All adults in Scotland will have been booked in for their first coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine appointment by the end of next week (27 June), five weeks ahead of the target of 31 July.
Letters are currently going out to those 18-29 year olds who didn’t sign up to the self-registration portal and anyone who hasn’t yet received their blue envelope can see the time of their vaccination online through a new appointment checker.
The new system allows people to see their appointment details in the system, and enables them to reschedule if the timing or location is unsuitable.
In addition, from Monday 21 June all NHS boards will be routinely scheduling second doses eight weeks after the first to help combat the emergence of the Delta variant.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “I am delighted that we are on the brink of reaching the major milestone of having scheduled first doses for all adults, five weeks ahead of schedule.
“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in the vaccination programme and all those wo have taken up their offer of a vaccine for their part in this remarkable achievement which has been accomplished in just over six months since the roll-out began.
“Anyone who hasn’t received a letter by next week can visit the appointment checker at NHS Inform. The system lets you rebook if the timing or location is not suitable which will be a useful tool for students and anyone who has recently moved house.
“Additional capacity has been secured by NHS Boards to bring forward of all second doses from 12 to 8 weeks which is important given the emergence of the Delta strain as we know greater protection is provided after the second dose.
“Again, I want to stress how important it is that everyone takes up their offer of a vaccine when they get it. The emergence of the Delta variant shows we cannot be complacent, and the vaccination programme – along with restrictions and testing – offers protection to you, your loved ones and your community.”
People across Scotland are being encouraged to ask questions about their care and treatment so they can understand what is being recommended for them.
The campaign, ‘It’s OK to Ask’ is designed to support patients and healthcare professionals in creating positive conversations about care and treatment.
NHS 24’s Head of Pharmacy, Dr John McAnaw says: “It’s happened to us all – you come out of a healthcare appointment realising the questions you forgot to ask, or worrying over the questions you wanted to ask but didn’t.
“This new campaign encourages a little bit of forward planning around what you’d like to know about your care from your healthcare professional.
“Before an appointment or discussion, take some time to think about what you’d like to know about your treatment. Some handy questions are:
What are the benefits of my treatment?
What are the risks of my treatment? Are there other treatments I can try?
What if I do nothing?
“These kind of questions can help you feel more involved in decisions about your care, and give you confidence in following your healthcare plan.
“Your healthcare professional is happy to answer any questions you might have, as they know it’s better to have patients who are content and informed about their next steps, and simply by being more involved, you’ll be able to make better decisions for you about your own care.”
The campaign is supported by NHS Scotland and is supported by a radio and digital campaign.
More Scots than ever before are turning to digital health information during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the first month of 2021 more than 7 million users visited NHSinform.scot. This is the highest ever number of users for the site in a single month – and more than 5 times the number for January last year. Around 4 in every 5 visitors to the site was using a mobile phone or tablet device.
Unsurprisingly, the most popular content in the past year is information on the coronavirus vaccine, who will get it and how, and on how to get coronavirus testing or care for someone with the virus at home.
The other illnesses for which people most often sought digital advice were fever, thrush, food poisoning and chest infections.
Mental Health is a widely shared concern, with anxiety and panic, fears and phobias, stress, anger and low mood, and depression being the most common topics viewed. The NHSinform.scot pages for these topics were viewed over 120,000 times in January alone.
Dr Laura Ryan, Medical Director at NHS 24 said: “The pandemic has meant we have all had to find new ways of going about our daily lives and that includes the way we get essential health information when we need it.
“It’s great to see that our digital resources have become so widely trusted by people across Scotland. The content on NHSinform is governed by the same standards as the advice given by the NHS 24 telephone services.
“I would encourage people to use the self-help guides for immediate support as they are readily available wherever a mobile phone or other device is to hand. In many cases the online advice will allow people to self-care at home, but it is of course very important to contact a healthcare professional if our self-help guides direct you to do that.”
With travel affected by poor weather and the pandemic, it makes sense to turn to NHSinform.scot for support. Where symptoms suggest that a healthcare professional is needed, users are guided to speak to their pharmacist, GP, optometrist, dentist or call 111 or 999 as appropriate. You can also find out where your nearest services are using our Scottish Services Directory by simply entering your postcode.
Users can walk through all this information on our handy self-help guides or, by reading.
NHS 24 wants to offer the public choice about how they access services. Essential information on using our services has been translated into multiple languages with communities across Scotland and is available in easy read and British Sign Language formats.
For those who do not have access to a device or prefer not to use one, we still offer telephony advice and information.
Still Game star highlights valued work of carers in new campaign
Carers across Edinburgh are being urged to seek emotional and practical support through a new national campaign, delivered in partnership with Still Game’s Jane McCarry.
Jane, who plays Isa Drennan in the BBC Scotland sitcom, is a ‘sandwich’ carer – that means she cares for her mother while juggling childcare and work responsibilities. Jane marked the launch of the campaign by addressing carers from across Scotland at this year’s virtual Carers Parliament event.
With more caution about going out, as well as services being under pressure because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, even more people have taken on a caring role.
Before the pandemic, there were an estimated 690,000 carers in Scotland, however recent polling by YouGov suggests this figure could have increased by an additional 390,000[1] during COVID-19 and lockdown, taking the potential total number of carers in Scotland to around 1.1 million.
The campaign aims to make sure that all who are new to caring, as well as those who were before, are aware there is support out there for them and can come forward to access it.
Although most support is being provided remotely, services are still open and ready to welcome carers. There’s a range of support measures available nationally and locally to help improve carers’ quality of life, with local carer centres across Scotland offering sessions such as virtual support groups, information, advice and online relaxation sessions.
Local carer centres in Edinburgh can help all carers prepare their own personalised support plans.
Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing Joe FitzPatrick attended the virtual Carers Parliament event. He said: “Carers are juggling a lot between work, family, friends and their caring duties – it’s crucial for their own wellbeing that they get the support they deserve.
“They may not be aware of what’s available to them, or they may not even recognise themselves as carers, but there is support available nationally and locally to help improve their quality of life.
“Crucially, we want carers to recognise that they’re not alone. There is a community of carers on every doorstep and every street. Together, it’s important to connect them with emotional and practical support that works for them.”
Jane said: “I know first-hand how challenging it is to be a carer for a close friend, neighbour or family member. The working day doesn’t end yet you never view your responsibility as a burden because you’re ‘just’ looking after someone you love.
“The reality, however, is hard – both mentally and physically – and sometimes we all need some support, be it counselling, peer support sessions or even just sitting down for a virtual cuppa with someone who knows what you’re going through.
“I’d encourage anyone in a caring role to seek out the support that’s on offer to them.”
Jill Franklin, 51, from Edinburgh, is a carer for her two autistic sons and has experienced the benefits of taking advantage of the support on offer.
She said: “It’s crucial that carers take advantage of the support available to them and take some time back for themselves. In my own personal situation, I was referred to the carers’ allowance which helped me financially.
“I’ve also received help from VOCAL, an organisation supporting unpaid carers in Edinburgh and Midlothian.
“Their support helped me to pay a childminder which allowed me to take some time to study for a masters in playwriting. It’s so important to take time too for yourself which helps ensure you can continue to provide care to your loved ones when they need it most.”
The annual Carers Parliament is organised by Carers Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government and in partnership with national carer organisations, with this year’s virtual event including seminars, workshops, and networking opportunities for those in a caring role.
For more information on the support available to carers, please visit nhsinform.scot/caring or call 0800 011 3200.
Flu immunisation begins in autumn. This year, with coronavirus (COVID-19) circulating, the flu vaccine is being offered to more people than ever before in Scotland.
Please note that flu vaccinations are being offered differently in some areas of Scotland this year, and might not be at your GP practice as in previous years.
The following groups are eligible for the free flu vaccine this year:
Those living in the same home as people previously shielding from coronavirus
A second phase is planned to begin in December, and will include those aged 55 to 64 (by 31 March 2021) who would not usually be eligible.
The vaccine is safe, effective and is the best protection against flu. It reduces your risk of getting flu and spreading it to others, especially those who are most at risk.
You have to be immunised every year because the virus changes each year and your immunity reduces over time. The vaccine takes around ten days to work so the sooner you get it the better. Help our NHS avoid the pressure that a spike in seasonal flu would put on top of coronavirus.
Getting your flu vaccine is one of the most important reasons for leaving your home. Strict infection prevention and control measures will be in place during vaccination.
If you are eligible due to a health condition, the risk of getting seriously ill with the flu virus is greater than the risk of going to get your vaccine.
Find out if you’re eligible for a free flu vaccine and get more information about this year’s vaccine. Or call 0800 22 44 88 (open 8 am – 10 pm, 7 days a week).
Advice on looking after your mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is now available on NHS inform, Scotland’s trusted health information site.
As people across Scotland adjust to these unusual circumstances, NHS 24’s mental health practitioners anticipate many will experience anxiety and stress about what’s going on in the world. In particular, those living alone or who are self-isolating, may be struggling with limited social contact as a result of social distancing measures.
NHS 24 Medical Director, Dr Laura Ryan, said: “Everyone deals with this type of situation differently, and it may feel like there is a lot going on which is outside of your control.
“Remember it’s ok, not to feel ok. Understandably, you may need some additional mental health support at this challenging time. Don’t forget that we’re all in this together and that support is available from a wide range of organisations to help you get through this.”
The NHS inform website hosts the national information service for COVID-19 and now provides online information and practical advice on mental wellbeing – www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus-mental-wellbeing
Guidance is centred on four main areas:
Staying informed – having the right information, as news from unreliable sources can make you feel more upset and anxious.
Creating a healthy home routine – helping everyone in your home to keep a sense of calm and order.
Staying connected – keeping in touch with friends and family online or by phone, to help you feel less alone while staying home.
Finding support – just talking to someone can help, phonelines such as Breathing Space and Samaritans are there to offer support.
Breathing Space National Coordinator, Tony McLaren, said: “We are receiving lots of calls to the Breathing Space helpline from people feeling anxious about their health, or concerned about the health of others.
“It’s perfectly understandable to feel this way, and our advisors are here to listen and offer support. Having mental health information available on NHS inform is an additional resource which can be accessed to potentially help ease anxieties.”
You can hear more from Tony on how to manage your mental health- search for ‘Tony McLaren NHS 24’ on www.soundcloud.com.
Extra funding from the Scottish Government has been made available for NHS 24 to develop additional self-help guides, online resources and mental health services to cope with further demand.
NHS Lothian has launched a clear-cut campaign to make sure patients know where to get help if they are sick or injured this winter.Continue reading Not just A & E
Scots are reminded to check GP surgery opening times
NHS Scotland’s ‘Be Health-Wise this Winter’ campaign is advising people across Lothian to be aware that many GP surgeries and pharmacies will be closed over Christmas and New Year, and what steps they should take to prepare.
Dr Laura Ryan, Medical Director of NHS 24, said: “Over the holidays, the opening times of GP surgeries and pharmacies will be different, so it’s important people know in advance what local services are available, in case they fall ill.
“Your local surgery and pharmacies will have information but you can find your closest open services quickly and easily at the touch of a button, using Scotland’s Service Directory on NHSinform.scot.
“Check you have enough medicine at home to help you help you feel better if you are unlucky enough to catch a cough, cold, flu or upset tummy over the festive season.
“The most common winter illnesses can be looked after at home with things like cold and flu remedies, and pain relief like paracetamol or ibuprofen, which can be bought in liquid form if you have youngsters at home.
“Self-help guides are also available at NHSinform.scot, which offer safe advice on treating common illnesses and conditions, including: coughs, headaches and flu. If your symptoms worsen, despite trying simple remedies, or you or a loved one is concerned you are getting more unwell, you should seek medical attention at your surgery when it’s open or by contacting NHS 24 on 111, when it is closed.”
The Be Health-Wise campaign stresses that a few simple steps can help people stay well.
Dr Ryan said: “Knowing when local services such as the community pharmacy and GP surgery are open can save you a lot of time and worry over the holidays, and it means out of hours services are there for when you really need them. If you do happen to run out of medicines, contact your nearest pharmacy in the first instance as they should be able to assist.”
General advice and information on how to stay healthy this winter can be found at www.nhsinform.scot or contact NHS inform Health Information Advisors on 0800 22 44 88.
The three key steps that Be Health-Wise this Winter is recommending everyone take in preparation for their health this winter are:
Make sure you have over the counter remedies at home.
Don’t forget your repeat prescription. Order only what you need in plenty of time.
Check when your GP practice and local pharmacy are open over the holidays.
