Latest News

Right Care, Right Place

Coronavirus is changing how our NHS Scotland works and how we access services to keep everyone safe. It’s important we all know how to get the right care, safely. The guides below (click on the links) will help explain which NHS service to use for different health concerns, and how to look after your health and the people you care for.

Right Care, Right Place Booklet (in English)

Link to booklet in different languages

Right Care, Right place - Quick Guide

CORONAVIRUS

Please click on the links below to access the latest information from the Scottish Government on Coronavirus www.nhsinform.scot or www.gov.scot/coronavirus

Asthma Patient Recruitment

Asthmatic Patients

Mumps

In the past there have been several cases of mumps at the University. Protection from this viral illness is provided by the MMR vaccine. If you have not been immunised, or think you have only had one dose of MMR, then please see below:

For general queries about vaccination, please visit: www.nhslothian.scot/HealthInformation/Immunisation/Pages/default.aspx

For direct point of contact the helpline is 0300 790 6296 or you can email loth.ehscpctacvaccinationreferrals@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Mumps factsheet
MMR leaflet

Meningitis ACWY

First time University entrants under the age of 25 are advised to be vaccinated against Meningitis ACWY, prior to coming to Heriot Watt University. If you have not had this before coming to University, then you can attend the University Health Centre to arrange GP registration, and book an appointment to have this vaccination.

Updated advice received from the Scottish Government recommends that students under the age of 25 who have never received a dose of Meningitis ACWY vaccine, should now receive the Meningitis ACWY vaccine to provide the best possible protection for this age group.

Registered students under the age of 25 that fall into the criteria above, who wish to have the Meningitis ACWY vaccine should contact:

The helpline is 0300 790 6296 or email loth.ehscpctacvaccinationreferrals@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

For further information, visit http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/men-acwy-vaccine.aspx or http://www.meningitis.org/.

Common Winter Illnesses

Winter Vomiting Bug

Click here for information on the Norovirus

Health News from the BBC and the NHS

BBC Health

Some antidepressants may make heatwave challenging
Some types of mental health medication may make it difficult for the body to regulate temperature.
Thousands more NHS beds to be created in England this winter
Health service chiefs have promised some 7,000 extra beds in England to tackle increased demands.
Covid: Evusheld antibody protection ruled out for most vulnerable
The antibody injection had promised a protection boost to those with conditions such as blood cancer.
Ambulance calls for most serious conditions hit record
Official figures from NHS England suggest high demand for emergency services and hospitals.
Monkeypox: Lack of vaccines pauses rollout in Brighton
Stocks of the vaccine run low in the UK, with a new batch not due to arrive until next month.
NHS IT supplier held to ransom by hackers
Its IT provider says it may take three or four weeks to fully recover from the cyber-attack.
Urgent polio boosters for London children
Nearly a million children, aged one to nine, will be offered a jab in the next month after virus found in sewage.
'I've been let down - I shouldn't have stage-4 cancer'
Caroline Boulton says there have been delays at every stage of her treatment for breast cancer.
UK heatwave: Four-day extreme heat warning for parts of UK
The Met Office says temperatures will be below July's record highs - but this heatwave will last longer.
Backlog of longest-wait patients slashed in England
Thousands waiting more than two years for scans, checks and surgery have finally been treated.

NHS Choices Behind the Headlines

NHS Choices
Health A-Z
Symptoms, conditions, medicines, treatments and guides
Find conditions...
Cancer treatment response may be affected by gut bacteria
"Gut bacteria 'boost' cancer therapy," BBC News reports. The news comes from research into whether people...
Could a blood test in middle age predict dementia risk?
"Tissue inflammation blood test points to dementia risk," is the headline in The Times. Researchers in...
Acid reflux drugs linked to increased stomach cancer risk
"A drug commonly used to treat acid reflux is linked to a more than doubled risk of developing stomach...
Nutrient drink for Alzheimer's has disappointing result in trial
A new study investigating the effects of a nutrient drink for Alzheimer's disease has led to very different...
Marriage may help lower dementia risk
"Marriage and having close friends may help protect against dementia, according to Loughborough University...
Afternoon open heart surgery 'leads to fewer complications'
"Afternoon heart surgery has lower risk of complications, study suggests," says The Guardian. Researchers...
Report calls for better mental health support in the workplace
"Up to 300,000 people with long-term mental health problems have to leave their jobs each year, a report...
Blood-thinning drugs may reduce dementia risk in people with irregular heartbeats
"Common blood thinning drugs halve the risk of dementia for patients who have an irregular heartbeat,"...
New genetic variants associated with breast cancer identified
"Do you have one of the 180 breast cancer genes? One in five women has a variant that raises her risk...