Tag: Scottish Government

Our NHS turns 70 this year

2018 sees the 70th anniversary of the NHS in Scotland, with a number of significant milestones and records marking the occasion.

Since its creation on 5 July 1948 the NHS in Scotland has seen a number of important and significant developments, including:

  • In its first year, 15 million prescriptions were dispensed in Scotland – today, the figure is over 103 million with these now being provided free as a result of landmark reforms under this government
  • In 1948 1.2 million people were seen as outpatients – in 2016/17, there were around 4.25 million outpatient attendances
  • In 1948 NHS Scotland employed 22,062 nurses and midwives – today, this has risen to a new record high of over 59,000
  • In 1959 Scotland became a world leader in health education, with the UK’s first nursing and midwifery studies unit set up at Edinburgh University – this year saw the highest ever number of acceptances to study nursing and midwifery at Scottish universities

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “Scotland’s NHS has changed significantly in its 70 years, but its best qualities have endured. From the care, compassion, and professionalism of our staff, to remaining a public, universal service based on need – it has been 70 years of striving at all times for the highest possible standards in clinical excellence and patient care,

“The choices, services and outcomes that NHS Scotland provides today would not have been imaginable in 1948, and it keeps adapting, developing and changing. The lesson of the years since its creation is that staying still simply isn’t an option. Through our approach of investment and reform, we will keep driving forward improvements and innovations.

“Everyone will have their own personal stories of what the NHS has done for them – why we must never take our health service for granted. I am delighted to see our NHS reach such a significant anniversary and I hope all of Scotland will join the celebrations this year as we pay tribute to everything it has achieved.”

More information on the NHS in Scotland’s 70th anniversary will be available on http://www.ournhsscotland.com/

Staying safe over Hogmanay

People should ’know who to turn to’ for health advice ahead of the New Year weekend. Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith says it’s really important to know where to go for help over New Year, with seasonal illnesses such as flu and norovirus rising and further weather warnings for snow and ice that can lead to road accidents, slips and falls. Continue reading Staying safe over Hogmanay

“Staggering”: £100 million a year to plug welfare gap

More than £100 million is spent each year to help relieve the worst impact of UK Government welfare cuts and support those on low incomes, the Scottish Government has said. This includes mitigating the bedroom tax for over 70,000 people, saving them an average of £650 a year, and providing £33 million support through the Scottish Welfare Fund, which has helped over 265,000 households since 2013, providing goods such as nappies and food. Continue reading “Staggering”: £100 million a year to plug welfare gap

Designing our own communities

 People to have say in designs for their area

Community projects from Argyll and Bute to Shetland will share around £312,000 to regenerate their neighbourhoods, Local Government Minister Kevin Stewart announced today. As part of the Making Places Initiative, 19 projects will receive funding to bring people together to agree priorities for their area and shape future planning and design. Projects from Leith, Portobello and Wester Hailes are among the successful bidders.

The funding will support events that bring local people together with design professionals to identify how their places and communities can be improved. The 19 projects awarded funding include workshops to develop physical and environmental improvements to the Woodside area of North Glasgow, creating a development plan for Scalloway in Shetland and a plan to improve a shopping centre in Wester Hailes in Edinburgh.

Three Edinburgh initiatives have received the green light:

Leith £35,000 Proposed by Citizen Curator & Leith Creative

To develop and pilot a People’s Place Plan for Leith, following the successful Leith Blueprint which created a community report.

Portobello: Westbank Street Placemaking Project, £12,000 Proposed by Action Porty

To produce a community led, mixed use development masterplan for council owned land at Westbank Street, Portobello.

Westside Plaza, Wester Hailes £20,000 Proposed by Wester Hailes Community Trust

Charrette to develop a masterplan for Westside Plaza with the aim of creating a civic square at the heart of Wester Hailes town centre.

Minister for Local Government, Kevin Stewart said: “I am pleased we received so many applications from a mixture of local authorities and community groups, keen to get local people involved in plans to improve their area.

“This scheme and every project supported by it creates more opportunities for communities to choose what works for them.

“Each project has its own design challenge, whether it is a plan to regenerate an area of a city centre or looking at a smaller site in a rural community. All of these projects should lead to improvements that will create benefit for hundreds of people.”

Making Places expands on the Charette programme, offering end to end support for community capacity building, design events and project delivery. The successful projects sharing a total of £311,890 are:

Ayr North £25,000 Proposed by South Ayrshire Council

Design workshops to develop a community action plan and vision, including development of play space and community garden on site of Whitletts Primary schools.

New Cumnock £4,005 Proposed by New Cumnock Development Trust

Community design events to develop a regeneration masterplan within the New Cumnock Community Action Plan.

Carlibar Park, Barrhead £6,000 Proposed by East Renfrewshire Council

Design workshop to create a masterplan for the town centre greenspace.

Mayfield £13,400 Proposed by McSence Ltd for In It Together Partnership

Series of workshops to involve the community in developing a masterplan for Mayfield & Easthouses.

Westside Plaza, Wester Hailes £20,000 Proposed by Wester Hailes Community Trust

Charrette to develop a masterplan for Westside Plaza with the aim of creating a civic square at the heart of Wester Hailes town centre.

Woodside Improvements £30,000 Proposed by Queens Cross Housing Association

Workshops to develop an action plan for physical and environmental improvements to the Woodside area of North Glasgow.

Scalloway £15,000 Proposed by Shetland Islands Council

Design workshops to consider the future development of Scalloway and develop a Local Place Plan.

Foxbar £15,000 Proposed by Renfrewshire Council

Workshops to support the local community to develop a Local Place Plan.

Dunfermline £24,810 Proposed by Carnegie Dunfermline Trust

Community led event to develop a masterplan for a key area in Dunfermline town centre.

Maryhill & Ruchill £5,000 Proposed by Maryhill Housing Association

Walking events and place workshops to identify community priorities and improvement projects.

Leith £35,000 Proposed by Citizen Curator & Leith Creative

Develop and pilot a People’s Place Plan for Leith, following the successful Leith Blueprint which created a community report.

Helensburgh £15,000 Proposed by Argyll & Bute Council

Community consultation to create a vision and masterplan to inform the future planning process.

Inverkeithing £15,000 Proposed by Fife Council

Community activities to deliver a Master Plan for Inverkeithing, focusing on community assets, strengths, interests and values.

Kirriemuir £10,000 Proposed by Kirriemuir Community Council

Develop an architectural plan for the Gairie Works site, a key priority identified in the Kirriemuir Charrette funded by Angus Council.

Clydebank £20,000 Proposed by West Dunbartonshire Council

Design-led project concentrating on Forth & Clyde canal and connection to Clydebank town centre.

Falkland £25,175 Proposed by Falkland & Newton of Falkland Community Council

Charrette to develop a vision and design statement for Falkland and its immediate environs which will combine spatial, social and economic strategies and solutions.

Glasgow, Phoenix Nursery, Test Unit £9,500 Proposed by Agile City Community Interest Company

Project to progress ideas generated by Charrettes into physical prototypes that test assumptions and engage with local audiences.

Pollokshields: Mark Makers, £12,000 Proposed by The Pollokshields Trust

Develop plans for the creation of the ‘East Pollokshields Urban Common’ on the site of a derelict bowling green.

Portobello: Westbank Street Placemaking Project, £12,000 Proposed by Action Porty

To produce a community led, mixed use development masterplan for council owned land at Westbank Street, Portobello.

Further details of the Making Places Initiative and how to apply for support is available online

 

 

 

 

£14 million for young people and communities

More than £14 million of funding will support the work of 117 charities helping children and young people throughout Scotland. The money, from the 2018/19 Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention and Adult Learning and Empowering Communities Fund, will enable a wide range of projects aimed at improving outcomes for children and young people and supporting adult learning to be delivered. Continue reading £14 million for young people and communities