South Scotland MSP Martin Whitfield has visited Eildon’s Riverside House supported housing development in Peebles to see the Older People Active Lives (OPAL) project in action first-hand. The OPAL service for the Borders was launched last summer in partnership between charities Eildon Housing Association and Cyrenians. Cyrenians contacted Mr Whitfield with information about the service [...]
A new report has found that over half of people living with epilepsy who took part in a national survey said it was ‘difficult’ or ‘very difficult’ talking about their mental health. Martin Whitfield MSP is calling on the estimated 7,034 people living with epilepsy in South Scotland to open up about their mental health [...]
Nominations for this year's Scottish Health Awards are open and Martin Whitfield MSP is encouraging constituents in South Scotland to consider nominating their own healthcare hero. These awards are the most prestigious and recognised awards run by the Daily Record in partnership with NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government. At the heart of the awards [...]
Martin Whitfield MSP has welcomed the launch of Scotland’s first-ever conversion practices helpline, a new support service for people who have experiences, are experiencing, or might experience conversion practices in Scotland. Launched at Pride Edinburgh on 24th June, the helpline is run by LGBT Health and Wellbeing. The charity was established in 2003 and works [...]
Today marks the start of Myeloma Awareness Week (19-25 June). Myeloma is a treatable but incurable blood cancer. This year Myeloma UK are campaigning to find the ‘missing’ 851 blood cancer patients. During the pandemic, myeloma saw a drop in diagnoses, with confirmed cases down by 851 across the UK compared to pre-COVID expectations. This [...]
This week (19 to 24 June) is Cervical Screening Awareness Week and this year a leading charity is encouraging people to talk about screening during the week. Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust is highlighting the importance of cervical screening and encouraging attendance at screening appointments. The charity is sharing different experiences, including screening after giving birth, [...]
This week is Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Week and today (Friday 16 June) is Wear Yellow Day. Martin Whitfield MSP has been demonstrating his support for the week and the important campaigning, fundraising and research undertaken by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust by wearing the charity's pin badge at parliament. CF is a genetic condition that causes [...]
Martin Whitfield MSP has joined parliamentary colleagues in helping to highlight awareness of this year's World Blood Donor Day (14th June) and National Blood Week which celebrates and thanks those who donate blood, platelets and plasma. As part of the week, representatives from the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS), which is part of NHS [...]
Martin Whitfield MSP has visited North Berwick-based charity Leuchie House for an update on some of its latest developments and future plans. The South Scotland MSP met with the charity's CEO Mark Bevan for a tour of the building and its facilities. This included finding out more about the use of new technology in guests' [...]
Biomedical Science Day is taking place today (Thursday 8th June) and Martin Whitfield MSP is adding his thanks to the UK's dedicated biomedical laboratory staff for their vital role #AtTheHeartOfHealthcare. Now in its seventh year, Biomedical Science Day is the biggest annual celebration of biomedical scientists and laboratory staff. Each year hundreds of NHS hospitals [...]
