Latest news with #Mair
The Herald Scotland
7 days ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Scots stroke survivor says NHS treatment must 'catch up'
'My leg completely gave way, and my foot was completely folded over,' he says. 'I immediately felt it might have been a stroke. As I phoned 999 for an ambulance, I felt all the power from my arm drain out and the whole right side of my face went numb.' Alastair Mair survived a stroke earlier this year. (Image: Supplied) Mair, who admits he was 'very fortunate', was treated on the scene by paramedics eleven minutes after making the distress call. En route to Borders General Hospital, he suffered a heart attack. He received an emergency thrombectomy to remove a blood clot from his brain, before being transferred to Edinburgh, where a stent was put in his heart. 'I woke up five days later in the hospital. After complaining of chest pain, I had another balloon stent put into my aortic artery,' he tells me matter of factly. Now, eight months later, Mair is well on the road to recovery. Working alongside Chest Heart and Stoke Scotland (CHSS), he has begun to advocate for better care for stroke patients across Scotland. Mair, who was previously in hospital for cardiological issues in 2015 and 2017, praised his experience as 'world class'. However, he is adamant that stroke care in Scotland needs to catch up. 'Scotland is probably the best palace in the world to have a heart attack right now, our cardiac care is so advanced. That's very fortunate, but we need the stroke guys to catch up. It is a capacity problem. 'Right now, the treatment of stroke could be improved. The NHS isn't able to do enough thrombectomies to deal with blood clots, so they need to be treated with drugs,' he notes. Mair was taken to hospital after waiting just 11 minutes for an ambulance. (Image: NQ) A thrombectomy, which is a clot removal treatment pioneered in Sweden in the 1990s, can vastly improve outcomes for stroke survivors if it is administered within the recommended timeframe. This week, the leading Scottish stroke charity has called out the government for failing to provide the service to more patients. CHSS has said that the treatment saves the NHS an average of £47,000 per patient over a five year span, and 'reduces the likelihood of a stroke survivor living with severe disability.' However, just 212 operations were carried out in Scotland in 2024 (2.2% of all stroke patients), leaving thousands unable to access the vital surgery. The service is not offered around the clock, negatively impacting those who are taken to hospital outside of normal working hours. Mair adds: 'We need health boards to encourage cross jobs involvement. They aren't really working as a team. It would be great to have an on-call 24/7 service, but we don't have the staff right now. There needs to be more job crossing, which is what they do in Europe and in the US.' Furthermore, he contends that there needs to be a more joined up approach when it comes to treating patients who have begun recovering from operations. Reflecting on his own experiences in hospital, Mair says: 'Initially they thought the heart attack was caused when the blood clot split in two, and half to the brain and half to the aortic artery. However, when they did the second procedure, they discovered there had been two separate incidents. That was a heart stopping moment. Mair was in hospital for two weeks, rather than three. (Image: PA) 'Yet, the hospital was full. So I had to go after just two weeks. I think the bed managers have too much power. I should have been in for three weeks, and they didn't check the basics of stroke recovery. "There was no reference to occupational theory or whether or not my house was suitable.' According to statistics released by Public Health Scotland on Tuesday, just 52.9% of stroke patients received a vital care 'bundle' whilst in hospital, far below the NHS target of 80%. The bundle includes aspirin, access to a stroke unit, brain imaging, and a swallow screening. Mair adds: 'This sort of thing lets the health service down. I was out on the Friday, and back on the Sunday after developing complications.' Information is key, especially in cases where strokes do not fit the typical FAST pattern (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties, and Time to call 999). Read more: Scottish Government fails to meet stroke care benchmark - for 7th year in a row No ScotGov timetable for 24/7 stroke treatment access as deaths hit eight year high Why has treatment for strokes in Scotland become an issue? Mair continues: 'We need more public information. My stroke didn't follow FACTS. "The BBC should be bending themselves over backwards to get this information out, just like they did when it came to safe driving. It is frightening if you are in hospital for the first time.' While his post-stroke symptoms have included occasional fatigue and nerve sensitivity, Mair tells me that he has been able to continue driving and leading an 'active life'. And now, given a second chance at life, Mair has vowed to continue advocating for stroke patients and working to build a more robust health system.
13-06-2025
- Business
On the road to the G7 in Kananaskis, a popular wilderness retreat locks down
Please, allow me to show you my bus that I drive for G7, says the driver. Willi Mair makes his way around the side of the coach, a late-model Canadian-made Prevost. It's branded with the name of the company, Sunshine Coach, and painted with three slices of sunset red and golden yellow. He steps up the entrance of the bus and leans into the driver's area. The coach has all of the conveniences, Mair notes — he can lower the front for older people to come on board. It's got seatbelts, for safety. There's a washroom in the back. And it is, of course … air conditioned, he concludes, proudly. Just a few days ago, Mair's bus was full of RCMP officers, heading to the G7 summit. They weren't in uniform, but they came carrying heavy bags. Mair, who likes to help passengers load their luggage, was surprised at their weight. I was afraid I would pull the handle off just by lifting, he said. But the officers were very nice. Casual. And going to work, I guess. Tuesday was the first day a controlled access zone came into effect (new window) in the Kananaskis region in advance of the G7 summit, a gathering of leaders from seven of the world's advanced economies. The summit has brought a significantly heightened police and military presence to this area. WATCH | Here's what the new Kananaskis G7 security perimeter looks like: Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? Here's what the new Kananaskis G7 security perimeter looks like RCMP have established a secure 'controlled access zone' surrounding Kananaskis Village ahead of the G7 summit there from June 15-17. The CBC's Acton Clarkin and Joel Dryden went to the zone's border to find out what's off limits and learn more about final summit security preparations. Now that the zone has come into effect, Mair is only driving security officials and staff from the Calgary International Airport as far as the Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino, a little more than 25 kilometres from the summit site. White tents at the casino play host to vehicle screening and act as a passenger switch-over point. Screened vehicles are escorted into the controlled access zone. Other passengers are moved in on pre-cleared buses. It is a big hoopla, for sure, Mair said. But, it has to be this way. Willi Mair with Sunshine Coach points to the interior of the bus with 56 recliner seats he's using to drive G7 security officials and staff around. (Acton Clarkin/CBC) Photo: (Acton Clarkin/CBC) Police forces come to Alberta to support The Bearspaw Kananaskis Travel Centre sits in the next parking lot over from the Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino. Ellaina Benjamin is working the front counter. Being situated right outside the road that takes delegates to the controlled access zone means these employees are seeing a lot — army helicopters, jets, and police from across the country. I kind of find it amusing, entertaining to see. It's something different, for sure. I got nosy yesterday and I was asking where their jurisdictions are from, Benjamin said. Security for the event is being run by an integrated group that includes the RCMP, the Calgary Police Service, Alberta sheriffs, Alberta conservation officers and the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as other police services from across the country, including Edmonton, Winnipeg, and the Tsuut'ina Nation Police Service. These forces are tasked with handling what officials have referred to as the largest domestic security operation a country can take on, with more advanced technological threats, including drones. Other threats are those outdoorsy Albertans may be more familiar with. Some of them come into view on a trip up the road to the controlled access zone. A sign on the side of the road advises motorists that the fire danger rating for Banff National Park is now classified (new window) as Extreme. Near a blockade close to the summit site, a bear is seen scampering into the dense treeline. Officials have said they're working to minimize the wildlife-human contact. In 2002, the last time the leaders' summit was held in Kananaskis, a bear was tranquilized and later killed after it came too close to the leaders' site. Near the Wasootch Ridge Trailhead, police vehicles wave motorists over, asking them to roll down their windows. From here, accreditation is mandatory for anyone who wants into the controlled access zone. A controlled access zone has been in effect since June 10, and will remain until June 18. (Acton Clarkin/CBC) Photo: (Acton Clarkin/CBC) Some anxious to return to natural spaces The region will stay this way, locked down, until June 18. For those locals who have come to view Kananaskis as a retreat from daily life, the disruption can't end soon enough. The Galatea day use area, Mount Lorette Ponds, and Little Lougheed Trail are among several recreational zones off-limits (new window) until the summit wraps up. It's closed all my favourite spots, said Nalyn Hill, who visits the area from Calgary almost every weekend with her dog. I like to take him to Mount Lorette Ponds, especially … everything was blocked off. So, it's very frustrating. Nalyn Hill, a Calgary resident who visits Kananaskis often, said she's frustrated about her favourite escapes being closed during the G7 summit. (Acton Clarkin/CBC) Photo: (Acton Clarkin/CBC) Though leaders will be situated within Kananaskis Village itself, the disruption isn't just being felt around the Kananaskis region. Calgary, Banff, and the surrounding area is playing host to media and support teams from around the world. In Banff, international media will gather at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Preparation was in full-swing on Tuesday, with crews checking technology and setting up stations for journalists to deliver their live reports. Soon, leaders will arrive at Kananaskis Village, the international media centre will be bustling with activity, and the nearby site at the Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre will be open for those looking to protest. Janice Hagel, who was taking a break from a bicycle ride outside the recreation centre on Tuesday, said she thinks the security measures are necessary given the scale of the event. But she adds she'll be watching the outcomes of the summit closely. I'm interested in what they'll be talking about, she said. And not only that, but what they'll be acting on. Joel Dryden (new window) · CBC News
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sir Jonathan Pryce: ‘Dementia is the UK's biggest killer – we need to do more to remove the prejudice'
This June sees the return of Alzheimer's Society's Forget Me Not Appeal, which funds life-changing support and groundbreaking research for the UK's biggest killer – dementia. We will be talking to people who have been affected by it – from a carer, to a widower, to a scientific researcher. Meet the first in our series, Sir Jonathan Pryce CBE, who played a character with dementia in the hit Apple TV+ show Slow Horses, and whose beloved Aunt Mair lived with dementia. Some of my best roles have come in my later years, such as playing Pope Francis in The Two Popes, or Prince Philip in The Crown. Recently, I attended the Baftas, where I was nominated for best supporting actor for my role playing former agent with dementia David Cartwright in Slow Horses. Known as 'The old b-----d' in the books the series were based on, David had a history of not being a nice man, who just happened to have dementia as part of the story. I didn't want that to define him. I know there are actors who can reel off all the research they've done to get in character, but for me it's more just trying to absorb who the person is, the way they behave and react to people. The way others react to them. When playing someone who is a bit lost and forgetful, searching for words as well as things, I found myself actually 'going in on myself', withdrawing into my own world as someone with dementia does. Sometimes, truthfully, I found myself going in too deep with that. I had to be careful, it could be quite punishing. Paranoia is a common symptom of the disease but, as a former MI6 agent, Cartwright thinking people were following him and trying to kill him wasn't just paranoia. There were many secrets locked in his brain. Slow Horses wasn't the first time I'd played a character with dementia. I was in a play before that, The Height of the Storm, and one of the most moving experiences was being greeted by a man in his 50s at the stage door after the show. He told me he'd recently lost his father, after giving up his job to care for him through Alzheimer's. All that time he'd managed alone as the carer, never getting emotional. He told me that watching the play was the first time he'd allowed himself to cry about it. That's deeply humbling as an actor. While I didn't base my portrayal in Slow Horses on anyone in particular, I too have lived through a loved one losing their memory. My beloved Aunt Mair was in her 90s when she went into a care home in North Wales. Mair said to me: 'I don't care if I die'. And I replied, 'I don't mind you dying, but I don't want you dying in pain after falling down the stairs.' She only really had dementia at the end. One of the last times I saw her she didn't recognise me. I said, 'it's Jon'. And she replied: 'Oh, I have a nephew called Jon, he's a famous actor.' While I found her forgetting me upsetting, when I relayed this to my son, he said, 'no Dad, she remembers you – she just doesn't recognise you.' I found that notion comforting. Dementia can be hugely isolating, which is why Alzheimer's Society is so invaluable, showing people they're not alone. I fell into being a charity ambassador really, after I was asked to take part in a service at St Paul's Cathedral several years ago. Doing a reading at St Paul's had always been on my bucket list – so I had to say yes. Watching Alzheimer's Society's Singing for the Brain Choir moved me to tears, and afterwards I agreed to help the charity any way I could. Around a million people in the UK are living with dementia today – it's the UK's biggest killer and, with our ageing population, its prevalence is rising. The charity does great work in trying to remove some of the prejudices around the condition (which is caused by diseases of the brain), but really I wish the Government would provide more funding for the NHS to do this work, instead of letting the charity fill in the gaps. At the age of 78, I can honestly say that there's nothing at all about getting older that frightens me. When I was a younger man, I was afraid of ageing, mostly because I'd lived through my father getting ill and having a terrible old age himself. But now I realise there's nothing to fear – getting old is inevitable. Neither do I ever consider which is worse, losing one's mental faculties or one's physical abilities. I hope I don't have to make that choice. I am the age I am, and I'm embracing it. Keeping working has been key for me. When I was a young actor, I'd stupidly say that I planned to retire at 60. I'd seen older actors being patronised on film sets (don't ask me who, I'll say I can't remember). I'd grown up watching these big stars on television be reduced to smaller and smaller roles. I didn't want to be that guy. I'd want to go and speak to one of the directors and say, 'you do realise who this person is? They need to be treated with respect'. But I've kept working and, as far as I know, I haven't seen anyone being taken into a corner saying, 'you do realise this is Jonathan Pryce – he used to be famous!' Of course, I'm nearly always the oldest person on any set now, and happily there are younger people in the industry who appreciate people like me bringing decades of life experience with them. While I don't fear old age, or what might come next, I do everything I can to stay well – physically and mentally. Every morning, I do all the puzzles in The New York Times, competing online with a friend to keep us both on our toes. I do word searches, crosswords and Wordle, always proudly texting him if I can get it in two. When I was a young man, I could memorise a page of dialogue after just a few readings. I still can, more or less. I've had to get more organised over the years, though; if I haven't put something in my diary, it won't happen. I'm less impulsive than I was, and I like to get everywhere early. As a family [Jonathan has three adult children with his wife Kate Fahy], we've always eaten well. We generally eat a Mediterranean diet. I eat meat and everything else – moderation is the secret. Same with alcohol. I do enjoy a nice red wine with dinner. I exercise too. There was a wonderful period when I had a set schedule filming The Crown and I saw a personal trainer twice a week. These days, I try to walk everywhere I can, and if I'm outside of London, I cycle. Admittedly, it's on an electronically assisted bike these days, but that still helps from my eldest son, who's in New York, I'm lucky enough to live close to my family in London, and I find my children inspirational, and my wife of course. My main ambition now is to keep working. I may not be in line to play the next James Bond, but there are still interesting parts coming my way. My cab driver this morning told me he was 66 and couldn't wait to retire. I said, 'don't do that! I've seen friends retire early, and it doesn't turn out well. Don't stop!' As an actor, I'm lucky I don't need to retire, although it could retire me of course. All l really want is to be creative, enjoy life and campaign for the causes I care about. As told to Susanna Galton Sir Jonathan is an Ambassador for Alzheimer's Society and is supporting the charity's appeal. Donate at Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
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Scotsman
05-06-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Medieval Scots thought 'Scottish independence was compatible with being British'
Sign up to our History and Heritage 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... A leading historian has suggested that Scottish independence has long been compatible with being British following his analysis of medieval texts. Professor Dauvit Broun, of the University of Glasgow, has found Scottish historians and writers in the 1380s and early 1500s regarded the Scottish kingdom as equivalent to Britain. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Malcolm III and Queen Margaret of Scotland. New research has illuminated the perspective that the Scottish royal line's connection to Anglo-Saxon royalty gave Scottish kings a claim to Britain as a whole. PIC: CC. | CC This was not as common as the tendency to refer to Britain as England, but it was similar, he said. While England's identification with Britain has existed for over a millennium, Prof Broun has discovered a parallel tradition where Scots envisioned Britain as an extension of Scotland. Professor Dauvit Broun, Professor of Scottish History at the University of Glasgow. | Photographic Unit University of Prof Broun's findings follow the recent discovery of a booklet from the early 16th century that illuminates this unexpected relationship between Scottish independence and British identity that has, until now, been overlooked. READ MORE: Manuscript that sheds light on William Wallace and Wars of Independence made public for first time Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The academic, writing in the Journal of Scottish Historical Studies, said these Scottish writers articulated a vision where Britain could be a kingdom ruled by the Scottish monarchy – effectively a Scottish kingdom expanded to island-wide scale. The professor of Scottish history said: 'A close reading of work by medieval Scottish historians and scholars shows they firmly believed that Scottish independence was entirely compatible with British identity. 'In this era, Britain was not seen as an English-dominated kingdom, as is often how it is viewed today, but rather a space that could be ruled by the Scottish monarchy. This idea of Britain as fundamentally Scottish is a surprising and provocative viewpoint in today's often polarised debates around national identity.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A key figure in Prof Broun's analysis is John Mair, the so-called 'founding father of Scottish unionism'. Prof Broun, in his paper, said Mr Mair's vision was essentially a Scottish kingdom expanded to include England. Mr Mair advocated for a marriage-based union between Scottish and English royal houses. Prof Broun has now argued Mr Mair envisioned this primarily from a Scottish perspective, with the assumption that a Scottish king would rule Britain. Prof Broun also analysed a previously unpublished manuscript booklet, the St Andrews Chronicles, which dates from around 1511 and gives rare insight into how ordinary educated Scots engaged with these ideas. The St Andrews Chronicles is a startling manuscript (Pic: University of St Andrews) This homemade booklet contains a collection of historical texts about Scottish and British origins, king-lists and chronicles, suggesting these British-Scottish connections were of interest beyond elite scholarly circles. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The physical characteristics of the booklet suggest it was created for personal use indicating a practical interest in these historical connections. The booklet appears to have copied an earlier compilation that itself may have expanded upon an even earlier collection of texts. This suggests these British Scottish historical perspectives were being transmitted and expanded by ordinary educated Scots over time, Prof Broun added. The arrangement of historical material in the booklet combines Scottish royal dynasty and events with outlines of Britain as a kingdom from ancient times similar to Mr Mair's approach, but predating his work. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad READ MORE: 13 Kings of Scotland and why they are remembered to this day The manuscript's significant focus on Malcolm III and St Margaret – appearing twice in different sections – mirrors the view the Scottish royal line's connection to Anglo-Saxon royalty gave Scottish kings a claim to Britain as a whole. This reinforces the distinctly Scottish-centric view of British history articulated particularly by the Scottish historian John of Fordun in the 1380s, he added.
Perth Now
08-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
City to pay homeowners to install AI cams and share footage
The City of Melville is pondering big incentives to homeowners who agree to install AI cameras on their private property and share footage with city security officers. A proposed home CCTV rebate program outlines that people who install security cameras that use AI to send automated alerts with live footage to the city's safety team would be eligible for the largest rebates. 'The CCTV Rebate Program is an innovative initiative aimed at encouraging homeowners to install CCTV systems and as part of an Australian-first trial initiative, integrate them with the city's community safety patrol service,' Melville mayor Katy Mair said. Your local paper, whenever you want it. 'If approved by council, participants who install eligible CCTV systems and join the partnership program would receive higher rebates to those installing CCTV systems without joining the program. 'The initiative would enable private CCTV systems to send real-time automated alerts from specific camera systems directly to the city's Community Safety Service Patrol team, dramatically reducing response times to suspicious behaviour.' Support for the concept will be tested by community consultation before Melville council decides whether to push ahead with the wider CCTV rebate program. Ms Mair said AI technology would automate surveillance tasks and instantly detect suspicious activities like graffitiing, which could assist in criminal investigations. But she insisted there would be safeguards to respect privacy, given the footage would come from households and private land. 'A new AI system would continuously detect incidents in real-time and instantly alert patrols with actionable information, significantly improving response times,' she said. 'The city would not be able to access any other footage. The system ensures residents' privacy by only accessing footage sent to the city system as an alert. 'With AI, we would be shifting from reactive to proactive security, creating a safer, more secure and efficient Melville.' Existing security camera owners with compatible systems would also be eligible to join, although the city said it was too soon to know which CCTV models would be suitable, how much residents would need to pay for their installation and the amount of the rebate payment being considered.
