Government spends £9.3 million on pro-EU ‘leaflet’
The Westminster government has been severely criticised for spending £9 million of tax payers money on an ‘information’ booklet which outlines the case for remaining in the European Union. Continue reading EU’re having a laugh – at our expense
We still have places available for our Childcare Academy Information Sessions on:
Monday 8 February @ 10am
Wednesday 17 February @ 1.30pm
If you would like to book a place to come along and hear more about the Academy, ask any questions and take away an application pack, please do not hesitate to contact me on the number below or Barbara Webster on 311 6926.
Audrey O’Neill
Training Administrator, North Edinburgh Childcare
Tel: 311 6931
Follow us on Twitter @NEChildcare
Like our Training Services on Facebook @https://www.facebook.com/pages/North-
Total Craigroyston have produced several ‘infographics’ to aid conversations about what’s happening in the area. Continue reading Picture this: Total Craigroyston infographics online
Councillor Gavin Barrie, Convenor of the Licensing Regulatory Committee would like to extend an invitation to a meeting on Wednesday, 29 April 2015 from 6pm – 7.30pm in the European Room at City Chambers.
There have been many queries from organisers so this evening should provide lots of useful information for those of you who are thinking of organising a Community Event or Gala Day.
Councillor Maureen Child will join us to sit on the panel for the Question & Answer session along with Catherine Scanlin, Licensing Manager and Gordon Hunter, Licensing Policy & Project Officer.
Agenda:
6pm Coffee
6.15pm Introduction from Councillor Barrie
6.25pm Presentation from the Licensing Service
6.45pm Questions and Answer Session
7.15pm Closing remarks
Could you please confirm your attendance by emailing isla.burton@edinburgh.gov.uk
Please let us know if you require any assistance to attend or take part e.g. large print, disabled access requirements, travel arrangements, hearing loop, etc. We look forward to meeting you all!
PEOPLE seeking information about waiting times in Scotland can now access this via Scotland’s national health information service, NHS inform. Queries can be directed to the national health information service on 0800 22 44 88.
The extension of the NHS inform service builds on the ‘Your Health, Your Rights‘ resource at www.nhsinform.co.uk/rights which brings together information for the public about their health rights, access to health care and national waiting times.
Developed by NHS 24 in partnership with the Scottish Government, the zone was launched in 2013 with the aim of making it easier for patients to access the information relevant to them in one place.
Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “Patients have an entitlement to be treated as quickly as possible but also at a time that fits in with their lives. The helpline provided through NHS inform will continue to give patients a single point of contact to find out more about their rights and how long they can expect to wait for treatment.
“Waiting times continue to be amongst their lowest ever levels in Scotland, and we want to make sure that patients know what they are entitled to. This information line will also help ensure that waiting times are open, transparent, and that patients receive help and support if they need it.”
NHS 24 Head of Health Information Services Lynne Huckerby added: “Our health information team are trained to answer health information queries on a wide variety of subjects from people throughout Scotland. By contacting NHS inform, people are accessing reliable health information from a trusted source.
“Directing their waiting times queries to the NHS inform phoneline will make it easier for people to access clear and accurate information on their rights and responsibilities. It allows people to access all the health information they need from a single trusted source.”
For more information, visit www.nhsinform.co.uk/rights
The NHS inform helpline is available on 0800 22 44 88, 8am to 10pm, seven days a week.
An updated programme of activities and groups for parents and carers has been produced in a handy booklet format.
Click on the link below to find out the full range of activities available across North Edinburgh and beyond:
A gentle reminder that February is fast approaching and it’s nearly time for another NEN newspaper. The deadline is THIS FRIDAY (23 January)!
So if you have any articles for the next edition – or you would like to advertise with us (see ad rate card below) – please get in touch: email
northedinnews@gmail.com
We look forward to hearing from you!
Dr Owl continues his flight across Scotland as part of the Be Health-Wise This Winter encouraging people to know when their GP surgery is open over New Year.
While GP practices re-open today (Monday 29 December) after the Christmas break, the wise Dr Owl is advising people to be aware that they will follow normal opening hours until closing again on Thursday 1st January, before re-opening again on Monday 5th January.
NHS 24’s Medical Director Professor George Crooks, explained: “While NHS Scotland staff have been very busy over the Christmas period, it is important that people remember there is another period of GP practices’ closures over New Year. It’s important that people know the opening times of their local pharmacy too and make use of the next couple of days to re-stock with simple home remedies to ensure they can look after themselves and their family if needed.
“Knowing you have remedies at home to help if a winter illness does strike can make all the difference and you can use the self-help guide available at www.nhs24.com for advice on treating coughs, colds and other winter illnesses at home.”
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.
Many GPs will be working hard throughout the festive period supporting local Out of Hours services and the Be Health-Wise This Winter campaign has the backing of the British Medical Association (BMA) in Scotland.
General advice and information on how to stay healthy this winter can be found at www.nhsinform.co.uk/winter or contact NHS inform on 0800 22 44 88.
Food bank Christmas Opening Hours
Gorgie Salvation Army – South West
Monday 29 December 2-4pm
Friday 3 January 10 – 12noon
Monday 5 January 2-4pm
Friday 10 January 10 – 12noon
We also have a Christmas Day lunch and entertainment for those who are struggling alone or cannot have a Christmas lunch etc. It is from 12 noon to 3pm and places are available.
North East (not available via Advice Line)
Closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day and otherwise open as usual.
North West
Broughton DC – Christmas Eve, 10am to 12noon (note earlier finish, not usual 1pm).
Tollcross DC will be open throughout on Monday 29 December 2pm to 4pm.
South East
Closed 24th, 25th, 26th) Open on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 December (closed 31st, 1st and 2nd). Normal hours resume on 5 January
Broomhouse
Open Christmas eve until 12. There is then an emergency foodbank contact number on 0131 443 6223 available all throughtout Christmas and New Year and reopens first Monday in January.
A visit to Granton Information Centre could improve your health – and may also improve your wealth! The local advice centre received top marks from clients in a satisfaction survey conducted over the summer.
Highlights of the survey include:
• Around 71% of GIC clients have a medical condition – but almost half of them feel GIC has helped to bring about an improvement in their health
• 48% of clients received additional income following GIC’s intervention – and with another 22% awaiting decisions it’s very likely that this figure will rise to over half. Additional income includes both one-off payments and ongoing benefits entitlements – ranging from a few pounds to five-figure sums.
• 97% of clients would recommend GIC’s services to others
• 96% found GIC assistance ‘very helpful’, 98% found staff ‘very approachable’ and 74% found the help and support they had received ‘more than expected’.
Two hundred clients were chosen at random from GIC’s live cases database and invited to participate in the Satisfaction Survey, which was carried out over the summer. The results are based on the final total of 108 respondees.
GIC manager Caroline Pickering said: “There has been an increased demand on GIC’s service over the past few years and our management committee thought this would be an ideal time to review the services we provide – to look at what we are doing, what works well and what can be improved.
“The best people to guide us in this are the people who use those services, so we are very pleased with the positive results of the survey. It’s great for staff to be recognised for the hard work they do. Some of the comments we received from grateful clients were really touching.”
GIC chairperson John Mulvey said: “We know the staff are working exceptionally hard in difficult circumstances so we’re delighted to see how much service users and the wider community appreciate their efforts. The organisation has been working in North Edinburgh for thirty years now but it’s clear that GIC’s services are needed as much today as they ever were.”
