She is a small figure in black clothes etched on the white hospital bed. When no-one seems close enough to hear she murmurs a low groan. Marianne is in pain, I feel sure, but she makes a determined job of hiding it. “I’m feeling fine. I could go back to work right now, I could.” she insists. The surgical team doesn’t sound so sure. Marianne (not her real name) arrived in … [Read more...] about It hurts us all: who can heal Scotland’s health inequality?
poverty
Poverty and coronavirus in Edinburgh: solutions in shared humanity
Edinburgh, the wealthiest city in Scotland, is amongst the hardest hit economically by the coronavirus crisis in the UK. While the risks of deepening inequality are undoubtedly increasing, our shared human response to this crisis perhaps allows us to see the emergence of new solutions more clearly. The picture of poverty in Edinburgh is distinctive – and alarming. In this … [Read more...] about Poverty and coronavirus in Edinburgh: solutions in shared humanity
Rapid response: social enterprise shows the way
Nurses and doctors working flat out in intensive care units do not have time to plan or cook healthy meals. They barely have time to eat.It’s one of the startling facts galvanising an extraordinary social enterprise. National governments could learn from grassroots innovation which is impressive not least for its efficiency. At local community levels there is a rapid … [Read more...] about Rapid response: social enterprise shows the way
Another Johnson untruth on poverty
There are 400,000 fewer children in poverty than there were in 2010. We are taking steps to alleviate poverty, the gap between rich and poor has actually diminished.Boris Johnson, prime minister and Conservative Party leader, on the BBC Andrew Marr show on December 1Boris Johnson’s bold claim about child poverty needs some careful consideration – it is a very … [Read more...] about Another Johnson untruth on poverty
Scottish children’s mental health crisis
We introduce a special report by two specialists in children and young people's mental health on a pioneering school qualification.“Children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing is a priority for the Scottish Government. It is central to achieving its ambition for Scotland to be the best place in the world for children to grow up,” Is how Audit Scotland puts … [Read more...] about Scottish children’s mental health crisis