Nairn Healthcare News July 2015

Another newsletter from Nairn Healthcare Group:

Income maximisation midwifery project 

As a new mother-to-be, you could be unsure of maternity and child benefits including child tax credit and childcare vouchers. If so, the Citizen Advice Bureau is here to help. 

Midwives will offer a referral to the Citizen Advice Bureau at your initial booking appointment. A CAB advisor will then be in touch with you to arrange either a telephone appointment, or a face-to-face appointment at the local office or here at the surgery. They will discuss which benefits you may be entitled to plus explain more about employment, maternity/paternity leave and flexible working. 

Pregnancy is a good time to receive a financial health check with the aim of putting more money in your pocket so you can give your family the best financial start in life.

For more information, please contact your midwife.

BBQ and Food Safety

Summer is upon us...and BBQ and picnic season will soon be in full swing. Unfortunately, this is the time of year we seem to see a rise in food poisoning largely due to the Campylobacter bug – the most common cause for food poisoning in Scotland. Eating raw or undercooked meat is one of the most common ways people can get food poisoning.

To avoid the campylobacter bug, avoid cross contamination of raw and cooked meat. Always wash your hands after handing raw meat and use different utensils for cooked and raw meat. It is also safer to cook the chicken in the oven and finish off on the BBQ for flavour. Also, disposable BBQs take longer to cook so remember to check that your food is cooked properly.

Eating al-fresco on a summer’s day is an all-too-rare treat in Scotland and we certainly don’t want food poisoning to spoil this.

For more information on BBQ and picnic safety, head to www.foodstandards.gov.scot/news/eat-safe-summer

SPECIALISED CLINICS – APRIL/MAY

As well as dealing with the usual GP appointments, Nairn Healthcare offers specialised clinics. Over April and May, as well as dealing with 4,777 patients routinely, we saw 280 patients that required either a minor operation, fitting of a coil or nexplanon, a vasectomy, an occupational health review, a specialised skin review or an abdominal aortic aneurysm screen.

Hydrotherapy Pool

It is disappointing for the Practice that we have been instructed by Mr Sieczkarek (Area Manager South – NHS Highland) to cease referring patients into Hydrotherapy.

This is not a decision that has been made by the Practice. Any issue should be taken up with

Mr Jean-Pierre Sieczkarek via NHS Highland at the following address:

Area Manager South

South and Mid-Operational Unit

Alder House

Cradlehall Business Park

INVERNESS

IV2 5GH

Tel: 01463 706930 Fax: 01463 794713

Citizens Advice Bureau

We would like to remind our patients of the great Citizen Advice Bureau service we have available at the surgery.

Our link worker, Lynn Main, has successfully saved patients over £52,000 in the last 12 months and the CAB project has been extended for a further 12 months in-house here at the surgery.

Debt, benefits, allowances, welfare rights, housing and employment are just some of the areas Lynn can cover.

To book an appointment, please call 01667 422735 Mon-Wed between 10am -3pm. Out with these times, an appointment can be made at the local Citizen Advice Bureau office.

"Drift" - it's a pretty good gig we hear

Not going to make it again tonight. This observer was Heinikened by a friend that lives in the Fishertown so too tired and emotional to give this full attention. We hear from Gurnites that it is really good however. You could head down and check it out more information here.

Image from Bratach, more images here

Misty sunrise 3rd July - pictures Dave Shillabeer

Dave tells us: 

"These images were taken about 6 this morning as the sun started to breakthrough the early mist in Alton Burn Rd and the rear entrance to the Newton Hotel. "

Individual images here.

"new improved scheme" for retail outlets at Balmakeith from Ziran Land

Gurnites will recall the plan for a Lidl outlet and other stores at Balmakeith and perhaps even attended the consultation last September. Images of the then plans were published in an article here. Today more information from the developer in the form of a press release:

Ziran Land is to bring forward its planning application for an improved retail scheme following its consultations last September.

Explaining the reasons, John Liggins of Ziran Land said,

"We received such good public feedback to our retail proposals - 91% of respondents were in support - that we have been working hard to refine our plans to best suit Nairn's shopping needs. We propose to bring new, national retail names to Nairn which cannot be accommodated in the town centre. These new names will attract more shoppers into Nairn and with our signage proposals we should be able to attract more shoppers into the town centre.

Also, in response to public feedback, we have removed our proposed family pub and restaurant."

The company will now make an application to The Highland Council later this year. However, these new proposals, due to technical requirements, by going slightly over the two hectare threshold, will make this a Major application requiring fresh consultation with the local community.

The proposals will go on show at Nairn Community and Arts Centre on Friday 28th August at a public exhibition and the community groups will be invited into the consultations. 

John Liggins added,

"We are very excited about our new, improved scheme and although these plans have taken longer to develop, we feel we now have the right balance for what Nairn needs. We look forward to meeting as many local shoppers and community representatives as possible to explain our plans."

NHS Highland starting to respond to public anger over Hydrotherapy Pool?

A statement today from NHS Highland:

NHS Highland is to establish a revised referral process for the Nairn Hydrotherapy Pool, involving both GPs and physiotherapy staff from the health board.

NHS Highland had instructed the Nairn Healthcare Group to stop taking referrals for patients to use the Hydrotherapy Pool from July 1st. However having received a number of representations, it has been decided to ensure that no feasible options have been overlooked.

Further discussions between the Hydrotherapy Trust, Highlife Highland and NHS Highland will take place to establish a revised model of both service delivery and value for money.

It is expected that these discussions will be developed and agreed prior to October this year. During the intervening period, NHS Highland will continue to support new referrals and ongoing treatment for patients.

In the absence of a signed service level agreement at this stage, NHS Highland will continue to pay the rate mutually agreed by the Health Board and the Trust during the last financial year.

Significant repairs needed for Nairn Links Paddling Pool - opening delayed

From a Highland Council Press Release:

"Significant repairs are required for the Paddling Pool at Nairn Links and an assessment of the facility has delayed its opening this season. 

Given the extent of the repairs required, Highland Council’s Nairn Ward Members have taken the decision to approve temporary repairs while a longer term solution is investigated. 

Works will start on site on Monday 6 July and it is expected that they will take at least three weeks to complete which also allows for 5 – 7 days ‘drying’ before filling with water. An issue with any repair, whether temporary or permanent is that the time required for removal of screed, repair and application and curing/drying of paint is weather-dependent.

The paddling pool is normally operated for three months from 1 June to 31 August. In light of the unavoidable delays, High Life Highland, who operate the paddling pool on behalf of the Nairn Common Good, have undertaken to extend the opening of the pool up to the end of September, weather permitting. 

On behalf of the Nairn Ward Members, Provost of Nairn, Councillor Laurie Fraser said: “It seems that a permanent repair will be a lengthy and expensive job, so we have agreed to undertake a temporary repair to allow the paddling pool to open.

“We understand the substantial local interest in the play facilities at the Links and are keen to engage local families in the long term decisions that are made.”

It's 25C plus again but the paddling pool remains covered by a net and locked up - awaiting "signifcant repairs". 

Ready for Drift on Nairn beach

Putting the final touches to Drift set up on #Nairn beach.Almost ready for opening tomorrow at 7am. pic.twitter.com/ddEJNH1HDf

— Symon Macintyre (@VisionMechanics) July 2, 2015

One of our regular readers tells us:

"Here are some details about it - Something to look out for in Nairn from 3rd to 5th July - come along to the harbour and find out about the amazing story of Betty who survived 9 days adrift at sea - 'Drift' see this 5* review about the project http://www.edinburghguide.com/"

Round UK charity rowers reach Nairn - vid and picture

An incredible team of four guys who packed in their jobs to set out on a round UK 100 day charity row with the aim of raising a £100,000 for the Royal Marines Trust and the Wessex Cancer Trust. A self sufficient team with everything they need on board their boat - they will be setting off for Inverness at around 7.00 am tomorrow. We caught up with them in the cafe as they relaxed with a coffee after the arduous journey today from Lossiemouth.  

More information about their charity efforts  on their website here. 

The rowers heading for the harbour basin - Picture Ed Andrews

Update: more pictures from Ed Andrews here. 

Fighting back against scammers - interview with Dan Gray of Citizens Advice - Scams Awarness Week

A national launch today in Nairn of the Scams Awareness Week, a tribute to the work done already by Nairn CAB in this field as the town is chosen for the launch. Listen to the vid and see how you can fight back against scammers.

Click here for the Scottish CAB's Scams Awareness pages.

Nairn Hydrotherapy Pool petition goes online

The Hydrotherapy Pool petition is now online on the change.org site, it states: 

"We urge NHS Highland to reverse their unilateral decision to axe the Nairn Hydrotherapy contract and to quickly restore the service and the contract on a fair and adequate basis."

Gurnites so minded can sign the petition online here.  Anyone wishing to collect signatures on paper copies of petition sheets can print off this document here.