharmacy

Your local pharmacy is an accessible resource for you and your family. Your pharmacist can offer advice or help if you have run out of any prescribed medication. You can also collect medicine for minor ailments or illnesses.

Make sure you have repeat prescriptions. Only order what you need and pick it up in plenty of time.

If you, or someone you care for, require medicines regularly, check that you have enough and if you need more remember to order and collect repeat prescriptions in good time to ensure you or your family have enough medicine to last over the Christmas holiday period. Only order what you need.

Know when your GP surgery will be open

Your local doctor’s surgery will be open on Wednesday December 24^th and will then reopen on Monday 29th December. This means there are four days when it is closed – Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Saturday 27^th and Sunday 28^th.

Doctors Surgeries will follow normal opening hours on Wednesday 31^st December and will then reopen on Monday 5^th January.

Community Health's in safe hands

Scotland’s senior community health project still forging ahead

PCHP chair Tom Kirby and Cllr Lesley Hinds, who chaired the meeting

The oldest community health project in Scotland, Pilton Community Health Project has played a key role in promoting healthy lifestyles in North Edinburgh for thirty years. And if their recent annual general meeting is anything to go by, PCHP will be at the forefront of community health initiatives for a long time to come!

Annual general meetings can often be fairly dull affairs, but Pilton Community Health Project used their AGM to showcase the many elements that go into making a very successful community project.

Yes, there was the tedious but necessary business, but then the packed meeting was treated to the highlights of the past twelve months, courtesy of PCHP staff who gave presentations on the wide range of activities that are taking place at the Health Project’s Boswall Parkway base and, increasingly, out in the wider community.

Food development workers Memes Molina and Joe Jones kicked of the presentations with the launch of a new educational toolkit, then Women Supporting Women development worker Alison Hughes gave an overview of the PEEP programme.

Lianne Pipskyj and Clare Symonds shared the news of the Physical Activity Project’s ongoing success and Carol Targett, who leads PCHP’s counselling team, focused her contribution on the team’s work with young people in North Edinburgh.

As you can imagine there was a lot of information to take in – but fortunately you don’t have to! The morning’s other presentation saw PCHP manager Jen Richards launch PCHP’s bright new website, which contains all the information you need on everything that’s happening at PCHP!

Read all about it at www.pchp.org.uk

And here’s the Annual Report:

pchp-annual-report-2013-14

NHS volunteers head out to Sierra Leone

More than 30 NHS staff from across the UK departed for Sierra Leone yesterday to join Britain’s fight against Ebola – the first group of NHS volunteers to be deployed by the UK government.

The British team will now complete a week of training in Freetown before moving to British-built Ebola treatment centres across the country.

Following this training and acclimatisation, the group – which includes GPs, nurses, clinicians, psychiatrists and consultants in emergency medicine – will begin work setting up procedures, diagnosing and treating people who have contracted the deadly virus.

They will work in treatment centres built by British Army Royal Engineers and funded by the Department for International Development.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said: “Our fight against Ebola in West Africa is one of Britain’s biggest responses to a disease outbreak. Almost a thousand military personnel, scientists, healthcare and aid workers are already on the ground in Sierra Leone working to contain, control and defeat this terrible disease.

“But to beat Ebola we desperately need the experience and dedication of skilled doctors and nurses to care for the thousands of sick and dying patients who are not receiving the treatment they need.

“Every one of these NHS heroes will play a vital role in the fight against Ebola. It is only because of their combined efforts that we stand a chance of defeating this disease.”

Countdown to lower drink-drive limit

Campaign launched to highlight proposed change on 5 December

A high-profile public information campaign to ensure Scotland is ready for a new lower drink drive limit has been launched at the start of Road Safety Week. The Scottish Parliament votes today on an order which will bring the reduced limit into effect on 5 December.

This would lower the blood alcohol limit from 80mg in every 100ml of blood to 50mg in every 100ml of blood.

The campaign includes:

TV, video-on-demand and radio adverts across Scotland, including ITV Borders which covers areas south of the border. The campaign message is ‘the best advice is none’ when it comes to drinking and driving
Digital and social media campaign backed by www.dontriskit.info website
Scotland-wide awareness raising events in high footfall public venues such as supermarkets
Working with key transport hubs such as Edinburgh airport and car hire companies (Enterprise)
Awareness raising through Visit Scotland, tourist organisations and driving tourism agencies
Highlighting the new lower limit via electronic road signs across Scotland, particularly on key border roads between England and Scotland
Partner work with service stations, including all Tesco and all Shell-owned garages, this includes key border areas in Dumfries, Abington, Jedburgh and Berwick- upon- Tweed
Issuing information through alcohol retailers, national pub companies and groups such as Scottish Retail Consortium, Scottish Grocer Federation and DrinkAware
Partnering with key motoring organisations including the Institute of Advanced Motoring, AA, RoSPA and Brake

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: “With the approval of Parliament, the new drink drive limit will come into force on December 5, making our roads safer and saving lives. We are doing everything we can to make sure everyone is informed about the new lower level.

“A persistent minority of people are still getting behind the wheel after drinking – that is unacceptable, it is putting lives at risk and it must stop. Our advice is simple, the best approach is to have no alcohol at all. Alcohol at any level impairs driving.

“This new law will bring Scotland into line with most of Europe and hopefully reduce drink drive arrests and prosecutions, as we have already seen in the Republic of Ireland, where drivers adjusted their behaviour to take account of the lower limit.”

Chief Superintendent Iain Murray, Head of Roads Policing for Police Scotland said: “An average of 20 die on Scotland’s roads each year and last year a further 90 were seriously injured and 340 slightly injured as a result of drink driving related collisions.

“The new lower limit will reduce those numbers and the evidence from across Europe where the lower limit applies suggests we will see reductions in drink driving and blood alcohol counts.

“However even at the new limit you are three times more likely to die in a crash than if you had taken no alcohol. It is clear, when it comes to drinking and driving, that the simple ‘the best advice is none’ message is the right one.

“On the lead up to 5 December police patrols will positively engage with as many road users as possible to provide real-time education to those who may be putting themselves and others at risk, influence behaviour in the future and prevent collisions on Scotland’s roads.”

Paul Bassett, General Manager, South East Division, Scottish Ambulance Service, said: “All too often our ambulance crews have to deal with the tragic consequences of drink driving, which have a devastating impact on families and communities. The message is clear and we hope this initiative will reduce the number of lives that are ruined as a result of drink driving.”

Michael McDonnell, Director of Road Safety Scotland, said: “It’s almost 50 years since the current limit was introduced and that we still lose an average of 20 lives a year is a disgrace.

“Evidence from across the world demonstrates that the best results in tackling drink-driving are achieved by lowering the limit, or increasing enforcement, or both. We know, too, that a combination of high-profile enforcement, coupled with a heavyweight media campaign is the most efficient use of resources, and we are working closely with the Police Scotland and other partners to ensure that people know about the change to the limit and have no excuse.

“It’s not about catching more drink-drivers, but about preventing people from doing it in the first place. Ultimately, most of us have too much to lose, so it’s just not worth the risk.”

A happy New Year for hospital food?

New hospital food guidelines to be published in January

Improved standards for hospital nutrition and catering are to be introduced, and the Scottish Government will consult on making them legally binding, Health Secretary Alex Neal has announced. The improvements are part of a package of measures being introduced to build on the progress already made to improve standards of nutritional care in Scottish hospitals.

The measures announced yesterday are:

• Improved nutrition and catering standards introduced in the new year, supported by increased inspections of hospital meals
• A consultation to determine whether nutritional standards in hospitals should be placed on a statutory footing
• A further £300,000 will be invested to help boards to improve nutritional care

Scotland was the first country in the UK to introduce national standards for food, fluid and nutrition in hospitals. Since 2008 more than £1.75 million has been invested to improve standards of nutritional care, including supporting nutritional champions, malnutrition screening of all patients when they are admitted to hospital, and the introduction of protected mealtimes to ensure patients get the help they need to eat.

Continuing improvements to hospital food are part of the Scottish Government’s 2025 vision to make Scotland a Good Food Nation.

Health Secretary Alex Neil said: “Scotland has led the way in the UK when it comes to developing and monitoring standards for nutritional care and catering in hospitals. We already have rigorous standards in place, and clear guidance about how these standards can be met. Catering teams, dieticians, specialist consultants and nursing staff are doing great work to ensure that patients are getting nutritious and balanced diets in hospital.

“We have made great progress, but I recognise that there is always more that can be done to drive up standards.

“We have been working on these new guidelines for some time as part of an ongoing review of nutritional standards. This is part of a package of measures that will help to ensure that hospital food continues to improve, that NHS boards have the appropriate amount of support and advice that they need to deliver these improvements and that we have an even stronger inspection process.”

As part of the new standards, there will be a move away from self reporting, whereby hospital boards submit evidence about how their meals meet nutritional guidelines

Full details of the new guidelines will be published in January, and, if agreed, Scotland would be the first country in the UK to place nutritional standards in hospital food on a statutory footing.

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian and health spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, has welcomed the proposals. She said: “It’s good to see the Scottish Government waking up to this important issue. I would encourage every health board to listen carefully to the feedback from patients and relatives to help improve hospital meals.

“I await with interest the new guidelines, and I urge ministers to raise their ambitions for the quality of food served in our hospitals. We should take this opportunity to focus on using more local and fresh ingredients, and we should continually involve patients in a review of the menus.”

Minister hails latest organ donation figures

Scotland ‘making excellent progress’

The number of people waiting for a transplant has fallen to its lowest level since 2006, a report detailing Scotland’s organ donation record has shown. The average number of people waiting for a transplant has fallen by a quarter in the last seven years – from 793 in 2006/7 to 595 in 2013/14.

The figures, detailed in a ‘report card’ published this week by the Scottish Government, shows marked improvement in nearly all areas of the organ donation process – with donor and transplant numbers up significantly in the last few years.

This is the first time the Scottish Government has published a report card on NHS performance in this area and it is to be widely distributed to staff and patients across the country annually.

It fulfils a commitment made in the Scottish Government’s A Donation and Transplantation Plan for Scotland 2013 – 2020, to publish an annual report card on four or five key national measures on organ donation and transplantation.

The report shows that the number of living and deceased donors rose by almost 60 per cent between 2011/12 and 2013/14 and, over the same period, the number of transplants from living and deceased donors rose from 345 in a year to 425 in a year.

In addition the number of patients referred to the organ donation service has more than doubled in the last three years, meaning more patients who have expressed a wish to donate their organs after death have had those wishes honoured.

Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said: “Over the last few years we have made important strides in raising awareness of the importance of organ donation in Scotland and we have been encouraging more and more people to make their wishes known to friends and family.

“We want Scotland to be amongst the best performing countries in the world for donation and transplantation, and this year’s report shows we are continuing to make excellent progress towards this goal.

“This is thanks to every donor and every donor’s family who have demonstrated such compassion and generosity in the face of tragic and difficult circumstances. It is also testament to the work of staff across the NHS in Scotland who work tirelessly to ensure that people’s organ donation wishes are respected and that every donation counts.”

The publication also highlights the need to increase the number of families who agree for donation to go ahead – which has seen a gradual rise from 57.1 per cent in 2010/11 to 61.6 per cent in 2013/14. Around 90 more lives each year could be saved if this figure rose to 80 per cent.

Mr Matheson added: “This year our public campaign focuses on encouraging people to talk to their friends and family about their decision to donate. Letting those closest to you know your decision makes it easier for them to honour your wishes if they ever need to.”

To register or find out more visit www.organdonationscotland.org or telephone 0300 123 2323

Pilton group walks off with award!

PILTON COMMUNITY HEALTH PROJECT VOLUNTEERS ‘WALK’ AWAY WITH AN AWARD!

We are delighted to announce that the Pilton Community Health Project walking volunteers have won an award from the Scottish charity Paths for All.

The award for ‘Health Walk Volunteer group of the Year’ will be presented by Shona Robison MSP at the charity’s annual celebration ceremony ‘Celebrating Scotland’s Walking Champions’ tomorrow (Tuesday 4 Novomber) at the Scottish Parliament.

The ceremony recognises the achievements of volunteers from across the country and their contribution to making Scotland more active.

The Pilton Community Health Project walking volunteers have won the award for their dedication and team spirit; this has been key to the success and expansion of the walking programme.

The team consists of eleven highly motivated volunteers who are all passionate about walking and how it can address health inequalities. Without them, the project wouldn’t be able to offer an increasingly wide range of opportunities for local people.

Together they effectively manage the walking groups and help others take steps toward improving their health and wellbeing.

Congratulations to all!

Organ donation: make your wishes known

Organ Donation Scotland campaign launched

Up to a hundred more lives could be saved each year if family authorisation rates for organ donation increase. The figure was revealed to coincide with the launch of the Organ Donation Scotland campaign, which is encouraging Scots to make their organ donation wishes known.

Sharing organ donation wishes remains fundamental to relatives honouring a loved one’s choices in the event of their death – and the campaign is urging people who have made the positive decision to be an organ donor to talk it through with their family.

Since 2010/11, the family authorisation rate for organ donation – when a family member agrees that donation can proceed – has increased from 57.1 per cent to 61.6 per cent. If the rate was to further increase to 80 per cent, around 90 more lives could be saved each year.

Transplant recipient Bob James, 61, who is approaching the one-year anniversary of his successful liver transplant, met with Public Health Minister Michael Matheson to share his story.

The retired fire-fighter has been able to return to the full time volunteering role he loves at Glasgow’s Riverside Museum, thanks to the special gift that saved his life.

Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson said: “Bob’s story shows how transplantation can transform lives. That is why we’re encouraging people who have made the decision to be an organ donor to share their wishes with loved ones.

“We want Scotland to be amongst the best performing countries in the world for donation and transplantation and huge progress is being made, with a 62 per cent increase in transplants since 2007/8 and over 41 per cent of Scots now on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

“It’s encouraging to note that the number of people waiting for a transplant has fallen to the lowest level we have seen in years, however with around 550 people in Scotland still waiting for a life-saving transplant, its important people are aware of why talking about organ donation and joining the register could save lives.”

Bob, from Lennoxtown, had his liver transplant in November 2013 after doctors told him his liver was failing. Unbeknown to Bob, he had an underlying genetic condition, haemochromatosis, which went undiagnosed as his liver function was masked by another existing condition, Gilbert’s Syndrome.

Bob said: “The Christmas before the transplant I started to feel very unwell, and my GP immediately referred me to Stobhill Hospital where tests showed there were problems with my liver. I couldn’t believe it. I remember thinking it was ironic that I had liver problems as I’m practically teetotal, but I didn’t know at this point I had haemochromatosis.”

Bob was put on medication and continued with life, but over the next ten months his health slowly deteriorated.

He said: “I felt pretty bad. I was getting slower and slower, the smallest things felt like a real effort. I’d lost enthusiasm for everything and my quality of life was rapidly going downhill. I just thought I was getting old, I’d no idea how serious it was.”

Bob was referred to the Transplant Unit at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, and after a series of tests he was told that he needed to be put on the waiting list for a liver transplant. Whilst getting his head around the news, Bob received the call that a suitable donor liver had been found, just 48 hours after being listed for transplant.

He said: “I had no idea it was going to happen so quickly; the day before I’d been working at the Museum. Nine hours after I got the call, I was at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh prepped and ready for a transplant. Within two days I came round in the high dependency ward with almost no pain and feeling overall, pretty well. Looking back, it really was quite remarkable.

“I’ve been amazed at the speed of my recovery. Now the haemochromatosis has been diagnosed, it’s being managed and I’m back doing what I love, volunteering five days a week at the museum. I feel better than ever.

“I do know I’ve been remarkably lucky and will always be eternally grateful to the person who saved my life by making the decision to donate their organs. People talk about fire fighters being brave, but in my eyes, that person was braver than any fire fighter. Without them making that decision, I might not be here today.

“I’d urge anyone who wants to be an organ donor to share their wishes with family members. It’s so important. For me, it’s meant me getting my life back and I intend to live it to the full.”

More lifesaving UK aid arrives in Sierra Leone

Britain’s latest Ebola aid flight, carrying lifesaving medicines, landed in Freetown yesterday, International Development Secretary Justine Greening has confirmed.

This was the UK’s tenth aid flight and carried the first batch of medicines, including morphine and antibiotics, from the UK for the 92 bed treatment facility in Kerry Town, which is nearing completion.

The cargo also included a chiller van vital for transporting heat sensitive medicines in temperatures that can reach up to 40°C and five additional 4×4 vehicles needed to ensure that vital stocks can be transported to the 6 treatment centres the UK is building to help defeat Ebola.

Justine Greening said: “The UK has mounted a huge response to the Ebola outbreak, dispatching ten aid flights so far, carrying hundreds of tonnes of supplies for our treatment centres which will care for up to 8,800 patients over 6 months. I have just returned from Freetown where I saw first-hand the scale of the outbreak and the central role that the UK is playing in helping Sierra Leone defeat Ebola.”

Aid supplies delivered so far now include: 58 vehicles including ambulances; 75 water tanks; 3 incinerators for disposing of clothing and other materials; 12 generators; personal protection equipment; radio equipment; lighting sets; chlorine for sanitation; WC facilities; temporary warehouse tents; 14 air conditioning units and isolator equipment.

Ebola: ‘lifeline of care’ delivered to Sierra Leone

Britain’s latest Ebola aid flight – delivering beds, personal protection suits, tents and vehicles – landed in Sierra Leone capital Freetown yesterday, International Development Secretary Justine Greening has confirmed.

Aid flights from the UK to Sierra Leone have delivered personnel and vital supplies for the construction and operation of the 92 bed treatment facility in Kerry Town – the first of at least five that the UK is building in the country from scratch.

A team of British military personnel – including logisticians, planners and engineers – are currently on the ground to oversee the construction of the treatment centre.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said: “The UK continues to deliver essential supplies to control and defeat the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone.

“This aid will go towards getting the UK’s treatment facility up and running as soon as possible. It will also ensure that heroic health workers working on the front line have the very best protection equipment available to tackle this terrible disease.

“Construction of our treatment centre is now well underway and the first phase will be operational soon. This will provide a lifeline of care to Ebola patients in Sierra Leone.”

Aid supplies delivered so far include: 20 vehicles including ambulances; 75 water tanks; 3 incinerators for disposing of clothing and other materials; 12 generators; personal protection equipment; radio equipment; lighting sets; chlorine for sanitation; latrine slabs; temporary warehouse tents; 14 air conditioning units and isolator equipment.

The vehicles will be used to move blood samples and patients from local communities to the treatment centre. Further aid supplies will be deployed from the Department for International Development’s emergency warehouse in Kemble, Gloucestershire.

The UK has pledged £125 million to support the global effort to contain, control and defeat the disease in Sierra Leone. This includes support for 700 Ebola treatment beds which will provide direct medical care up to 8,800 patients over six months and help to shore up the country’s stretched public health services as they battle to contain the disease. This includes vital supplies such as chlorine and protective clothing for thousands of health workers.