Guidance relaxed in line with latest clinical advice
Social care staff and visitors are no longer being advised to wear facemasks at all times under new guidance published today (7 September).
The recommendation has been lifted due to a sharp drop in coronavirus infections and a reduction in severity of illness, which has been driven by Scotland’s successful vaccination programme which has so far seen more than 12 million Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Scotland.
Care home residents and their loved ones will benefit from these more relaxed visiting arrangements. Masks and face coverings in social care may still be worn if recommended in certain situations, such as a local outbreak of COVID, or if staff deem it necessary. Staff and visitors remain free to wear one if they choose.
This guidance balances the risk of harm from COVID-19 with the impact masks can have on communication, mental wellbeing and rights and choices of those working in and using social care services.
Social Care Minister Kevin Stewart said: “Our phenomenally successful vaccination programme has driven down infections and saved the NHS from untold pressures.
“Removing the need for facemasks in social care settings including care homes is the latest step in our path to recovering from the pandemic.
“This will make communication and relationships easier in care settings, benefiting mental health and promoting the rights and choices of those working in and using social care.”
Ministers act to protect Scots facing cost of living crisis
A combined rent freeze and moratorium on evictions to help people through the cost crisis has been announced as the centrepiece of the 2022-23 Programme for Government (PfG).
The programme outlines emergency legislation which will be introduced to put in place a rent freeze until at least 31 March 2023 and a moratorium on evictions, as well as a new tenants’ rights campaign. In addition a ‘one-stop-shop’ website will be introduced to provide people with information on the range of benefits and support available to help them through the current cost of living crisis.
With £3 billion allocated to the end of March for a range of support that will help mitigate the impact of the cost crisis on households, the PfG also confirms the Scottish Child Payment will increase to £25 per week per eligible child from 14 November when it also opens to all under 16s.
In addition, the programme includes the roll out of free school meals across all primary school age groups, doubles the Fuel Insecurity Fund to £20 million to help households at risk of self-disconnection or self-rationing of energy, confirms rail fares will be frozen until March 2023 and widens the Warmer Homes Fuel Poverty Programme.
For businesses – in addition to an existing package of financial aid worth over £800 million – six ground-breaking ‘tech scalers’ will be opened, two job-boosting Greenports progressed and the National Strategy for Economic Transformation focussing on economy supporting measures continued.
In total, the PfG sets out 18 new Bills including legislation on an independence referendum and major reforms in the justice system, including a Criminal Justice Reform Bill that will propose the end of the Not Proven verdict in Scots Law and provide anonymity for complainers in sexual offence cases. A Bill for the creation of the new National Care Service will also go through parliament this year.
The programme also builds on long-term commitments made in the Bute House Agreement and restates Ministers’ commitment to the importance of delivering on Scotland’s climate ambitions. These range from a consultation on legislation to transform how buildings are heated to continuing record investment in active travel.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “This Programme for Government is published in the context of the most severe cost crisis in many of our lifetimes. It is a crisis pushing millions into poverty and poses a genuine danger, not just to livelihoods, but to lives.
“The Scottish Government is already committed to a range of measures, worth almost £3 billion this year, that will help with rising costs. But the magnitude of what is being experienced by people and businesses means that mitigation is nowhere near sufficient. What is needed now is action on a scale similar to the initial Covid response.
“Regrettably, the powers to act in the manner and on the scale needed do not lie with this Parliament. In my view, they should lie here. If they did, we could have acted already. But they don’t. These powers are reserved to Westminster.
“The cost crisis means this Programme for Government is more focussed than ever before – deliberately so – with priority actions to provide help now.
“To that end we will provide more help for people who may be at risk of self-rationing or even self-disconnection from their energy supply and we will double the Fuel Insecurity Fund to £20 million this year.
“We will also propose emergency legislation to put in place a rent freeze until at least March and a moratorium on evictions.
“Given the powers to act in the manner and on the scale needed do not lie with this Parliament, this Programme for Government also provides for a Scottish Independence Referendum Bill.
“Independence would give us – like it does other independent countries – the levers we desperately need to respond to a crisis such as this. That’s the prize we surely must grasp.”
Commenting on the Scottish Programme for Government, Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance said: “The First Minister outlined many important measures today. The increase in the value and availability of the Scottish Child Payment will help thousands of households with rising living costs. Rent freezes will help tenants across the country.
“But we could do more. The First Minister said that it is not a lack of political will that prevents us from further action to help people with this cost crisis – it is a lack of money. So, the upcoming emergency budget review must focus on getting additional cash into the pockets of people on low incomes.
“One way we can raise money in Scotland, is through devolved taxes. Previous changes to the Scottish Income Tax have raised hundreds of millions of pounds for public services. We can go further. There are also opportunities to reform local council taxes, to make them fairer and raise much-needed revenue for overstretched services in our communities. There was no mention of any new wealth taxes in this programme for government.
“The First Minister talked about creating a culture of solidarity in Scotland. People in Scotland already believe in holding out a hand to others when we need help. We can use our tax system to support each other in this time of crisis, and reflect the values of compassion and justice that we all share.”
Commenting on the Scottish Programme for Government, Friends of the Earth Scotland head of campaigns Mary Church said: “There is a welcome recognition in the Programme for Government that the cost of living crisis and the climate emergency are interconnected but the action to mitigate their impacts and tackle their root causes falls far short of what is needed.
“One year on from COP26 in Glasgow, the Scottish Government’s fine rhetoric has not turned into the transformative action needed to drive change across transport, housing and energy.
“The Scottish Government must use its forthcoming energy strategy to spell out how it will secure a rapid and fair transition away from the fossil fuels which are driving both crises within the next decade. By transforming our energy system to run on reliable, affordable renewable energy we can future proof our lives against further damage from volatile fossil fuels.
“The energy strategy must focus on demand reduction, energy efficiency and renewables, which can deliver decent green jobs in Scotland instead of fantasy techno-fixes like hydrogen and carbon capture. The Scottish Government has admitted that these speculative negative emission technologies won’t be able to deliver this decade so it’s hard to see why it continues to throw time and resources at the fossil fuel industry’s pipe dreams.
TRAIN FARE FREEZE
“The freeze on ScotRail fares demonstrates how public ownership can keep fares from getting even higher, benefiting passengers and helping support the necessary shift away from cars. While the fare freeze is welcome, the Scottish Government should be going further and actually reducing fares to help more people leave the car behind.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
“We saw the same promise to introduce a Circular Economy Bill 12 months ago, it must be delivered this time. Consumption targets to reduce both Scotland’s carbon footprint and material footprints need to be at the heart of the Circular Economy Bill to create real change.
HUMAN RIGHTS BILL
“It’s disappointing that the Human Rights Bill that would enshrine the right to a healthy and safe environment in Scots Law has been kicked into the long grass. This is a vital piece of legal protection for people and nature that should not be delayed any further nor cannot it be allowed to become a political football in the constitutional debate.”
City council Leader Cammy Day has welcomed yesterday’s announcement by the Scottish Government that it intends to introduce a bill to give councils the powers to introduce a visitor levy.
The bill, which is expected to be laid before parliament early next year, forms of the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government for 2022/23, as set out by the First Minister in Holyrood this afternoon.
The council has long campaigned for the powers to introduce a levy – which would see overnight visitors pay a small additional charge on their accommodation – and has produced a substantial body of work to back its case.
It was estimated then that a levy in Edinburgh could raise in the region of £15m per year to invest in sustainable tourism and managing the impact of tourism on the city.
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “This is fantastic news for the city, and a landmark step following years of work here in the Capital to make the case for a visitor levy – something that’s common practice in other major cities and destinations across the world.
“We’re very proud to be one of the world’s most popular visitor destinations, but we’re equally aware that this success comes at a cost. That’s why we believe it’s right to ask visitors to make a small contribution to help us sustain and improve our tourism offer while managing its impact.
“We’ve been building the case for Edinburgh to become the first city in the UK to introduce such a levy, consistently and repeatedly making the case to Scottish Ministers without success – until now. From our citywide consultation held in 2018, our proposals gained overwhelming backing from Edinburgh’s residents, businesses and attractions – and, importantly, also from the majority of accommodation providers.
“Ultimately the income this generates will help us continue to invest in and manage the success of tourism on our city, making sure we continue to offer one of the most enviable and enjoyable visitor experiences in the world – while bringing new and additional benefits to our residents who live and work here all year round.
“We acknowledge, of course, that this has been an extremely challenging period for our culture and hospitality industries and are fully committed to working together with them, the wider tourism industry and other partners to co-produce a scheme that works best for the whole of our Capital city.
“I’ll be pushing the Scottish Government hard to ensure that any income generated is in addition to our block grant funding – not instead of it – and that we’re in a position to benefit from this as soon as possible.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will set out a raft of actions this afternoon (Tuesday 6 September) in a Programme for Government designed to help people through the cost emergency.
The package will include an increase in Scottish Child Payment to £25 per eligible child per week from 14 November, with the ground-breaking anti-poverty benefit also opening to applications for all eligible under-16s from that date.
The First Minister is determined to help households and businesses cope with a “humanitarian crisis that will cost lives.” She has also called on the UK Government to take urgent action as it holds most of the key policy levers and resources to fully address the crisis.
Speaking ahead of her statement to Parliament on the 2022-23 Programme for Government, the First Minister said: “The Scottish Child Payment is unique to Scotland, the most ambitious child poverty reduction measure in the UK and an important action to mitigate the growing cost emergency.
“We doubled the payment to £20 per week per child in April and the further increase to £25 from November means a rise of 150% in less than eight months.
“Around 104,000 children currently in receipt of Scottish Child Payment will have it automatically increased to £25 per week. All new eligible under 16s will also benefit from the £25 rate, with all payments backdated to the date their application is received.
“Through this year’s Programme for Government we will take every action, within the financial means and legislative powers at our disposal, to help people through this humanitarian crisis that will cost lives.
“The most significant powers to tackle this crisis rest squarely with the UK Government and their inaction has compounded the difficulties everyone is facing.
“In the absence of a plan from the incoming Prime Minister we have a clear set of actions which the UK Government could take now, and should have taken already, to begin to address the crisis. These include an immediate cancellation of the October price cap rise and an uprating of benefits.
“The last few months have made it abundantly clear Scotland cannot rely on the UK Government to support people in Scotland through this crisis. It is vital they have a choice over their future.
“Make no mistake, we will continue to act where others have not to help people and businesses – and the UK Government needs to follow our example.”
Tuesday 6 September – 1420-1450 First Minister’s Statement: Programme for Government, followed by; 1450-1700 Scottish Government Debate: Programme for Government.
Elderly care home residents are among the first to receive COVID-19 and flu vaccines as the winter vaccine programme gets underway.
More than two million people in Scotland will be offered vaccines over the next three months – helping protect the public and relieving pressure on the NHS.
Invitations will have been sent to all over 65s by the end of the week and more than 41,000 frontline health and social care workers have booked appointments through the portal since it opened last month, continuing efforts to keep Scotland as the UK’s leading nation in vaccine uptake.
Both new bivalent vaccines, which target Omicron and the original variant of COVID-19, will be deployed alongside existing vaccines, though the vaccination individuals receive will depend on age and vaccine availability. Both the current and new bivalent vaccines provide good protection from severe illness and hospitalisation from known COVID-19 variants. The COVID-19 vaccine will be given at the same time as the flu jab where possible.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf visited the Victoria Manor care home in Edinburgh where residents Agnes Taylor and Andrew Young were among those being vaccinated.
Mr Yousaf said: “This country is indebted to those dedicated frontline workers who work tirelessly to get the majority of Scots immunised all year round – and whose efforts have led to a sharp reduction in hospitalisations in recent months.
“Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourselves, your loved ones, and the NHS from both COVID-19 and flu viruses, and I encourage you to take up the offer of a booster when you receive your appointment.”
Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership Primary Care Strategic Lead David White said: “Like colleagues across Scotland, we’ve been preparing for the winter vaccination programme. Everyone eligible across Edinburgh, should have easy, local access to receive both flu and Covid-19 vaccinations.
“As with other recent campaigns, we have made special arrangements for care home residents and others who are recognised as ‘house-bound’. This includes the eligible partners and carers who will be able to be vaccinated during the same visit. Over 1.25 million people in Edinburgh have received their vaccinations since December 2020, and we encourage all eligible people to attend for vaccination.”
93-year-old Victoria Manor resident Mrs Taylor said: “It’s good being able to have both vaccinations at the same time here in the care home.
“I’m getting both to help my protection and of course, for the protection and safety of others in the care home or visiting.”
Environmental and community campaigners have urged a top UN body to intervene in Scotland’s planning system, after repeated calls for equal rights of appeal have been ignored by the Scottish Government.
Campaigners from Planning Democracy, Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland, Friends of the Earth Scotland and RSPB Scotland, have submitted a formal complaint to the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (ACCC), a UN body tasked with upholding environmental rights.
The complaint argues that planning appeal rights in Scotland are not ‘fair’ and therefore in breach of international law on access to justice for the environment. They point to a ruling by the Committee in Northern Ireland concluding that a lack of equal rights was in breach of the Convention, and argue that similar recommendations must now be applied to Scotland to spur reform.
The appeal to the UN follows over a decade of civil society campaigning and the passage of two planning bills, both of which failed to address the issue. An amendment proposing to introduce equal rights of appeal under the 2019 Planning (Scotland) Act was voted down by SNP and Conservative MSPs.
Currently, only applicants (usually developers) enjoy appeal rights if planning permission is refused.
Members of the public and NGOs do not enjoy equivalent rights to appeal if a development is approved, even if the development will negatively impact on health and the environment, or if the decision-making process was flawed.
The only option available to affected communities and individuals is to go to court via a judicial review, which the Convention’s governing bodies have already ruled is ‘prohibitively expensive’.
Campaigners are calling for the Scottish Government to introduce legislative reforms to achieve equal rights of appeal.
Clare Symonds, Chair of Planning Democracy, said; “Giving communities rights of appeal is about justice and fairness. It should be a given that decisions that fundamentally affect our future and the environment can be contested by those who will be most affected.
“It is clear that the Aarhus Compliance Committee’s Northern Ireland ruling agrees with our perspective that for developers to have right to challenge a decision at no cost, when communities have no such privilege, is unfair and a breach of international law on environmental decision-making.
“The situation regarding appeal rights in Scotland is the same and we expect the ACCC to find in our favour and hold the Scottish Government to account.”
Benjamin Brown, Policy & Advocacy Officer at Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland, said: “As it stands, Scotland’s planning system is rigged in favour of developers.
“Through ignoring calls to introduce Equal Rights of Appeal in planning decisions, the Scottish Government has missed a vital opportunity to empower communities and protect our environment. It must now act to reform the planning process, so that communities impacted by poorly considered planning decisions can have their voices heard.
“As we work towards including the right to a healthy environment in the new Human Rights Bill, equal rights in planning cannot be forgotten.”
Mary Church, Head of Campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “It’s an absolute scandal that communities and NGOs can’t appeal against developments that harm the environment, while developers can wage a war of attrition through appeals and repeat applications if their proposal gets knocked back.
“This lack of equal rights undermines the planning system and leads to decisions that are bad for people and planet. The Scottish Government shouldn’t wait for the UN to rap its knuckles again, but should take action to level the playing field as part of its agenda to enshrine human rights in Scots Law.”
Aedan Smith, Head of Policy and Advocacy at RSPB Scotland, said: “It is essential that individuals and communities have the ability to challenge harmful decisions, especially those that would make the nature and climate emergency worse.
“We would hope that this ability would not need to be used very often, but it is important that decision makers can be held to account in a way that is fair.”
A further 110,000 Scottish households could be eligible for energy saving home improvements as part of the Warmer Homes Scotland programme
The Scottish Government scheme has already supported more than 1500 homes in Edinburgh and has now extended its eligibility criteria to support more Scottish households this winter–
With fuel bills on the rise, a further 110,000 Scottish households could now benefit from energy saving home improvements as the eligibility criteria* for the Scottish Government’s Warmer Homes Scotland programme is extended.
Home Energy Scotland is calling on Scottish households in Edinburgh to act now ahead of the colder months, to find out if they may be eligible for around £5000 worth of support including heating and insulation improvements.
Delivered by Warmworks, more than 1500 households in Edinburgh have already benefitted from the programme since 2015, bringing a total cost saving on energy bills of around £388,189 in the region.
Designed to keep the heat in and increase energy efficiency in the home, Scottish households could also reduce their bills by getting in touch, with those who may have contacted Home Energy Scotland previously, encouraged to get back in touch due to the extended eligibility criteria.
Harry Mayers, Head of Home Energy Scotland,said; “With winter just around the corner, we understand that it is an extremely worrying time for many Scottish households in Edinburgh as we see home energy prices rise, but we are urging people to get in touch now to check whether they may be entitled to support.
“Following the Scottish Government extension to the eligibility criteria, support is available to even more Scottish households granting access to funding for energy saving home improvements including renewable systems.
“Even households who may have previously contacted Home Energy Scotland but unfortunately did not meet the criteria at that time, are encouraged to get back in touch as they may be eligible now due to the updates.”
Home Energy Scotland, the Scottish Government’s free energy efficiency advice service, helps people access the Warmer Homes Scotland programme along with a range of other financial support and impartial advice.
To find out exactly what you are eligible for – even if you have applied before – call the Scottish Government’s Home Energy Scotland hotline now on 0808 808 2282 or go to www.homeenergyscotland.org
Patients and healthcare staff will no longer face second-hand smoke at hospital doors as a nationwide ban comes into effect tomorrow (Monday 5 September).
The new legislation means anyone found lighting up within fifteen metres of a hospital building could face a fixed penalty notice of £50 or a fine of up to £1,000 if the case goes to court.
This is the latest step in the Scottish Government’s plan to create a tobacco free Scotland by 2034 and supports the voluntary smoke-free hospital grounds policy introduced in 2015.
The new law will apply to NHS hospital settings used for the treatment and care of patients and includes a ban on lighting up beneath overhanging structures.
Public Health Minister Maree Todd said: “Everyone knows that smoking is bad for our health and hospital patients in particular should be protected from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
“This new law is the latest step in our bold plan to make Scotland tobacco-free by 2034 – building on our dedicated stop-smoking services and early intervention measures to stop youngsters picking up the habit altogether.
“Anyone looking to quit can contact the NHS QuitYourWay Helpline or speak to their local pharmacy to discuss the range of help available.”
ASH Scotland Chief Executive Sheila Duffy said: “Extending current legislation to include outdoor areas will have the positive impact of protecting people from the harmful effects of breathing in toxic tobacco smoke through vents, windows or doorways while they are being treated and recovering in hospital.
“We urge people who smoke to be considerate in remaining outside the 15-metre perimeter, ensuring hospital patients do not face unnecessary additional risks to their health caused by inhaling harmful substances.
“This is particularly important as Scotland challenges the normalisation of smoking on our journey towards becoming tobacco-free.”
Funding of £500,000 is being provided by the Scottish Government to help with relief efforts in Pakistan after devastating floods left millions of people homeless and vast swathes of the country under water.
The funding will be split between the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Pakistan Floods Appeal and members of the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund Panel.
International Development Minister Neil Gray said: “More than 1,000 people, including hundreds of children, have lost their lives and 33 million people in total have been affected by the devastating floods that have left a third of their country under water. This Scottish Government funding will go directly towards supporting the humanitarian efforts to help all those affected.
“Our thoughts are very much with all of the people directly affected by the floods as well as the Pakistani community in Scotland who will be worried about their families and friends in Pakistan. I have written to the Pakistan Consul General outlining the Scottish Government’s support for Scotland’s Pakistani community, ensuring that where we can, we support what the community here will be doing to support friends and family in Pakistan.
“I would encourage people who are able to offer support to donate through the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Pakistan Floods Appeal.”
Of the £500,000 funding for Pakistan, £250,000 will support the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Pakistan Floods Appeal. The Disasters Emergency Committee is made up of 14 major UK aid agencies: Action Against Hunger, ActionAid UK, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide UK, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Oxfam GB, Plan International UK, Save the Children UK, Tearfund and World Vision UK.
The remaining £250,000 will go to members of the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund Panel.
New labelling to protect water supplies and cut energy bills
Taps, showers, dishwashers and washing machines could all have new water efficiency labels, in a move which will help save 1,200 million litres of water a day – the equivalent of 480 Olympic swimming pools across the UK.
The plans, subject to a 12-week consultation, will encourage the purchase of more water-efficient products and help customers manage their water and energy bills.
The proposals aim to introduce a separate water label from the existing energy label for display on toilets, urinals, kitchen sink taps, bathroom basin taps, non-electric shower outlet devices and shower assembly solutions, dishwashers, washing machines and combination washer/dryers.
The consultation is being run jointly by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish Government and other devolved governments.
Environment Minister Mairi McAllan said: “Climate change is affecting Scotland’s water resources and we must take action to ensure we manage them efficiently. The prolonged dry weather in recent months demonstrated just how precious – and vulnerable – our natural water resources are to a changing climate.
“Simply by improving labelling, we can make it easier for people to check how water efficient their appliances are, and help them choose the efficient and climate-friendly option where they are able.”
Hot water use is the second largest use of energy in a home after space heating. Installing a water-efficient showerhead could save an average household (2.3 occupants) 3,762 litres of water, and £17.44 off their combined utility bills per year. A family of four could save 6,468 litres and about £30 off their utility bill each year.
In 2021 alone, energy efficiency labelling and minimum performance standards led to energy bill savings of £75 for the average dual-fuel household.
The Scottish Government has worked with Defra and other devolved governments to develop these proposals. Scotland has the highest per capita consumption of water in the UK and as the climate crisis takes hold needs to address this with urgency.
Household water bills in Scotland are currently set by reference to Council Tax Band. Whilst using less water is not reflected immediately in bills, by using less water Scottish Water’s costs associated with sourcing, treating and distributing drinking water will reduce. These savings will be taken into account when charge levels are set.
A leading sepsis charity and the Scottish Government have marked the start of Sepsis Awareness Month in Scotland today (1 September 2022) by launching a new national awareness campaign.
The charity Sepsis Research FEAT is working in partnership with the Scottish Government to run their first joint campaign since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign aims to help save lives by increasing public awareness of sepsis and how to recognise the key symptoms.
Sepsis is a deadly condition which takes the lives of more than 4,000 people in Scotland every year. It occurs when the body’s response to an infection spirals rapidly out of control, injuring its own tissues and organs which can result in multiple organ failure and death.
The five key symptoms of sepsis highlighted in the campaign are:
Confusion
Not passing as much urine as normal
Very high or low temperature
Uncontrolled shivering
Cold or blotchy arms and legs
If someone has any of these symptoms, becoming noticeably worse, this could indicate sepsis and urgent medical attention should be sought.
Sepsis Research FEAT previously worked with the Scottish Government on awareness campaigns in 2018 and 2019, reaching more than 1.3 million people across Scotland. Their latest partnership will build on this success with a nationwide multimedia campaign which will include commercial TV, radio, print and social media.
This week the charity and Health Secretary Humza Yousaf kicked off the campaign and the beginning of Sepsis Awareness Month with a visit to the home of pioneering research study, GenOMICC at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute.
They were joined by two charity supporters from Edinburgh – Adam Liddle who lost his wife Emma to sepsis in 2020 and Aimee King whose son Corey was 18 months old when he almost died from sepsis in 2021.
Led by Professor Kenneth Baillie at the Roslin Institute, the world-leading GenOMICC project is increasing understanding of sepsis and helping to develop improved treatments for it by examining DNA samples from patients in intensive care units (ICUs) throughout the UK.
Sepsis Research FEAT has funded the study since 2018 and has just announced increased investment supporting a new pilot study, GenOMICC Acute, in which additional blood samples will be obtained from patients shortly after ICU admission, providing researchers with insight into what happens within a patient’s body when they are at their most critically ill.
Health Secretary Humza Yousafsaid: “I am delighted that the Scottish Government is continuing to work with Sepsis Research FEAT to raise public awareness of the symptoms and dangers of sepsis.
“Patient safety remains key to delivering safe and effective care to all patients every time they access healthcare services and the Scottish Government’s Scottish Patient Safety Programme continues to make progress in its action on sepsis. Focusing on early identification is critical and treatment within one hour of recognition has led to mortality rates among those identified at this stage falling by 21% since 2012.
“Sepsis Research FEAT plays a vital role in funding research into this devastating disease and in making the public aware of the symptoms, and the Scottish Government is supporting them in their efforts.”
Colin Graham, Chief Operating Officer at Sepsis Research FEAT, commented: “Sepsis Research FEAT is proud to mark the beginning of Sepsis Awareness Month 2022 with our new campaign in partnership with the Scottish Government.
“This will be our largest campaign yet and will help us reach an even greater number of people and educate them about the symptoms of sepsis that everyone in Scotland should know about. We are grateful to Mr Yousaf for joining us to help launch it with the incredible GenOMICC team at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute.
“Sepsis is a medical emergency. It is a devastating condition that can kill a previously healthy adult in hours. Even those who survive are often left with long term physical or psychological effects.
“Sepsis Awareness Month, which is observed worldwide every September, is always an important time for our charity to spread the word about sepsis. We’re asking everyone in Scotland to get involved this year by sharing our awareness campaign and learning the five key symptoms to help save lives.”
Sepsis Research FEAT is the only UK charity that exists to fund research into sepsis alongside increasing awareness of the condition. Sepsis Awareness Month – which includes World Sepsis Day on 13 September – is a key time for the charity to raise funds for vital research and this year it is doing this through a fundraising campaign called ‘Give us 5!’.
In order to highlight the five key symptoms of sepsis and also recognise the five lives tragically lost to sepsis every hour in the UK, supporters across the country are being encouraged to give five of something – this could be giving five minutes or hours of their time, taking part in a fundraising activity covering five miles on land or on water, or donating or raising £5, £500 or even £5,000.
