Dedicated website also launched
A comprehensive travel plan to address the impact of the necessary Forth Road Bridge closure has been launched by Transport Minister Derek Mackay, who also encouraged people to plan their journeys carefully and to allow time for a longer commute to work. Continue reading Forth Road Bridge closure: government reveals travel plan
PLAYTALKREAD WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Do you enjoy feeding the ducks at the pond in Inverleith Park, playing mini golf at Bruntsfield Links with your wee one or reading the next destination when you’re on the tram together? PlayTalkRead is calling for you to vote for top things for tots to do in Edinburgh and Lothians before voting closes on 13 December. Continue reading What’s top to do for tots?
‘Don’t lose out to cybercrime and fraud’ – DFM John Swinney
As Christmas approaches, Deputy First Minister John Swinney is calling on Scots to keep personal and financial information secure when shopping online. Continue reading Stay safe online this Christmas
Life expectancy gap between rich and poor continues to grow
Lothian MSP and Scottish Greens’ spokesperson on Health and Wellbeing, Alison Johnstone has branded figures that show funding discrepancies between GPs in poorer and wealthier areas of Scotland as “shocking”.
The figures, published yesterday, were obtained by researchers at the University of Glasgow and University of Dundee, and demonstrate there is a £7 per person per year funding gap between GP practices in the top 10% most affluent and the 10% most deprived areas.
Johnstone highlighted that health inequalities in her home region and around Scotland are rife, with a 7.3 year gap between Local Authorities in overall male life expectancy, and a 5.2 year difference between Local Authorities in overall female life expectancy.
Johnstone urged the Scottish Government to ensure that GPs in more deprived communities are able to deliver a high-quality health service, and called for resources to be distributed according to need, not wealth.
Alison Johnstone said: “These shocking figures highlight the challenges our NHS is facing trying to provide a decent service to all those who need it. It’s vitally important that help goes where it’s most needed, and the unequal distribution of funding means that doctors in deprived communities are unlikely to have the resources to meet their patients’ needs.
“In Lothian, a person living in one of the more affluent parts of the region can expect to live nearly two decades longer than those from the poorest. If we don’t ensure that people in the poorest areas get the same quality service as wealthier communities, we have no chance of eradicating health inequalities.
“I urge the Scottish Government to take these figures very seriously and to reconsider how it distributes GP resources. It’s time to get back to basics – every single person from in Scotland deserves high quality healthcare, and we must make sure our NHS can deliver.”
Highest life expectancy for men in Scotland is in East Dumbartonshire at 80.7 years, with lowest in Glasgow City at 73.4 years. For females, highest life expectancy is in East Dunbartonshire at 83.9 years, and lowest at 78.7 years.
Figures available at: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.
Steps to improve Type 1 diagnosis in children
A health service campaign is encouraging medical staff and parents to look for the warning signs of Type 1 Diabetes in an effort to improve early diagnosis. Continue reading Diabetes: drive to spot the warning signs earlier
Partnership Centre construction starts next Spring
Around £330 million of investment in health and education facilities has been given the go-ahead by Deputy First Minister John Swinney. Among the projects to be given the green light is the long-awaited North West Partnership Centre in Muirhouse (above). Continue reading Green light for Partnership Centre
Celebrity chef Tony Singh: “reduce your festive food waste by planning ahead”
People in Scotland are set to throw away over 50,000 tonnes of food and drink throughout the month of December, including 280,000 turkeys, 240,000 Christmas puddings and 3.5 million mince pies. Continue reading Tony Singh: “Don’t be a Christmas turkey!”
Dr Owl takes flight across Scotland!
People in Edinburgh and the Lothians are being encouraged to get Healthwise with the official return of wise Dr Owl! Continue reading Be healthwise this winter
Swinney condemns ‘austerity of choice’
Chancellor George Osborne’s U-turn on tax credits has been widely welcomed, but Scotland’s Deputy First Minister John Swinney has warned that the Scottish Government will see a real terms reduction of almost 6 per cent in the funding for day to day public services over the next four years. Continue reading U-turn welcome but Scotland still faces cuts
‘Housing is a key priority for this government and is fundamental to tackling poverty’ – Housing Minister Margaret Burgess
Housing Minister Margaret Burgess has pledged to invest £3 billion to deliver 50,000 new affordable homes over the next five years. The new target is a 67 per cent increase in affordable housing supply, with 70 per cent of the new target being for social rent. Continue reading Minister pledges 50,000 new affordable homes
