HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS MSP LEARNS HOW EARLY DIAGNOSIS CAN BEAT CANCER SOONER
Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant met Cancer Research UK staff recently, to learn about the charity’s priorities for beating cancer sooner in Scotland.
Mrs Grant said:
“Like everywhere in Scotland, cancer has a huge effect on families in the Highlands and Islands so it has been fantastic to meet with the Cancer Research UK team to hear more about their priorities for diagnosing patients sooner in Scotland.”
Mrs Grant heard about Cancer Research UK’s latest campaign, which urges the Scottish Government to address shortages in the diagnostic workforce in Scotland.
The earlier a cancer is diagnosed the more likely it is to be treated successfully.
For some of the most common types of cancer, survival is more than three times likely higher when the disease is diagnosed at its earliest stages.
Yet statistics show that more than 18,000 patients in Scotland waited more than the target time of six weeks to receive a diagnostic test in the quarter ending 38 December 2018.
The report also shows that, during the same quarter, only 78.1% of patients received the tests they needed within six weeks. The target is that no one should be waiting longer than six weeks for a test.
Read more: Local News for Thursday 21st March 2019
AWARD-WINNING YOUNG FIDDLER JOINS HEBCELT LINE-UP
The award-winning Hebridean Celtic Festival has added another string to its bow by including this year’s BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year in its line-up.
Fiddle player Benedict Morris beat five other finalists to win the prestigious competition last month at Celtic Connections and as part of his prize was invited to play at the internationally-renowned HebCelt.
He will now appear as part of a trio, with musicians Ryan Murphy and Pablo Lafuente, in front of thousands of festival goers when the annual event is held in Lewis and Harris from 17-20 July.
Benedict, 21, from Glasgow, is currently in his final year on the BMus classical course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
He has previously appeared at HebCelt in the band The Hur. With guitarist Cormac Crummey he also makes up the Bene and Cormac duo that has earned critical acclaim and appears with World Champion Irish dancer David Geaney in his new dance show ‘Velocity’ which made its Broadway debut in November.
Benedict said: “I'm honestly delighted to be returning to Stornoway this July for HebCelt 2019. I played there two years ago with The Hur and it was definitely a highlight of the year.
HebCelt director Caroline Maclennan said: “Benedict is an outstanding musician and we are delighted he will be part of the festival this year.”
Read more: Local News for Wednesday 20th March 2019
HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS RESIDENTS ASKED TO RESPOND TO ‘GOOD FOOD NATION’ CONSULTATION
The launch of the Scottish Government’s consultation on Good Food Nation legislation is being welcomed by Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, David Stewart.
Due to close on the 29th of March, the consultation seeks public views on what should be included in a new law for Scotland’s food system. Scottish Labour have called on the Scottish Government to include a statutory right to food in the Good Food Nation bill.
Mr Stewart said:
“Reformation of our food system is long overdue. We advertise Scotland as a nation of food and drink, yet over a third of Scots worry about putting food on the table.
“An ever-increasing number of people continue to be priced out of a decent diet, forced to rely on food banks and suffering from poor nutrition.
“Scottish Labour believes there should be a statutory right to food which joins up all policies related to food and has the power to measure the government’s success in feeding its people.
“We need to work together to push for change. I urge all of my constituents in the Highlands and Islands to respond to the consultation and make their voice known.”
Those wishing to respond to the consultation can do so online by visiting https://consult.gov.scot/food-and-drink/good-food-nation/
Read more: Local News for Tuesday 18th March 2019
