Deacon Blue founding member 'seriously ill' in hospital
Fans of Scottish band Deacon Blue are being urged to 'say a prayer' for founding member James Prime who is seriously ill in hospital.
The Glasgow group announced on Wednesday that their keyboard player had been admitted to intensive care.
The 64-year-old has been part of the band since it was formed by Ricky Ross in 1985.
In their statement, Deacon Blue said their scheduled shows will be going ahead after James gave his 'blessing'.
The post read: 'We wanted to share some news with you about our brother, Jim.
'Unfortunately, he is seriously ill and undergoing care in hospital. We would like you to join us in wishing him well and to share your love with him.
'We spoke to Jim yesterday about Deacon Blue's plans for the rest of the year, and he encouraged us to continue with love in our hearts and with his full blessing that the shows go ahead, even if it means replacing the irreplaceable James Miller Prime for the time being.
'Together with Jim's family, we want to thank all the nurses, doctors and ICU staff for their ongoing care, professionalism and compassion.'
Frontman Ricky Ross asked his followers to 'say a prayer for our brother'.
Posting on his social media, he said: 'For those of you who pray, say a prayer for our brother here.'
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
18 minutes ago
- Sky News
Gonorrhoea vaccine programme to launch after rise in diagnoses
Why you can trust Sky News A new vaccine programme will be launched in Scotland to help curb cases of gonorrhoea following a rise in diagnoses post-pandemic. The sexually transmitted infection (STI) is the nation's second most common bacterial STI, with the latest figures showing 5,999 cases in 2023 - a 59% increase since before COVID hit. It is hoped the £280,000 programme - which will begin in August and is being funded by the Scottish government - will address increasing health inequalities and growing resistance to antibiotics treatment. Those eligible include gay and bisexual men at highest risk of infection, those involved in selling or exchanging sex regardless of gender, and those who sexual health clinic professionals assess as being at a similar risk level. Gonorrhoea can cause significant pain and discomfort, and in rare cases life-threatening sepsis. Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: "This action is urgent and timely since the number of diagnoses has been high and the disease is becoming increasingly difficult to treat with antibiotics. "The science tells us that this vaccine will potentially protect thousands of people and prevent the spread of infection. "Anything which stops people from contracting gonorrhoea in the first place can have huge benefits, including ensuring our health system remains resilient by reducing the amount of treatment needed." The medication will be delivered by the Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme led by Public Health Scotland (PHS). The funding is expected to cover first and second doses of the 4CMenB vaccine. The Scottish government said the vaccine was 30-40% effective and will be offered in clinics alongside those for HPV, hepatitis and the routine mpox vaccination programme. Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, head of the vaccination and immunisation division at PHS, said: "With gonorrhoea diagnoses having increased in recent years, the offer of the 4CMenB vaccine to those at highest risk of exposure is a welcome new intervention. "This vaccination programme is expected to help control and prevent the spread of gonorrhoea. "Public Health Scotland is working with the Scottish government and colleagues across NHS boards to finalise plans for the rollout of this targeted vaccination offering to those at increased risk of gonorrhoea from August 2025."
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
NHS Grampian U-turn over scrapping free nappies
Nappies will still be provided for babies born in NHS Grampian hospitals, following a U-turn by the health board.A recovery plan, aimed at identifying savings for the year ahead, had suggested stopping the provision of disposable a meeting of the NHS Grampian's board on Thursday, it was decided that the £8,000 saving should be found from elsewhere in the approved plan to save £23m will see some services stopped or reduced on public holidays, as well as cuts to spiritual care. NHS Grampian has the highest forecasted financial overspend across NHS Scotland for the year ahead - that is despite getting a Scottish government loan of more than £67m to tackle the maximum overspend permitted by the Scottish government is £ requested the board come up with a recovery plan to reduce the the savings proposed was stopping the provision of disposable nappies for the majority of babies born in hospitals and maternity cut in provision was not to apply babies requiring specialist care. The board's chairwoman, Allison Evison said: ''I think it's really important that we are really aware of the needs of the people we serve in Grampian and the people who are coming in to our hospital. "It did not meet with our priorities around trying to eradicate child poverty. "Obviously there are lots of people who will come in to hospital with their own nappies, but I think it is really important that we provide for the people that come to our hospital that need our support as well. ''Last month, NHS Grampian was escalated to stage four of NHS Scotland's National Performance Framework over concerns about governance and external review is currently being conducted by KPMG to identify how the board can make further review is expected to be completed by the end of June.
Scotsman
4 hours ago
- Scotsman
How summer could damage your vision! Expert issues warning to Scottish residents on eye care
Scottish folks can use these tips to support their eye health this summer As the brighter months arrive and Scottish folks spend more time outdoors, and often more time staring at screens or squinting in sunlight, experts are reminding us that summer is the perfect time to take stock of our eye health. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Between long days, digital overload and overlooked risks like low-light strain or that sunshine UV exposure, it's easy to forget how much our eyes do for us, until something goes wrong. That's exactly what happened to theatre worker Allison McHugh, whose terrifying eye injury prompted her to change the way she looked after her vision. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Allison, 52, who works front of house at a theatre in Manchester, suffered a painful corneal tear during the night, and says the injury could have cost her the job she loves. 'I got up to go to the bathroom and when I turned on the light, it was so bright, then there was this excruciating pain,' she recalls. 'I was rushed to A&E and told I had torn my cornea.' The pain was so intense her eye had to be anaesthetised, and she was prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection. 'It made me realise how much we take our vision for granted, particularly in my job,' she says. Following the injury, Allison struggled with poor night vision, a challenge in her line of work, where much of her time is spent in low light during performances. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Determined to protect her eyesight, she began researching ways to support her vision and discovered Macu XL Eye Supplement by Nature's Zest. It contains lutein, zeaxanthin and key vitamins that help maintain eye health. 'I noticed a real improvement in how my eyes felt less dry, brighter, and my night vision's definitely better,' she says. 'I feel like I'm doing something positive to protect my sight.' 5 Summer Tips to Protect Your Eyes Whether you're heading outdoors more, working under harsh lights, or logging long hours on screens, here's how to care for your eyes this season: 1. Don't Forget Your Shades UV rays don't just age your skin, they damage your eyes too. Always wear sunglasses with 100% UVA and UVB protection. It helps protect against cataracts and macular degeneration in the long term. 2. Rest Your Eyes From Screens Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With working from home and summer binge-watching, screen time can rocket. Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to reduce eye strain and dryness. 3. Watch the Light Working in low-light conditions (like a theatre or a dim office) can strain your eyes and reduce night vision over time. Use ambient lighting and avoid switching suddenly between light and dark. 4. Eat (and Supplement) Smart A diet rich in leafy greens, carrots, peppers and oily fish supports vision, but supplements can help too. Try a blend like Macu XL Eye Supplement from Nature's Zest — packed with lutein, zeaxanthin, and Vitamins A, B12, and C to nourish your eyes and help reduce strain. 5. Keep Them Clean and Comfortable Dry summer air and fans can irritate the eyes. Stay hydrated, avoid rubbing them, and use preservative-free drops if needed. If you wear contact lenses, stick to hygiene best practices, and never sleep in them unless advised.
