Tag: resources

RCEM Scotland: Performance deteriorates further as four-hour target falls to record low

The latest Emergency Department performance figures for Scotland published by the Scottish Government yesterday for July 2021 show that performance has deteriorated once again with four-hour performance reaching its lowest since records began, and the number of patients delayed in major Emergency Departments continues to rise steeply.

In July 2021 there were 114,392 attendances to major Emergency Departments across Scotland. This is a three per cent decrease compared to June 2021, an 18% increase when compared to July 2020.

Four-hour performance reached its lowest since records began, having deteriorated for the third consecutive month. 79.5% of attendances to major Emergency Departments in Scotland were seen within four hours. 23,493 patients were delayed by four-hours or more in a major Emergency Department, this is the highest figure since records began.

This is equal to more than one in five patients delayed by four hours or more in a major Emergency Department. The number of patients delayed by four-hours or more reached its highest ever figure having increased for the fifth consecutive month.

In July 2021, 755 patients spent 12-hours or more in a major Emergency Department, this is the highest figure since February 2020. This is nearly a 50% increase on the previous month, June 2021. It is a 3,000% increase compared to July 2020 and it is a 200% increase compared to July 2019. The number of patients delayed by 12-hours or more increased for its third consecutive month.

Data also show that 3,477 patients spent eight hours or more in a major Emergency Department. This is the second highest figure since records began. It is an increase of 50% compared to the previous month, June 2021.

It is an increase of over 1,000% compared to July 2020, and it is an increase of 200% compared to July 2019. The number of patients delayed by eight-hours or more increased for its third consecutive month.

Dr John Thomson, Vice President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: “These figures show an ongoing deterioration in performance. Current pressures are equal to or worse than normal winter pressures – but these figures are for July.

“Among staff there is serious concern and low morale, winter is fast approaching and quite simply there is low confidence that our hospitals and staff are going to be able to cope.

“The number of patients delayed in Emergency Departments has risen steeply for three consecutive months, the pressures on this trajectory could lead the health service into a crisis.

“It is unacceptable that patients are delayed for so long, in one Emergency Department a patient was delayed by 48 hours – these are dangerously long waits that are likely to adversely affect patient outcomes.

“We have a duty to keep patients safe and treat them quickly and effectively. The current challenges are hindering our ability to achieve that, and for both patients and staff alike it is incredibly difficult.

“The entire health service is under severe strain. Our primary care colleagues are facing record demand, the elective care waiting lists continue to grow, all departments and specialties are facing these unprecedented challenges.

“Yet, while demand is high, the numbers of patients are not the challenge – the challenges stem from capacity issues, across-the-board workforce shortages, and the limitations and deterioration of hospitals and equipment – resourcing has not met demand for some time.

“It would be irresponsible to look on these consistently decreasing monthly performance figures and not recognise the potentially looming crisis fast approaching this winter. Now is the time for an appropriate response.

“We need the Scottish Government to take action, to develop and communicate a joined-up plan on how the health service is going to manage ongoing demand and prepare the workforce, hospitals and Emergency Departments for the upcoming winter.”

The Treasure We Seek

New partnership launches new website for carers of people with dementia

This week a partnership between Edinburgh charity Hearts & Minds, Designed by Society, Wee Culture and Edel Roddy launched a new website with valuable resources for unpaid and professional carers of people with dementia and anyone who has an interest in care for people in the later stages of dementia.

All of the partners have direct experience of working in the area of later stage dementia and developing resources. The project was funded by Dementia Series Development Trust.

The Treasure We Seek Project is based on the principles of the work of Hearts & Minds Elderflowers who use the art of therapeutic clowning to encourage moments of engagement, communication and movement with ladies and gents with dementia. The project took those principles and developed two sets of resources ‘Valuables’ and ‘Treasure Hunt’ 

Project Lead Edel Roddy explained: “The Treasure We Seek website was launched this week offering two free resources for people to feel connected to people living with later stage dementia.

“The resources have been developed with the hope they will be useful across a range of settings including schools, community groups, carers organisations and care settings, and we were thrilled with people’s responses. 

“Initial feedback highlighted that people have started to develop ideas about how they will try out the resources, and potentially make them their own, with friends, family and in work settings. Attendees at the launch even helped us think about other contexts in which these resources could be used, the possibilities of which feel exciting. 

“If you missed the launch you can find the resources on www.thetreasureweseek.net  and we’d like to hear from anybody who tests them out or has thoughts or ideas about this work they’d like to share.”

These resources will help relatives and professionals to cope and care and also to evaluate how they feel and take notice of their own wellbeing so they don’t feel stressed or isolated.

The Treasure We Seek website: www.thetreasureweseek.net

ABOUT THE PARTNERS:

Hearts & Minds

Hearts & Minds is an award winning Scottish charity that works in collaboration with paediatric healthcare units, respite centres, schools for learners with complex additional support needs and Dementia units to deliver laughter, friendship and support to those who need it most.

Our Clowndoctors Programme supports children and young people to cope with life in a hospital, hospice or respite care setting and in schools for learners with complex additional support needs.

Our Elderflowers Programme helps people living with dementia or dementia-related conditions in hospitals and residential care homes.

Through playfulness, smiles and laughter, we help all of these vulnerable people to deal with the anxiety, fear, confusion and sadness that their situations and conditions may bring.

https://www.heartsminds.org.uk/

Designed by Society

Dr Gayle Rice is an experience researcher and designer for Designed by Society. Her research background is qualitative and creative and focuses on people’s current and desired experiences. Her design practice involves designing to enable improvements in people’s experiences of social interactions.

Wee Culture

Belinda Dewar is a registered nurse, researcher, educator and practice developer with a career spanning over 30 years. She is currently Director of Wee Culture which aims to support people to explore and enhance culture.

She previously held the position of Professor of Practice Improvement at the University of the West of Scotland and the Lead for My Home Life Scotland.

The Dementia Series Development Trust 

Dementia Series Development Trust is a charity with a vision to improve the lives of those living with dementia through the funding of activities which support this aim.

The Principles which guide the work of the DSDT are:

  • Proactive 
  • Pump priming 
  • Partnership

The Disruption Award funds projects which strive to disrupt some of the old ways that people think about dementia, and communicate new ideas that reframe it.

Earth Overshoot Day creeps back to July 29

The modest gains from the pandemic-induced resource-use reductions were short-lived, highlighting the urgency of driving an economic recovery where all can thrive within the means of the Earth

Earth Overshoot Day 2021 lands on July 29, Councillor Susan Aitken, the Leader of Glasgow City Council, announced today on behalf of Global Footprint Network and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

“With almost half a year remaining, we will already have used up our quota of the Earth’s biological resources for 2021 by July 29th. If we need reminding that we’re in the grip of a climate and ecological emergency, Earth Overshoot Day is it,” she said.

The date is almost as early as 2019, after being momentarily pushed back in 2020 by the coronavirus pandemic-induced lockdowns. Notable drivers are the 6.6% carbon Footprint increase over last year, as well as the 0.5% decrease in global forest biocapacity due in large part to the spike in Amazon deforestation—in Brazil alone, 1.1 million hectares were lost in 2020 and estimates for 2021 indicate up to 43% year-over-year increase in deforestation.

“As the UN Decade of Ecosystems Restoration is launched on World Environment Day, June 5, this data makes abundantly clear that recovery plans in the post-COVID 19 era can only be successful in the long-term if they embrace regeneration and ecological resource-efficiency,” said Global Footprint Network CEO Laurel Hanscom.

Each year, Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity has used all the biological resources that Earth regenerates during the entire year. Humanity currently uses 74% more than what the planet’s ecosystems can regenerate – or “1.7 Earths.”

From Earth Overshoot Day until the end of the year, humanity operates on ecological deficit spending. This spending is currently some of the largest since the world entered into ecological overshoot in the early 1970s, according to the National Footprint & Biocapacity Accounts (NFA) based on UN datasets.

In 2021 the carbon Footprint of transportation remains lower than pre-pandemic levels. CO2 emissions from domestic air travel and road transport are set to remain 5% below 2019 levels, while international aviation is expected to register 33% below, according the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Global energy-related CO2 emissions, on the other hand, are projected to rebound and grow by 4.8% from last year as the economic recovery ignites demand for fossil fuels. In particular, global coal use is anticipated to jump in 2021 and is estimated to contribute 40% of the total carbon Footprint this year.

Business-as-usual must be left behind

Last year, as the pandemic hit around the world, governments demonstrated they can act swiftly, both in terms of regulations and spending, when they put human lives above all else. The perfect storm that is brewing, as climate change impacts and biological resource security converge, requires the same level—or higher—of alertness and swift action from decision makers.

“In November, as a weary world turns its attention to Scotland and COP26, together we can choose one-planet prosperity over one-planet misery. We can and must build from the pandemic–our global ability to plan, to protect and move at pace. Scottish innovation helped lead the Industrial Revolution; in 2021, the Glasgow summit and the future we choose as each community, city, company or country, offers real hope for a new net-zero revolution,” said SEPA CEO Terry A’Hearn.

Through their infrastructure and regulatory powers, cities have significant opportunities to shape their resource efficiency and, with it, their future. Given their risk exposure, aligning their development plans with what resiliency requires in a world shaped by climate change and biological resource constraints, has become cities’ utmost priority regardless of international agreements.

“Cities are ideal living laboratories for social and environmental innovation, offering significant learning to create real-world solutions and transformation. And universities have an obligation to act in partnership with their host cities to accelerate progress toward a just and sustainable future,” said Professor Jaime Toney, director of the University of Glasgow’s Centre for Sustainable Solutions.

“We are working with a people- and place-based approach to deliver positive change for a climate-resilient city whose legacy lasts beyond COP26.”

“Let Earth Overshoot Day be our call to arms,” urged Councillor Susan Aitken, the Leader of Glasgow City Council. “In November the eyes of the world will be on Glasgow, host of COP26, the climate summit that needs to make the decisions that will deliver our planet on a safer and more sustainable future.

“We’ve got the opportunity here in Glasgow to show the world what we’re doing, coalescing together as a city to show real change, to respond to the climate and ecological emergency. Let’s put our planet first and let’s #MoveTheDate together.”

A third of Edinburgh pupils having to share vital home schooling tech with siblings

As Scottish families adjust to a third national lockdown and the challenges of homeschooling again, Uswitch surveyed parents to find out how the nation’s homeschooling parents and children are coping this time around. 

Lack of homeschooling resources for Edinburgh kids

  • More than half of Scottish children don’t have full-time access to a laptop for school work.
  • A third of Edinburgh pupils are having to share a laptop with siblings. 
  • A third of Edinburgh parents have had to supply homeschool tech for their kids.
  • 1 in 10 Scottish families have sought out tutor support to fill knowledge gaps, while a quarter of parents have had to spend on a homeschool set up.
  • On average Scottish parents have paid £158 on homeschooling costs, £61 less than the UK average.
  • In total, the UK’s struggling parents have been left with a £3.7 billion bill due to homeschooling costs.

Scottish homeschooling families failing to connect online

  • A quarter of Scottish parents are struggling to homeschool due to broadband problems.
  • The biggest broadband concern is slow speeds disrupting the school day. 
  • Despite this, only 10% of Scottish families have switched or upgraded their broadband provider. 

Scottish kids falling behind due to homeschooling

  • A quarter of Scottish kids don’t get all their school work finished during the school day.
  • 1 in 10 Edinburgh children are having to work longer hours to keep up with their workload, while another 1 in 10 pupils’ work goes regularly unfinished.
  • 68% of Scottish kids are supported by school for less than half a day leaving parents to fill in the gaps despite working.
  • More than a third of Scottish children don’t have any live video call lessons, with just 1% of children receiving a full school day of live video teacher support.  

Mental health concerns for Scottish children

  • 1 in 3 Scottish parents surveyed stated homeschooling has had a negative impact on their child.
  • Of these parents, 53% said their child is more isolated and detached socially
  • More than half think their child’s motivation to learn and concentrate has worsened.
  • A third said homeschooling has negatively impacted their child’s mental health, stress and learning.
  • More than 1 in 4 parents expressed concern about their child’s fitness and while a third are stressed their child’s anxiety has suffered at home.
  • While 22% of parents said poor sleep such as bad dreams and sleeping later are an issue for their child because of remote learning.
  • A fifth of Scottish parents are concerned about their child’s happiness overall.

Meanwhile Scottish parents are experiencing increased guilt, with over a quarter of Edinburgh parents identifying feelings of guilt due to the challenges of remote learning.

Find the full piece here: 

https://www.uswitch.com/broadband/homeschooling-wifi-issues/

Nick Baker, broadband expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “As UK families adjust to a third national lockdown, many parents are feeling increased pressure to successfully navigate homeschooling while working remotely. 

“To take off some of the pressure, take advantage of helpful learning tools available online, such as the BBC education programming available daily. Additionally, if you’re concerned your child is falling behind due to a lack of resources, speak with their school to find out if you qualify for extra help and the Government Get Help With Technology Scheme. 

“With children logging on to learn online, you’ll likely have more devices than usual connected to your broadband during the day. Ensuring your internet is up to speed will help elevate connection stress and keep the school day running smoothly. 

“If you are having trouble with your broadband, try these top tips and check out our homeschooling Wi-Fi issues guide to solve your most common home Wi-Fi problems:

  1. Reboot your router – the classic ‘unplug it, leave it 30 seconds and plug it back in’.
  2. Location, location, location – if your router is located further away than it needs to be, try moving it to the room you’re most active in or the center of your home.
  3. Disconnect unnecessary devices – turn the Wi-Fi off on gadgets you’re not using, even if they’re in a drawer. They may be using bandwidth in the background.
  4. Run a speed test – this will determine whether your router is running at the speeds you signed up for.
  5. Purchase a Wi-Fi extender or ‘booster’ – this will optimise your broadband for faster and stronger connections.

Find the full study here. 

Support through the pandemic: Barnardo’s Education Community launched

Now lockdown lessons are firmly underway again Barnardo’s is launching a website to help teachers support their pupils who may be experiencing mental health and wellbeing issues.

Called Barnardo’s Education Community (BEC) the site is aimed at teachers, lecturers and staff working in the education sector.

Its aim is to be a ‘one stop shop’ where educators can go for trauma-informed resources, support and advice about how to help children and young people cope with any issues they are experiencing.

Crucially there is also a selection of resources for education professionals with a focus on both their wellbeing and that of their department.

These will help them deal with the immense strain they are under in managing their own experiences, while also coping with the impact of secondary trauma through supporting children and young people.

Visitors to the site, which launches today (January 21), will find useful materials about how best to support pupils who are experiencing feelings of loss, grief and bereavement, including the impact of trauma, because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Funding for the BEC came from a generous grant from the Westminster Foundation, which has made £12.5m of funding available since the start of the pandemic to charities and community organisations tackling the repercussions of coronavirus.

But the website will not stop when the lockdown restrictions are relaxed. Instead the content within BEC will be continuously evolving to meet the ever changing needs of children, young people and educators.

A key part of this evolution will be the ‘community of practice’ section of the site where visitors will be able to take part in facilitated and peer-led discussions about current and emerging topics.

These discussion forums will provide the opportunity for education professionals to discuss and share best practice at a nationwide level.

And people who participate in these discussions will also be helping shape the site and its content because the Barnardo’s team will be creating resources to help educators deal with these emerging issues.

Uniquely, on top of all this, BEC includes free access to video, webinar and audio training on the resources, as well in-person training where necessary.

Barnardo’s Chief Executive Javed Khan said: “As a former teacher I know just how difficult it can be to support children who are struggling with challenges at home or a history of trauma.

“In the age of COVID this is so much harder, with many children falling behind in their learning during the lockdowns, facing anxiety and mental health problems, and worrying about their parents’ jobs or their grandparents’ health. On top of all this teachers are facing huge pressures personally and professionally. 

“This is why I’m delighted to be launching Barnardo’s Education Community today, with vital health and wellbeing resources to support educators at this uniquely difficult time.

“I’d urge everyone to treat this as your community. Take part in online discussions with your peers and bookmark the page on your browser so it is always there when you need help.

“And if there are any resources you need but cannot see on there already then get in touch and we’ll work on creating them for you. The goal is for the site to be constantly evolving to meet your needs.”

The Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor, who Chairs the Westminster Foundation, said: “We may not know for some time the true extent of anxiety and trauma that children are experiencing through the pandemic, but we do know that changes to education have placed teachers and families under immense strain as they try to support children adapt or come to terms with the negative consequences of Covid. 

“We also know that lockdown learning has a greater impact on the more vulnerable children in society as they face the real possibility of poor mental health compounding their existing disadvantages.

“We shouldn’t assume that education professionals can simply react to this without any extra help, on top of the many existing challenges they face. I’m proud the Westminster Foundation’s support has helped create the Barnardo’s Education Community and hope it will become a vital resource to everyone in the education sector.”

Visit Barnardo’s Education Community at www.educators-barnardos.org.uk

Justice Committee stresses new laws on family breakdowns must be properly funded

The Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee is backing Scottish Government plans to change the law on deciding parent-child contact in family breakdown cases – but warns that it may make little practical difference to the lives of children unless it is properly resourced.

The Children (Scotland) Bill was introduced by the Scottish Government in order to ensure the voices of all children (in particular those under 12) are heard in family law cases, give further protections to the victims of domestic abuse in such legal disputes, and to change a range of rules around how family breakdowns are handled by authorities, from contact centres to the legal profession.

The Committee supports these aims but has suggested a number of potential areas in which the Bill could be improved to support taking children’s views into account. These would go beyond simply removing from the statute books the current arbitrary presumption that 12 years old is the point at which a child can express their opinion.

Importantly, the infrastructure to take children’s views needs to be strengthened. Specific skills and more creative methods are crucial, particularly when dealing with younger children. And if this law is to have a positive impact, then appropriate facilities and practitioners need to be in place across Scotland to ensure that all children who wish to express their views can do so.

Speaking as the Committee’s report was published, Justice Committee Convener, Margaret Mitchell MSP, said: “The Committee is persuaded that children’s interests are best served when they are afforded the opportunity to make their views and feelings known to authorities deciding upon their future family situation.

While members are backing the Bill at this stage they are acutely aware that the law on paper will not change the reality for children and families unless it is properly resourced, and practices change. At present, the Committee has concerns around the lack of resources accompanying the Bill, and the facilities we currently have in Scotland. Unless these change, the new law may make little practical difference to the lives of families.

“Of course, any implementation of these changes may have to wait until the current response to the Covid-19 outbreak has passed, but we look forward to working with the Government to strengthen the Bill in the months ahead to ensure its laudable aims can be met in reality.”

Saving community space at Craigroyston: complete the survey

CCHS

Craigroyston Community Centre’s management committee, which oversees the adult community wing at Craigroyston Community High School, has sent out an unofficial audit (see below) to raise awareness of the cuts in community service provision in Craigroyston High School.

CommunityAudit July 2016

Have you used the facilities at Craigroyston? Do you plan to use them, and if not, why not? Please complete the attached survey and email it to

vanessacousins@blueyonder.co.uk 

or drop it off at the Community Shop on Pennywell Road.

Thank you, 

Craigroyston Community Centre