I understand the logic in wanting someone to avoid A&E unless they have co-morbid psychical injury, however people often feel scared, like they have nowhere else to go. If someone reaches somewhere safe like A&E it is absolutely vital that they are seen. It seems morally wrong that this service is now shielded, asking people to phone the First Response call centre even once they have arrived at A&E, to reduce the amount of people being seen. To someone in severe distress, this could be the last straw and make them feel as if they don’t deserve help and that they shouldn’t have reached out. Those in a mental health crisis are highly vulnerable individuals who could be at serious risk of harm, many will not be able to talk on the phone. I have unfortunately had first-hand experience of this new system. Appendix 1.4.1 of this NHS England document from 2016, “Achieving Better Access to 24/7 Urgent and Emergency Mental Health Care”, states “ The evidence-based treatment pathway introduced in this guide requires that people who need urgent and emergency mental health care receive an evidence-based package of care informed by NICE guidance within four hours of presenting in an ED or referral from a ward. • An urgent and emergency liaison mental health service should respond to the person within one hour of receiving a referral. An emergency response consists of a review to decide on the type of assessment needed and arranging appropriate resources for the assessment (see Section 4.2.2) c The NCCMH, a partnership between the Royal College of Psychiatrists and University College London, was one of the national collaborating centres first established by NICE in 2001 to develop clinical guidelines. d Forthcoming on the NICE website. • Within four hours of arriving in an ED or being referred from a ward it is recommended that the person should: • have received a full biopsychosocial assessment, and • have an urgent and emergency mental health care plan in place, and • at a minimum, be en route to their next location if geographically different, or • have been accepted and scheduled for follow-up care by a responding service, or • have been discharged because the crisis has resolved OR • have started a Mental Health Act assessment. ” It’s worth noting that official NHS England advice on nhs.uk, (https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/) remains the same: " Call 999 or go to A&E now if: • someone's life is at risk – for example, they have seriously injured themselves or taken an overdose •you do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a physical one. You will not be wasting anyone's time. Call: 999 Find your nearest A&E "

Mental health is a real issue, more especially during this pandemic, everyone has to make sacrifices to stay safe but there is a solid argument for this campaign

These familys are struggling enough during this pandemic and stressing over feeding their children or paying the Bill's. In this day and age no child should be left to go hungry.

The Covid-19 pandemic has unleashed chaos on all our lives, however, it's hit our elderly the hardest. The very people who were asked to shield away from loved ones for months and were warned they were most susceptible to the deadly virus, are now facing a lengthy wait for this vital protection. This mess must be fixed. Hundreds of readers have got in touch with the Glasgow Times as the threat of winter flu season looms. Many of the people we’ve spoken to feel the NHS boards simply don’t care about their health because of their age. This is a national scandal and it must stop. Please sign our petition to help us give our OAPS a shot.

Scotland's physical and mental wellbeing is suffering. Suicide rates are going up and not enough is being done to help freelance group instructors and Yoga businesses who are trying to ease the burden on the NHS AND support NHS workers who need that external support from dealing with the added stress put on them. These sole traders and small businesses are supporting people by helping improve their immune systems with gentle breathwork and physical activity in a safe and nurturing environment, improving physical and mental wellbeing with Meditation and Mindfulness and generally create a support network for those that are more vulnerable including trauma-informed Yoga. These sessions are lifelines to people and without more help and support are at risk of disappearing altogether.

I had residents complaining to me about unmanaged fireworks affecting our UK elderly, sickly, people working shifts, and our pets, once again last night. The bins in Liden Lagoon were destroyed last night. The damage of public items and anti-social behaviour that happens when people get together to set off loud firework explosions in the night is unacceptable to residents. I have notified Swindon Nythe, Eldene and Liden NEL Parish & Police have been advised to act. I have asked Swindon Borough Council to issue letters to perpetrators for no exploding of loud fireworks close to residential housing for Liden, Eldene, Nythe, Park South & Swindon wide. Please report the noise nuisance & Anti-Social behavior to your local police, councils, and governments.

Eating disorders rates are increasing rapidly, many young girls and a lot of young boys today have an eating disorder of some sort and putting calories on a menu encourages the disorder and discourages them from seeking help and recovery, as well as this, it can also allow people to develop an eating disorder if they did not have one already. Anorexia has a 20% mortality rate and can lead to infertility, anaemia, death, ect, bulimia can lead to cardiac arrest, infertility, tooth loss and death also, they're incredibly deadly eating disorders that need to be looked out for more.

Since the early part of this year, Sinfin Health Centre has been closed for face-to-face consultations with patients. This has meant that we have had to travel to the Heatherton Village branch of the practice. Without a car this means four bus journeys or a taxi fare of £8 to £9 each way. The doctors and other staff are much appreciated by many of us and we do understand the effect that Covid 19 has had on our NHS. However, we feel it to be unfair for one patient group to have to struggle in this way, especially as Sinfin is home to many elderly people and young families on lower incomes. We therefore ask our doctors to consider the impact of their decision and to reopen Sinfin Health Centre now.

Often community care staff travel to many clients homes .vulnerable clients can easily be exposed to asymptomatic staff carrying the covid virus and passing it to vulnerable patients

Because if these workers aren’t supported both generally and financially they may take longer to recover, will be unable to afford to live near their place of work and we run the risk of many of them leaving the NHS. They’ve been trained and it would be a great shame to lose so many of the people we all depend on.

Vitamin D supplements have been shown to reduce rates and severity of respiratory infections in people who are low in vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency is associated with increased susceptibility to a variety of bacterial and viral infections including influenza. Associations have also been made between low vitamin D levels and severity of covid19 symptoms. Due to lockdown restrictions many residents will have had little or no sun exposure and will therefore be experiencing low levels of vitamin D putting them at increased risk from respiratory tract infections..

With the risk of Covid-19 still with us, it is deeply hurtful and insensitive that ITV have decided that Celebrity's lives matter more than the General Public of North Wales and have decided to push ahead, against medical knowledge, and will stage this year's 'I'm A Celebrity' series in North Wales. The local people were not consulted about this and there is every chance that because of this, Covid-19 will be brought into the area which completely goes against the point of the Government's advice (Westminster & Cardiff Bay) and only adds fuel to the fire of Covid-19 and lockdown sceptics. When I recently voiced my concerns to a member of the show's production, (Hayley McFarlane) I was told to '....' myself and that Celebrities were more important than the people of North Wales and their 'stupid precious feelings.' I have the email on file and a copy is with my Solicitor. If ITV think that the people of North Wales do not matter, and they can ride roughshod over them, they then need to be shown they cannot do this and should be prosecuted for their arrogant and criminal treatment of people who are trying their best to shield and not spread this virus as we want to go back to the old normal as soon as possible. It is as if they are trying to deliberately upset people and are working to spread this virus. It is almost tantamount to a terrorist attack.