Tag: Western General

Woman dies in Western General fire

RV

Investigations are ongoing following the death of an elderly woman patient after a fire at the Western General’s Royal Victoria building early this morning.

Firefighters from Crewe Toll, Tollcross and McDonald Road fire stations attended a ‘small fire’ in a ground floor ward at 2.30am.

Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the ward, dealt with the fire and an injured female patient while colleagues assisted hospital staff with the evacuation of 14 other patients from the affected ward to another area within the hospital.

The female patient, who was 75, died at the scene and SFRS Fire Investigation Unit officers are now working with Police Scotland officers to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Investigations are at an early stage following the death of a 75-year-old woman at the Western General Hospital. Officers attended after reports were received of a small fire in a room in one of the wards.”

No one else was injutred in the incident, which was brought under control at 4:45.

 

Gimme shelter!

Solved: the mystery of the disappearing bus shelters!

A bus shelter (just in case you don't know what a bus shelter looks like!) This one's in Crewe Road North
A bus shelter (just in case you don’t know what a bus shelter looks like!) This one’s in Crewe Road North

The bus shelters were definitely there on Wednesday. I saw them. There were people standing there, waiting for a bus. As you do at bus stops. But on Thursday – the two bus shelters by the Western General Hospital had gone – vanished into thin air!

Cut backs? Theft for scrap? No, the truth is out – the city council has discovered that the bus shelters removed overnight on Wednesday were dismantled by the company previously responsible for maintaining them.

Clear Channel’s contract to manage some of the city’s bus stops ended on 3 August and the company says it is obliged to remove it’s bus stops within six months. The start of the removal programme saw two stops dismantled from outside the Western General and another partially removed from Princes Street overnight on Wednesday.

The council was initially unaware of the reasons behind the removal but is now in positive discussions with Clear Channel, who have put their removal programme on hold.

Clear Channel owns more than a third of the city’s bus stops. and until 3 August it was contracted to wash, maintain and light the shelters as well as sell advertising. A spokesperson told the BBC: “Clear Channel’s contract to provide advertising sales, and cleaning and maintenance for Edinburgh bus shelters came to an end on August the 3rd this year after four decades proudly serving the people of Edinburgh.

“Since then, as a gesture of goodwill, we have continued to clean and maintain non-advertising shelters at our cost even though we have no contractual obligation to do so. As a further gesture of goodwill, we kept five public toilets open during festival season, again at our cost.”

They said that they had made an offer to the council to sell the non-advertising shelters in August, but heard nothing in return.

They continued: “We are pleased that the council has made contact with us and we remain committed to ensuring an orderly removal of the bus shelters. Their replacement is, of course, a matter for the council and/or any new contractor.”

A City of Edinburgh Council spokesperson said: “We are pleased that Clear Channel have now entered into a productive dialogue with us with a view to finding a resolution to this issue.”

The council will erect one replacement shelter on Crewe Road South next week, with the other to follow a few days later. The old story, you wait ages for a bus shelter to come along then two come along at once …

WesternGeneral

Missing medication appeal

Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for information after a packet of prescription painkillers were lost in Edinburgh on Wednesday (October 4). The box of MST continus were lost around 2pm on Telford Road near the entrance to the Western General Hospital.

A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: “This medication should only be taken by the person it is prescribed to, and could have significant health implications if taken by anyone else. Anyone who finds this box of seven tablets should contact police immediately, or hand them in to their local pharmacy or police station.”

Anyone with any information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

NHS Lothian powers up campaign to save energy

NHS Lothian has launched an innovative campaign to encourage staff to save on the energy they use at work. The Power Pack campaign centres on a group of digital characters each promoting a key message to save energy, print less, recycle more and  switch-off.

A recent survey showed that 91 per cent of NHS Lothian staff felt they could do more to conserve energy whilst at work. The survey also generated a number of positive suggestions which have been used to help shape the campaign, ranging from double-sided  printing and recycling initiatives to rechargeable batteries and car  sharing schemes.

Charlie Halpin, Energy and Environment Manager, NHS Lothian, said: “By taking these steps, staff will help NHS Lothian maintain the Carbon  Trust Standard and sustaining a reduction in our carbon emissions by  four per cent per year over the next five years. Simple tasks like turning off computer monitors overnight or only  printing essential documents can make a huge difference. Working  together will help us significantly reduce the amount of energy we use  and make essential savings for the organisation.”

NHS Lothian  spends around £14 million on energy bills and produces 90,000 tonnes of  carbon dioxide every year. That works out at £500 and three tonnes of  C02 per member of staff.

Kirsten Smith, Senior Charge Nurse, Ward 72, Royal Victoria Building, said: “I’ll definitely be joining the Power Pack. It’s great that staff have the chance to contribute to this campaign and I’ll be putting my  thinking cap on to come up with some energy saving ideas of my own.”

Stuart Wilson, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, NHS  Lothian, said: “This is an engaging campaign which we hope will grab the attention of the 24,000 employees who work for NHS Lothian. We are keen for all staff to join the Power Pack giving us their own energy saving advice and ideas. Our staff are key to making this  campaign a success and continuing our good work in reducing the energy  we use at work.”

Dr Charles Winstanley, Chair, NHS Lothian, said: “We are committed to continuing to drive home the message of energy efficiency and hopefully the Power Pack will help to make the difference. We have already  reduced our energy emissions from fossil fuels by 5.3% over the past two years and this led to being awarded the Carbon Trust Standard.”

The Western’s recently-opened Royal Victoria Building has achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating. The  project incorporates a number of initiatives developed to provide an  environmentally friendly building: use of photo-voltaic panels, ground  source heat pump, low flush WCs, low energy lifts, occupancy and light  sensors. The building also achieved a ‘Considerate Contractor’ award – incorporating high level of  construction site waste management, and water services are designed to minimise  water-borne disease.