Scotland’s first legal drug consumption room in Glasgow is a “crucial milestone” and a “big step forward” in tackling drug misuse in Scotland, but it’s only the beginning, says Green MSP for Lothian LORNA SLATER.
At the new Thistle unit, those with medical training operate the facility and can intervene should something go wrong for a user, as well as providing support and advice for people who are giving up drugs.
There are health rooms where treatments are available too, for testing for diseases or having wounds checked and cleaned. The facility also has a recovery area, a shower room and a clothing and book bank.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1879448436292145312
Ms Slater said:“Stigmatising and shunning drug users is wrong, and it does not work. It has contributed to Scotland having the highest number of drug deaths in Europe. Instead, we should be supporting people through addiction and treating them as the human beings they are.
“Safe consumption rooms alone will not solve all the issues associated with drug addiction and misuse. To start to truly tackle the crisis we also need to address poverty and inequality and invest in rehab services, mental health provision and safe housing.
“I urge all related bodies to learn from Glasgow’s experiences and look to implement a service in Edinburgh that remains non-judgemental, supportive, and focused on harm reduction. We need this and other measures quickly.”
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The City of Edinburgh Council has previously published a report that looks at opening a drug consumption room in the city after months of delay. The latest feasibility study can be found here:
Services dealing with ‘extraordinary surge’ in flu cases
Health Secretary Neil Gray underlined the ‘resolve and resilience’ of the NHS as he praised the dedication of Scotland’s health and social care workforce in facing up to an ‘extraordinary surge’ in Influenza A cases.
The number of patients admitted to hospital as an emergency and testing positive for flu has surpassed the recent peak of the winter of 2022/23.
Following the latest in a series of meetings with First Minister John Swinney, health boards, the Scottish Ambulance Service, Public Health Scotland and NHS 24 earlier this week, Mr Gray praised the NHS response to the increased pressures on the system, in a statement to parliament.
He also thanked members of the public for continuing to follow guidance on the best way to access services, and for doing their bit to reduce the spread of infections in the community.
He stated that, as of 15 December, more than 1.2 million adult flu vaccinations have been administered. Those eligible to be vaccinated have until March to do so, with many health boards offering drop-in clinics.
Mr Gray said expert healthcare advice is available without the need for an appointment through the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service, adding that £13.6 million of additional funding has been invested in General Practices to enable the recruitment and retention of staff.
Services such as Discharge to Assess and Hospital at Home are also key to helping health and social care partnerships to reduce delayed discharges, ensuring people who are clinically ready to leave hospital can do so.
Mr Gray said: “The resilience and determination shown by staff in the face of pressures across the health and care sector is inspiring.
“Every part of our health service has gone above and beyond to serve the country during the hardest months of the year.
“I’d like to thank the ambulance service staff for their sacrifice and devotion to their task, staying at work beyond the end of their shift as they wait to turnaround at hospitals.
“I’d also like to thank social care staff doing extra shifts to make up for staff being off sick with flu and GPs working at the weekends to offer appointments and bolster the resilience of the entire system.
“Hospital staff, like the porter I met at St John’s in Livingston on Christmas Eve, are working hard to turnaround beds as quickly as possible.
“This is the reality of public service – relentless, skilled, devoted and dedicated work to serve the people that need it most.
“Thanks to the incredible efforts of NHS staff and sure-handed planning, we are facing this with resilience and resolve.”
Responding to new FOI data from the Scottish Liberal Democrats, the British Dental Association Scotland has warned lifetime registration figures are effectively meaningless, and that there can be no complacency from government or opposition over the future of the service.
New figures show nearly 40% of Scots registered with a dentist have not seen one in two years. 39.5% of all those registered with a practice have not been to one in 24 months, and that includes 1.8 million adults and 177,318 children. 80,000 children have not seen a dentist in five years. More than a quarter of adults (28.8%) who are registered with a dentist have not seen one in five years.
Reform to the discredited high volume/low margin model of care NHS dentistry in Scotland works to took place in November 2023. However, official data shows access problems remain the norm and the oral health gap between rich and poor is widening.
Research last summer found that no practices were able to take on new adult NHS patients within three months in Argyll and Bute, Dumfries and Galloway, Inverclyde, Orkney, Perth and Kinross and Shetland.
David McColl, Chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee said:“The Scottish Government likes to talk about registration when what really matters is participation.
“Scotland faces widening oral health inequalities. There’s no room for complacency from anyone at Holyrood.”
Smokers who choose to quit on the 1 January could save a whole day of their life by 8 January, according to new research
New research finds smokers who choose to quit on New Year’s Day could save a whole day of their life by 8 January
On average, every cigarette smoked steals approximately 20 minutes of life
This equates to nearly seven hours of life lost with every 20 pack of cigarettes smoked, demonstrating the importance of government commitment to a smokefree UK
Smokers who choose to quit on the 1 January could save a whole day of their life by 8 January* according to new research from University College London (UCL), published today (30 December).
The research commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care shows, smoking is more harmful than previously thought, with every cigarette stealing on average approximately 20 minutes of life from smokers.
This equates to nearly seven hours of life lost when smoking an average pack of 20 cigarettes.
If a smoker quits on New Year’s Day, by 20 February, smokers could get a week of their life back and by the end of the year, they could have avoided losing 50 days of life.
Any smoker considering quitting for 2025 can find advice, support and resources with the NHS Quit Smoking app, which has recently been updated with new information about beating cravings, as well as the online Personal Quit Plan, which tailors its advice to each smoker’s preferences.
The research follows the introduction of the landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which recently passed Second Reading in the House of Commons.
The world-leading Bill includes measures to create the first smoke-free generation , phasing out the sale of tobacco products across the UK to anyone born after 1 January 2009.
The Bill delivers on one of the three key shifts in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan, to move from sickness to prevention. Achieving this will help reach a key measurable milestone set out by the Prime Minister in his Plan for Change to cut waiting lists and protect the NHS.
Public Health Minister Andrew Gwynne said: “Smoking is an expensive and deadly habit, and these findings reveal the shocking reality of this addiction, highlighting how important it is to quit.
“The new year offers a perfect chance for smokers to make a new resolution and take that step.
“For anyone looking to quit in 2025, the NHS provide a range of services to help break free from the habit.
“This government is going further than ever to protect children and young people from ever becoming hooked on nicotine through our Tobacco and Vapes Bill.”
Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy, Deputy Chief Medical Officer said: “Smoking has an immediate impact on your lung and heart’s health as well as significantly increasing your chance of getting a chronic illness or disability and of dying young.
“Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do to improve your current and future health. This new year – start afresh and leave smoking in the past.”
Separately, new research conducted by Censuswide shows more than half (53%) of smokers are planning on quitting smoking as a new year’s resolution in 2025.
Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death, disability and ill health in the UK. It causes around 80,000 deaths a year in the UK and 1-in-4 of all cancer deaths in England and kills up to two-thirds of its long-term users.
Just 72 hours after quitting, your breathing will feel easier, and your energy will increase. After 12 weeks, your blood circulation will improve and by the time one-year rolls around, your risk of heart attack will have halved compared to a smoker.
Sarah Jackson, Principal Research Fellow, UCL Alcohol and Tobacco Research Group said: “It is vital that people understand just how harmful smoking is and how much quitting can improve their health and life expectancy.
“The evidence suggests people lose, on average, around 20 minutes of life for each cigarette they smoke. The sooner a person stops smoking, the longer they live. Quitting at any age substantially improves health and the benefits start almost immediately.
“It’s never too late to make a positive change for your health and there are a range of effective products and treatments that can help smokers quit for good.”
Ex-smoker, Kamran, started smoking in university and tried to quit several times without success. With support from his local stop smoking service, Kamran quit smoking as a 2024 New Year’s resolution.
Kamran said: “It wasn’t until I quit smoking that I realised how much it had affected my health; I often felt short of breath and couldn’t keep up with my children.
“I tried to quit a few times without any help, but after a few days I would find myself thinking about it again.
“Quitting can be challenging but keeping busy and using stop smoking products was the best way for me to get through it.
“Now that I’m smoke free, I feel less stressed and am able to play a more active role in my family. I am proud of myself, and I feel great that I’ve managed to control it.”
Using stop smoking services is three times as effective as an unassisted quit attempt. To support current smokers to quit, the government recently confirmed an additional £70 million for stop smoking services in England, for 2025/26, with local authorities having received confirmation of their funding amount.
This is in addition to the NHS recently announcing the roll-out of a pill, Varenicline, that could help tens of thousands of people give up cigarettes.
Professor Sanjay Agrawal, NHS England national speciality advisor for tobacco dependency said: “NHS treatments, including nicotine replacement therapy, are helping thousands of adults each year to live healthier lives and we have seen adult smoking rates drop by more than half in the last three decades.
“But smoking remains a huge public health issue and giving up is one of the best things someone can do for their health, so if you’re looking for support to help you quit, please contact your local NHS stop smoking service.”
NHS GP and TV doctor, Dr Sarah Jarvis, said: “As a GP, I see firsthand the devasting effects smoking can have on health. Each cigarette smoked not only shortens life expectancy but also significantly increases the risk of many health conditions including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, dementia and COPD.
“I often see patients attempting to quit smoking with no support, but going cold turkey can be tough. Quitting smoking is easier when you have a plan and the right support – you don’t have to do it alone. The NHS offers a range of free quitting support, including the NHS Quit Smoking app and local stop smoking services.”
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill contains powers to extend the indoor smoking ban to certain outdoor settings to reduce the harms of second-hand smoking, particularly around children and the vulnerable. Children’s playgrounds and outside schools and hospitals are being considered in England and will be subject to consultation.
This sits alongside plans to crack down on youth vaping, with the Bill banning vape advertising and sponsorship, as well as giving powers to restrict the flavours, display and packaging of all types of vapes and nicotine products, subject to consultation.
The UK government is committed to cutting waiting lists – backed by an additional £22.6 billion for day-to-day spending over two years – as announced by the Chancellor in her first Budget. Protecting children and young people from smoking will free up valuable NHS services and help cut waiting lists.
In October, the Health and Social Care Secretary launched change.nhs.uk to encourage the biggest conversation ever about the NHS to help inform the 10 Year Health Plan for England.
We have some important advice for dealing with norovirus, also known as the winter vomiting bug, after a recent increase in calls to the 111 service.
Norovirus is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. While it can be very unpleasant, it usually goes away in about 2 days. Symptoms include:
Feeling sick (nausea)
Diarrhoea
Vomiting
High temperature
Headache
Aching arms and legs
Unfortunately, norovirus spreads easily and quickly. If you catch it, here’s what you should do:
Stay off work or school until at least 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.
Avoid visiting anyone in hospital during this time.
Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and before handling food.
Remember, alcohol-based hand gels don’t kill the virus.
To prevent spreading norovirus, maintain basic hygiene and cleaning:
Disinfect surfaces and objects that could be contaminated using a bleach-based household cleaner.
Wash clothes and bedding separately on a hot wash (60°C).
Don’t share towels and flannels.
Clean toilets and surrounding areas with a bleach-based household cleaner.
Dr. Ron Cook, NHS 24’s Medical Director, advises: “If you experience sudden diarrhoea and/or vomiting, stay at home until you’re feeling better.
“There’s no treatment for norovirus, so you have to let it run its course. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration and avoid giving fizzy drinks or fruit juice to children as it can make their diarrhoea worse.
“Babies should continue to feed as usual. You don’t usually need medical advice unless there’s a risk of a more serious problem. Alleviate fever or aches with paracetamol and get plenty of rest.
“If you or someone you’re caring for shows signs of dehydration, use special rehydration drinks from your local pharmacy. Once you feel like eating, try plain foods like soup, rice, pasta, and bread.”
Don’t let the festive rush catch you out—check your repeat prescriptions and make sure you have enough medication to last through the festive period. Order only what you need, in plenty of time.
The tie-up will create up to 40 jobs and ‘make stop smoking services more accessible in communities across the country‘
VPZ, the UK’s leading vaping retailer, is set to open 10 new stores by December 2024 as part of a groundbreaking partnership with the supermarket chain Morrisons, with plans to expand further during 2025.
The new in-store outlets will expand the brand’s presence in communities throughout the UK, with seven key locations in Leeds Hunslet, Birmingham Stirchley, Glenrothes, Peterhead, Darlington, Stratford and Grantham.
The collaboration will also introduce a new innovative mobile pod concept for customer parking areas, with two planned for Nottingham and one in Rotheram.
The partnership will drive positive change by making stop smoking services more accessible in communities throughout the country, whilst educating smokers on the benefits of more sustainable vaping products.
The new sites will help expand and complement VPZ’s mission to help people on their journey to quit smoking by improving access to expert stop-smoking advice and education.
VPZ stores offer a dedicated one-to-one service to help smokers quit. VPZ specialists are trained and have expert knowledge, engaging with smokers to educate them on the health and financial benefits of switching to vaping.
Furthermore, as a part of their shared commitment to environmental responsibility, all new stores will include VPZ’s comprehensive recycling programme. The service is open to all vapers, as anyone can visit the new stores and dispose safely of their vaping devices or e-cigarettes.
Greig Fowler, Director at VPZ, said: “Our partnership with Morrisons to open 10 new stores is a pivotal step in our mission to transform the health of our nation by empowering more people to become smoke-free.
“I believe that together we will be making it easier for smokers to access the resources, help and education they need to quit smoking, while also offering a convenient and sustainable shopping experience.”
He added: “We are looking forward to launching our new in-store locations, pod concepts and exploring further growth in 2025.”
VPZ has recently voiced concerns that the newly announced vape tax increase will unfairly impact the most vulnerable and set back the UK’s 2030 smoke-free targets. As vaping remains one of the most effective methods to quit smoking, VPZ has warned that higher taxes on vaping products could discourage smokers from switching, undermining both health and financial benefits.
VPZ also supports plans to ban disposable vapes across the UK and Scotland by June next year, however they have highlighted the rise of ‘Big Puff’ disposable vapes which threaten to bring a new youth vaping epidemic and even greater damage to the environment.
The imported products are exploiting a loophole in regulations to create a new and larger single-use vaping product ahead of the disposables vape ban.
Greig Fowler added: “These illegal ‘Big Puffs’ undermine our objectives and are poised to create a public health crisis with unregulated products flooding the marketplace.
“At the current moment, data shows that more than ever there is a need for the Government to step in to support trading standards and local authorities to keep up with the scale of the ‘Big Puff‘ epidemic.
“We urge for a better collaboration between the industry and regulatory bodies to address this arising issue promptly and ensure that these vapes do not flood the UK market even further and endanger the quit-smoking progress that has been achieved so far.”
To date, Edinburgh-based VPZ has already helped over 1 million smokers in the UK quit since it was established in 2012.
Four community nurses from across Lothian have received the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse.
Fab Four Laura Miller, Mags Morrow, Ryan Bell and Louise Healey successfully completed the intensive programme to be awarded the Queen’s Nurse title at a special ceremony at the Grassmarket Community Project in Edinburgh.
They were chosen to participate in an intensive nine-month development programme, organised by the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS).
The programme included residential workshops, online sessions, and one-on-one coaching to enhance their skills and expertise. Laura, works as the Clinical Team Lead for District Nursing and Mags is the Clinical Nurse Manager, Lead Advanced Nurse Practitioner, and CWIC Service Operational Lead in East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership.
Ryan is the Team Lead at Midlothian Older Adults Mental Health and Dementia Team, while Louise is the Team Manager of the Midlothian Community Adult Mental Health Team and Intensive Home Treatment Team; in Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership.
Alison Macdonald, Executive Director for Nursing at NHS Lothian, said: “Our nurses across Lothian consistently deliver outstanding care, and it’s wonderful to see their efforts celebrated through the prestigious Queen’s Nurse Awards.
“We are especially proud to have not one, but four exceptional individuals receive this esteemed recognition this year. Congratulations to each of them on this incredible achievement.”
The legacy of Queen’s Nursing in Scotland dates back to the late 19th century, when nurses underwent specialised training to serve as district nurses, providing essential care to the ‘sick poor’ in Scotland’s communities.
Until the late 1960s, the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS) oversaw the training of District Nurses, who became known as Queen’s Nurses. These nurses played a vital role in delivering healthcare and health education directly to people in their homes, earning respect and trust within their communities.
The original Queen’s Nurse title was awarded until 1969, when the introduction of a national certificate for district nursing marked the end of QNIS’s training programs.
In 2017, the Queen’s Nurse title was reintroduced in Scotland. Each year, around 20 community nurses and midwives are selected to participate in the Queen’s Nurse Development Programme (QNDP). Upon completion of this rigorous program, they are awarded the title of Queen’s Nurse. Today, there are more than 170 contemporary Queen’s Nurses serving communities across Scotland.
Every year, the programme requires participants to choose an issue for development which will have a significant impact on those they care for, so that the learning during the nine months is applied in practice. There is an expectation that this work will have a focus on promoting equity and inclusion.
Community nurses and midwives play a crucial role in supporting their communities by delivering a broad range of services. Their work includes providing complex care for older adults, offering support for individuals struggling with substance misuse, and advocating for people with learning disabilities.
This dedicated group also encompasses professionals in community mental health, district nursing, school nursing, care home nursing, and health visiting, all of whom are essential to the health and well-being of the populations they serve.
Dr Sarah Doyle, QNIS Chief Executive and Nurse Director, said: “QNIS is delighted to award the Queen’s Nurse title to these fantastic nurses.
“Community nurses and midwives occupy a unique position in Scotland’s health service, working as they do in the heart of communities, championing the cause of those who are not heard, helping those facing real adversity.
“They do extraordinary work, every day. The Queen’s Nurse Development Programme supports participants to build their confidence, inspiring them to find and lead creative responses to the challenges faced by their colleagues and the communities they serve.”
Funding for NHS Lothian candidates to undertake the development programme was provided by NHS Lothian Charity.
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has joined calls for the Scottish government to address ‘delayed hospital discharges’ in the upcoming budget announcement.
Delayed discharges are when people are considered medically fit enough to leave hospital but are unable to, often because the required social care support is not available.
This issue means that the whole system for admitting people grinds to a halt and people can end up stranded in A&Es often waiting hours and even days for a ward bed to become available.
The latest data release comes as the Auditor General of Scotland published a damning report into the state of the Scottish health system which concluded that the Scottish Government has no clear plan to reform the country’s NHS, or to address pressures on the service.
Auditors found:
commitments to reducing waiting lists and times have not been met
the number of people remaining in hospital because their discharge has been delayed is the highest on record
and NHS initiatives to improve productivity and patient outcomes have yet to have an impact and lack clear progress reporting.
The issue of delayed discharges has also been highlighted by the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh (RCPE) which has written an open letter to the First Minister calling on him to address this ‘urgent issue’ in his Government’s budget which will be unveiled tomorrow (4 December 2024).
Dr Fiona Hunter, The Royal College of Emergency Medicine’s Vice Chair for Scotland said yesterday: “Delayed discharges are a key reason that patients get stuck in Emergency Departments, often on trolleys in corridors – often experiencing extreme waits which are dangerous.
“So we join, and fully support, the calls from RCPE, and the Auditor General to address this issue. It must be prioritised as a matter of urgency.
“Today’s data is another timely reminder of scale of the issue. Just think about what it shows. More than 2,000 people every single day stranded in in hospital when they are well enough to go home.
“People – through no fault of their own, lying in beds which could be used for other patients who need to be admitted – who themselves are probably on a trolley in the Emergency Department, waiting for that bed to become available.
“We have to be able to move patients through our hospitals and out again when they are well enough. To do that takes a functioning and resourced social care system working alongside a functioning and resourced health system. They are inextricable.
Dr. Hunter concluded:“Tomorrow’s budget is an opportunity for the Government to #ResuscitateEmergencyCare, ahead of the depths of winter which is shaping up to be a gruelling several months ahead, for both patients and staff alike. They must take it.”
The Scottish Government needs a delivery plan that clearly explains to the public how it will reform the NHS and address the pressures on services.
Despite increasing funding and staffing, the NHS in Scotland is still seeing fewer patients than before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Auditors found that:
commitments to reducing waiting lists and times have not been met
the number of people remaining in hospital because their discharge has been delayed is the highest on record
and NHS initiatives to improve productivity and patient outcomes have yet to have an impact and lack clear progress reporting.
Health accounts for about 40 per cent of the Scottish budget. Funding grew again in 2023/24 but has mostly been used to cover pay commitments and inflation. Costs are forecast to continue rising and making savings remains challenging. Work to build new healthcare facilities also remains paused.
The Scottish Government’s restated vision for health and social care is not clear on how these operational pressures on the NHS will be addressed or how reform will be prioritised. It needs to work with NHS staff, partners and the public to set out a clear delivery plan and make tough decisions about how it may change or potentially even stop some services.
Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland, said: “To safeguard the NHS, a fundamental change in how services are provided remains urgent. The Scottish Government needs to set out clearly to the public and the health service how it will deliver reform, including how progress will be measured and monitored.
“Difficult decisions are needed about making services more efficient or, potentially, withdrawing those services with more limited clinical value to allow funding to be re-directed. Taking those steps will require greater leadership from Scottish Government and NHS leaders than we’ve seen to date.”
How to Cope with the Winter Vomiting Bug 
Diarrhoea
Vomiting
High temperature
Headache
Aching arms and legs
Stay off work or school until at least 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.
Don’t let the festive rush catch you out—check your repeat prescriptions and make sure you have enough medication to last through the festive period. Order only what you need, in plenty of time.
