Latest news with #JenniMinto
Glasgow Times
6 hours ago
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Grandmother quits smoking through community pharmacy scheme
Frances Robertson, 66, from Paisley, is using the nationally funded Quit Your Way service after being referred during her recovery from a heart attack. She shared her experience during a visit by Scotland's public health minister, Jenni Minto, to Abbey Chemist in Paisley, where she is receiving support through the scheme. Ms Robertson said: "I've spent my whole life on and off cigarettes but now this is my chance to get healthy. "I've had the kick up the bum I need and stopping smoking is one of the lifestyle changes I'm making. "When I had the heart attack I was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital emergency department. "It was the hospital that put me on to the Quit Your Way service, and told me I could go into any community pharmacy and they'd help me continue it once I was discharged. "I'm feeling great now, and the staff in the pharmacy have been really supportive." Abbey Chemist staff meet Jenni Minto (Image: Supplied) The Quit Your Way service, delivered through community pharmacies, offers a structured 12-week programme. It begins with an initial consultation to explore the individual's reasons for quitting, followed by weekly check-ins, progress monitoring, and ongoing support. Nicotine replacement therapy is provided, along with the option of Varenicline, a medicine that helps reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Abbey Chemist has supported 20 people through the programme so far this year. Public health minister Jenni Minto visited the pharmacy to meet with staff and service users, including Ms Robertson. Outside Abbey Chemist in Paisley, where they have supported 20 people through the Quit Your Way programme this year (Image: Supplied) Ms Minto said: "It was great to see the community pharmacy smoking cessation service in action this week – and congratulations to Frances on starting her quit journey. "The free Quit Your Way service supports our goal to eradicate tobacco by 2034 and I would encourage anyone, no matter how long they have smoked, to access this service to quit smoking." During her visit, Ms Minto met with pharmacy staff, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde vice chair David Gould, deputy director of pharmacy Jane Hall, and Matt Barclay, chief executive of Community Pharmacy Scotland. The visit highlighted the role of community pharmacies in providing accessible, local support to reduce smoking-related harm. Smoking is linked to nearly 9,000 deaths in Scotland each year. Across the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area, 60 per cent of all recorded quit attempts are made through community pharmacies. A total of 8,044 quit attempts were supported between April 2024 and March 2025. Of these, 5,058 were from people living in the 40 per cent most deprived areas, demonstrating the reach and equity of the service. Community pharmacies are a key part of the wider healthcare system. They offer advice and support on a range of health issues without the need for a GP appointment or a visit to A&E. This includes the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service, which provides treatment for minor ailments such as coughs, colds, earache, and heartburn. The service is walk-in, with no appointment required. Mr Gould said: "Pharmacies are at the heart of our communities and play a crucial role in supporting people to lead healthier lives. "The Quit Your Way programme is a shining example of how local pharmacy services can make a real impact. "It was fantastic to meet Ms Minto and the staff of the Abbey Chemist in Paisley to hear more about how the service is making a difference."
Scotsman
24-07-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Food standards cuts leaving Scots 'sick to their stomach'
The Scottish Tories accused SNP ministers of putting food safety at risk Sign up to our Politics newsletter 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... Almost 1,000 fewer food business inspections took place in Scotland last year due to budget cuts which are making Scots "sick to their stomach", it has been warned. The Scottish Conservatives accused SNP ministers of putting food safety at risk by reducing the budgets of local authorities and Food Standards Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The party said the quango had suffered an 18 per cent cut in real terms since 2022/23, with employee numbers falling each year since 2021. A plate of fried food | PA The number of food business inspections dropped from 20,409 in 2023 to 19,466 last year, according to figures provided by the Scottish Government. Meanwhile, detections of campylobacter, the most common bacterial cause of food poisoning, increased by nearly 7 per cent between 2022 and 2023, with detections of salmonella up by almost 9 per cent. Tory MSP Liam Kerr said: 'We know the damage SNP cuts are doing across Scotland, but it looks as though these ones are literally making Scots sick to their stomach. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The work of Food Standards Scotland is vitally important, yet SNP ministers are failing to give them the resources they need. That is leading to fewer food inspections being carried out and a lack of prosecutions for food crimes. 'At the same time, shockingly yet predictably, the number of food poisoning-related illnesses has sharply increased in Scotland. 'SNP cuts to Food Standards Scotland and local councils across the country are putting food safety at risk in our communities. These cuts must be reversed to protect public health and ease the pressure on staff who are being asked to do more with less.' He made the comments ahead of a scheduled meeting between SNP public health minister Jenni Minto and Food Standards Scotland next week. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Geoff Ogle, chief executive of Food Standards Scotland, said it had experienced a decline in resources and staffing. He said: 'Protecting public health through safe food is, and always will be, our top priority. 'The figures quoted reflect challenges we've been highlighting for several years. Our joint annual report with the Food Standards Agency has consistently shown a decline in resources, staffing, and sampling capacity across the system. These are not new concerns - we've been clear that reductions in budgets have affected our ability to carry out some functions. 'However, more resource alone won't solve the problem. That's why we're working closely with the Scottish Government and local authorities on a wide-ranging programme to reform how food law is delivered in Scotland — to make it more resilient, risk-based and fit for the future. 'It is also important to note that the cause of fluctuations in public health data is a complex issue. Increases in campylobacter and salmonella, for example, are influenced by multiple factors — including consumer behaviour, global supply chains, foreign travel and climate. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We are not complacent about the risks, and we continue to take them very seriously. But it's important to recognise that these challenges are long-standing, and addressing them requires not only funding, but structural change to how the system works.'
STV News
19-07-2025
- Health
- STV News
Premature babies to be given new RSV vaccine
Premature babies can be given a new vaccine against a potentially life-threatening infection from later this year, the Scottish Government has confirmed. Public health minister Jenni Minto said the jab will be available for babies born before 32 weeks to protect them against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) over the winter period. Higher risk babies can receive the nirsevimab vaccine from September – with the single jab replacing five monthly injections previously given to infants classed as being at high risk. The move comes after advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. Minto said RSV 'can be life-threatening to babies born very early'. She added: 'That is why I am pleased the single jab will be offered by all NHS boards across Scotland from this September, helping to protect these high-risk infants over winter. 'We will continue to work hard to protect Scotland's most vulnerable groups against the respiratory illnesses which circulate throughout the colder months. 'Our various prevention programmes help reduce avoidable admissions to hospital and therefore the pressure on our NHS.' RSV can lead to life-threatening pneumonia and the lung infection bronchiolitis in babies. The new vaccine comes after Scotland was the first nation in the UK to introduce another RSV jab, Abrysvo, for pregnant women and older adults last August. More than 70% of eligible older adults were given Abrysvo, with a study by Public Health Scotland, which was published in the Lancet, showing a 62% reduction in RSV-related hospitalisations amongst this group. Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, head of vaccination and immunisation at Public Health Scotland, said: 'The last year has seen significant progress in efforts to protect those most vulnerable to RSV, including the introduction of the maternal RSV vaccine which is offered at 28 weeks of pregnancy and helps protect newborn babies from serious illness. 'Babies born prematurely are at highest risk of serious complications from RSV and we welcome this programme expansion, which will help to ensure that even more babies are protected during their most vulnerable early months.' 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
The Herald Scotland
13-07-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Heart disease treatment risks being 'diluted' by SNP plans
But 11 signatories, including the British Heart Foundation, the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow, warn that without a standalone approach more lives will be lost to cardiovascular disease. In an open letter to public health minister Jenni Minto, medics have called for a rethink. Cardiovascular deaths in adults aged 20 to 64 in Scotland rose by 14% from 2,032 in 2019 to 2,3244 in 2023. Experts expressed "deep concern" at the lack of strategic thinking in the consultation, adding the current plans have the "potential to have significant unintended negative impacts on cardiology services'. The letter co-ordinated by BHF Scotland said: 'We are deeply concerned that within the reasoning of this consultation and suggested approach the way in which resources and focus will be prioritised has not been sufficiently detailed. Read more: 'Given the substantial impact of heart disease on individuals and the healthcare system, it is imperative that strategic thinking and focused efforts and directed towards this condition.' Previous resources allocated for the improvement of heart disease have also been described as 'wholly insufficient', with just £3 million committed to two heart disease plans over the last decade. The Scottish Government's new consultation document suggests measures to improve overall healthcare quality and while this is welcome by BHF, experts warned it 'risks diluting the attention and resources needed to enable the improvement of cardiology services in Scotland'. The letter added: 'Heart disease management involves unique challenges, including early detection, timely intervention and ongoing management of risk factors, which cannot be effectively addressed through a generalised framework.' Read more: The letter urges the Scottish Government to strengthen its commitment to treating the condition by delivering a refreshed and fully funded Heart Disease Action Plan. A plan was first developed alongside experts in 2021 and while a cross-party group acknowledged "important progress," it found that implementation had suffered from a lack of resource given to cardiology. Scottish Labour Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: 'Experts are sounding the alarm about the SNP's plans and Ministers cannot bury their heads in the sand. 'Heart disease is one of Scotland's biggest killers and it is baffling that the SNP seems to be scaling back its focus on cardiovascular health. 'Lives are already being put at risk by the SNP's reckless mismanagement of our NHS, but SNP ministers have no idea how to fix this crisis or build the NHS patients deserve. 'The SNP must listen to these warnings and ensure it has a real plan to tackle heart disease and supports cardiovascular services, as well as taking action on other long-term conditions.' A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'We are determined to reduce avoidable cardiovascular deaths, including stroke, by a fifth over 20 years by ensuring people receive timely and high-quality care. That is why by March next year, we are providing extra GP appointments to support 100,000 patients who may be at risk, due to obesity, smoking, or high blood sugar, blood pressure or cholesterol as part of our cardiovascular disease risk factors programme and has particular focus on supporting people living in areas of deprivation.'
Scotsman
09-07-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Scotland deserves a government that will move mountains for cancer patients - Alex Cole-Hamilton
Survival rates for lung cancer are low Every hour, four Scots are diagnosed with cancer. As Scotland's biggest killer, it claims the lives of approx-imately 16,300 people every year. These figures are a reminder of why early diagnosis and early intervention are crucial. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, 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... Cancer patients need care fast to give them the best possible chance of survival. But right now, in Scotland, that's not what they're getting from this SNP government. In June, official statistics showed that just 68.9 per cent of cancer patients are being seen within the Scottish Government's 62-day treatment standard (covering the time from referral with an urgent suspicion of cancer to first treatment). This represents the worst performance against the target since records began. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In an attempt to defend this, the Health Secretary highlighted the median waiting time for treatment of 52 days, as if that were something to celebrate. New analysis by my party, however, has uncovered that 52 days is itself the worst average wait time for cancer treatment on record. SNP ministers are fast running out of excuses. International studies show that Scotland is falling behind. Cancer patients in Scotland were less likely to receive chemotherapy and were slower to start treatment than those in similar countries, including Norway, Canada and Australia. In what must be one of the most damning reports into medical care in Scotland I have ever read, the Royal College of Radiologists warned that we currently have the worst shortage of clinical oncologists of any UK nation. Public Health Minister Jenni Minto recently admitted that people could be losing their lives due to delays to diagnoses. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In the next twenty years, the number of Scottish lung cancer patients could rise by almost 60 per cent, with significant increases in cases of breast and colorectal cancers too. More of the same isn't going to work; we urgently need a step change in approach. Scottish Liberal Democrats want to see ministers who will move mountains to bring down waits, get to grips with gaps in tech and staff and end the postcode lottery in care. As I write this, there are specific, practical steps that the Scottish Government could be taking to do that. Three years ago, the UK National Screening Committee recommended that the whole of the UK introduce lung cancer screening to help prevent it or catch it early. It would be targeted at those who are high risk; people aged between 55 and 74, who smoke or who used to. Experts have called it a game changer. Survival rates for lung cancer aren't much better than they were in the 1970s. This cancer screening programme could save hundreds of lives every year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It's already being rolled out in England, Wales is going to do it too, but not Scotland. I challenged the First Minister directly on this failure, but I was left no clearer as to why the Scottish Government haven't moved with the urgency that's required. It's this kind of staggering inaction that keeps Scotland at the back of the queue for cancer care. My party want to see the government ending their dithering and making a full rollout of this screening programme a top priority. We know there isn't a moment to lose when it comes to getting patients these life-saving interventions. Only the Scottish Liberal Democrats will bring a real vision and a real plan for delivering the vital care those patients need.
