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Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Thursday 16th July 2020

NHS SERVICES EXPANDED AS COVID LOCKDOWN EASES.

NHS Western Isles is taking steps increase the availability of its services. Since being placed on an emergency footing due to COVID-19 and has stated it fully understands the difficulties local communities have experienced -- and the impact of reductions in more routine health services, treatments, and tests.

Since the beginning of June, NHS Western Isles has been slowly and safely reintroducing some services -- and it is continuing to take steps to re-introduce certain services on a weekly basis.

NHS Western Isles Chief Executive, Gordon Jamieson, said:

“We would like to sincerely thank our local communities for their patience. Our priority is your safety and that of our staff, so we must ensure that services are only restarted when it is safe to do so.

“We are now recovering and renewing some services on a very gradual basis. But it is likely that, as services resume, they may not look or feel the same as they did previously.”

Endoscopy services are now provided three days a week in Stornoway, and a majority of Outpatient clinics have re-commenced . There are no immediate plans to re-introduce inpatient surgery unless there is an emergency. But cataract day surgery should resume this week. Finally, this month will see the resumption of some Musculoskeletal (MSK) clinics, with a focus on virtual consultations.

Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Thursday 16th July 2020

Is;es FM News in association with Hebrides News - Wednesday 15th July 2020

SUPPORT FOR SALMON INDUSTRY

A new scheme, funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, will support Aquaculture businesses, affected by the collapse of international markets, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The fund will compensate businesses for the costs of transport, processing and cold storage for salmon, trout and shellfish until the end of 2020.
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: “This has been a challenging time for the aquaculture sector, with businesses unable to bring products to market, but continuing to face high operational costs.
This new funding, which will provide financial support for cold storing salmon, trout and shellfish, will mean businesses will be able to cover some of the additional costs they have faced.
Farmed salmon is Scotland’s most important food product and valuable food export and we need to support the sector through these challenging times.”

Read more: Is;es FM News in association with Hebrides News - Wednesday 15th July 2020

Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Tuesday 14th July 2020

NEW VISITING ARRANGEMENTS IN W I HOSPITALS

NHS Western Isles have announced that from this week, each hospital patient can nominate one Designated Visitor, for the duration of their hospital admission.

A Designated Visitor can be their spouse, next of kin or friend. It is recommended that this person is also the main contact for communication.

The Designated Visitor, can arrange a visit via the NHS Western Isles Visiting Coordinator. Visiting will be by pre-arranged appointment only, to ensure the number of people in clinical areas, is kept to a minimum at any one time.

Until further notice, visits will be limited to half an hour to ensure all patients have the opportunity to receive visits, and to permit the necessary cleaning between visits.
NHS Western Isles also point out that Virtual Visiting using technology, remains in place as an option, to visit friends/relatives in all Western Isles hospitals.

Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Tuesday 14th July 2020

Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Thursday 9th July 2020

MISNEACHD SUPPORTS RECOMMENDATIONS IN GAELIC CRISIS PUBLICATION

The Gaelic lobbying group, Misneachd have added their support, for establishing a community run Trust, Urras na Gàidhlig in the Western Isles.
This follows the findings of the research by Soillse cultural research department, at the University of the Highlands and Islands, on the future of Gaelic in the Western Isles
The publication The Gaelic Crisis in the Vernacular Community: A comprehensive sociolinguistic survey of Scottish Gaelic, concluded that Gaelic will not survive, as a community language in 10 years’ time, unless a community based, language development trust is formed.
Misneachd spokesperson commented” The research has created ripples of responses this week and firm action is needed now, to empower the Gaelic speakers to make decisions for the future
Misneachd call on the Scottish Government, Bord na Gaidhlig and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and other development bodies to work towards a Participatory Minority Language Cooperative,for the Western Isles)

Read more: Isles FM News in association with Hebrides News - Thursday 9th July 2020