NHS 24 is urging people in the Lothians to look after their health this winter with a few simple steps that can help to avoid illness and take the pressure off busy NHSScotland services over the festive holidays. The advice is being shared as part of the national ‘Be Healthwise’ campaign which was launched on Friday by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, Shona Robison MSP. Continue reading Help NHS24 help others this winter
ELREC, in partnership with Drummond Community High School, is organising an event in support of refugees in Edinburgh & Lothians on Tuesday 6 December 2016, from 5pm to 7pm at Drummond Community High School, 41 Bellevue Place, Edinburgh, EH7 4BS. Continue reading ELREC to stage Refugees’ Voice event
Housing and care services are in crisis. Can local community co-operatives help to meet local needs?
These are questions for a ‘radical’ new community project in Edinburgh Northern and Leith. Side by Side aims to explore how we can learn from each other and work together to create positive practical change in our local neighbourhood.
Housing, environment and care of the young and elderly were the top concerns to emerge from two community Open Space events in the last 12 months. The first event identified the needs; the second came up with bold ideas to fill gaps in local services – including housing and childcare co-operatives
Now Side by Side aims to take the next step with The Gathering, at Norton Park Conference Centre on Saturday 3 December. And this time the event will start by celebrating the successes and achievements of local groups who are already changing lives.
‘Through our events we discovered fantastic creative enterprises in Edinburgh Northern and Leith,’ says Fay Young, one of the organisers, ‘But not everyone knows about them. We hope to learn from each other to build on what is here already and generate new ideas to enhance quality of life in our area.’
Keynote speaker Josh Littlejohn, co-founder of Social Bite, will set the tone of an event which seeks to ‘share best practice and build on local achievements’. A panel of experts from Pilton Community Health Project, Port of Leith Housing Association, Shrub Swap and Reuse Hub and North Edinburgh Childcare will also provide first hand accounts of successful community enterprises and projects.
Workshop discussions and outcomes will be led and decided by the audience and facilitated by Judith Chivers. Proposals put forward by The Gathering will contribute to a community manifesto for our neighbourhood in time for the local authority elections in May 2017.
Side by Side has grown from two Open Space community discussion events hosted by Councillor Lesley Hinds, in December 2015 and April 2016. Local organisations and residents were invited to explore how we might make use of new powers coming to the Scottish Parliament to improve life in our part of Edinburgh.
Councillor Hinds who is standing down after 33 years on City of Edinburgh Council said: ‘I promised to turn words into action and that is what The Gathering aims to do. My colleagues will ensure this is taken forward”.
Side by Side is a community project open to all. The Gathering will be introduced and hosted by Labour Councillors for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, and is supported by Leith Open Space, an intercultural community discussion group formed in 2005.
Edinburgh based Selah Corbin, a cinematic songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose work has been likened to “paintings that come alive” will provide the music and a light lunch of delicious food from Punjabi Junction will be served.
To take part, book now on Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/side-by-side-edinburgh-northern-and-leith-gathering-tickets-28336222404?aff=es2
and follow Facebook.com/SBSGathering and http://www.edinburghlabournorthernandleith.org.uk/ for updates.
For further information please contact Marion Donaldson councillormariondonaldson@gmail.com
Call comes one month into national vaccination programme Continue reading GP issues flu vaccine reminder
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, Shona Robison MSP visited NHS24 yesterday to see firsthand how Scotland’s national unscheduled care and health information service launch the first phase of its technology upgrade. Continue reading NHS24 in good health
The difference in payments per head to GP practices in the most and least deprived areas does not do enough to tackle health inequalities says a Green MSP.
Alison Johnstone, health spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, believes the difference of £3.97 per person should be considerably more, considering that practices in areas listed as Scotland’s most deprived by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation see significantly more patients than in less deprived areas.
A report by ISD Scotland reveals that the overall payment to General Practice service providers of £753.9 million is “virtually the same amount” as last year.
Alison Johnstone, health spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP for Lothian, said: “GP practices in the most deprived areas typically have more patients on their lists and less capacity to address patient needs. Greens want to see increases in spending for general practice, and primary care more broadly, to be targeted towards practices with high levels of deprivation.
“Greater and more targeted spending for general practice can play a key part in an overall preventative spending strategy. By preventing ill-health, we can ease the pressure on our NHS and ensure that fewer patients end up needing more expensive treatment.” Continue reading GP Practice payments for deprived areas not enough, say Greens
The Scottish Government has set out its commitment to controlling healthcare associated infections and containing antimicrobial resistance. The five-year strategic framework, published today, seeks to ensure the safety of patients, the public and all healthcare staff and to make hospitals and communities a safer place.
The prevention and control of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) remains an important issue for all environments where healthcare is delivered – for example, care homes, community pharmacies, and primary care – and for everyone involved in the delivery of care.
Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “Tackling antimicrobial resistance and reducing healthcare associated infections remains a key priority for this Government. Good progress has been made so far with the latest quarterly figures showing that, since 2007, MRSA rates have fallen by 90% and CDI rates for those aged 65 years and over have reduced by 88%.
“These significant reductions have only been possible due to the hard work, diligence and commitment of Scotland’s NHS staff and key stakeholders.
“Patients and the public deserve to have complete confidence in the cleanliness of Scottish hospitals and the quality of NHS services and I have made clear my expectation that all health boards must take cleanliness and infection control extremely seriously.
“Today’s publication of the 5 Year AMR/HAI Strategic Framework will inform government policy and will help key stakeholders and NHS Boards implement and deliver HAI and AMR policies consistently and reliably across the healthcare system so that we can continue to provide a culture that promotes the delivery of person-centred safe and effective care.”
The overarching aims of the Strategic Framework are:
The Strategic Framework has been published on the Scottish Government website: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Health/Services/Preventing-Healthcare-Infections
Spending on the NHS in Scotland has reached record levels and waiting times have improved, but the government’s record on the health service was lambasted following the publication of the latest Audit Scotland ‘report card’ yesterday. Continue reading Parties clash over Scotland’s health service
A further £500 million will be invested in primary care by the end of this parliament, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced. Continue reading Increased investment in Primary Care
One third of people hospitalised last winter had heart condition
People with heart conditions and other underlying health conditions are being urged to get their flu vaccination as early as possible this winter to protect themselves from an unpredictable virus. Continue reading Heart condition? Get the flu jab!
