Pharmacies running out of flu vaccine as cases soar
Plus: Shortage sends prime office rents soaring; and Martin Compston's biggest role is made in Edinburgh
Soaring flu cases add to strain on city hospitals
Pharmacies are running out of flu vaccines in the Capital as a surge in cases puts hospitals under greater strain.
Stricter criteria for NHS vaccines this year has seen a rise in demand for getting them privately at local pharmacies, resulting in a number in the city being down to just a handful in stock, according to Community Pharmacy Scotland. Supplies remain solid within the NHS with the Health Secretary repeating an appeal for those eligible to get vaccinated.
The shortage comes as Public Health Scotland (PHS) described the level of flu cases across Scotland as “extraordinary” following a 12% increase in hospital admissions in a week. A total of 1,537 were admitted across Scotland in the week up to 29 December.
A “substantial number of well-vaccinated” care homes have seen outbreaks, although “only a small number of deaths have been reported”, PHS added.
Visitors to hospitals including the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh are being asked to wear face masks in an effort to help limit the spread of the virus.
Stricter criteria: Teachers and prison officers are among those who do not qualify for NHS vaccines due to tighter criteria this year. The changes were confirmed around September, after pharmacies had placed their orders for winter vaccine supplies. You can check if you qualify and book an appointment here.
Wash your hands: Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray has described the current pressures on the NHS as “significant”. He said: “Everyone can reduce the chance of catching flu or spreading it to others with good hand hygiene and other precautions, staying home if you have respiratory symptoms, and most crucially getting the vaccine if eligible”.
Increased pressure: Dr Tracey Gillies, medical director at NHS Lothian, said: “The pressures facing hospital and community teams, GPs and pharmacies regularly surge beyond levels of activity that some years ago would normally have been associated with winter.” Despite that, she added, “health care is there for everyone who needs it this winter”.
Winter planning: Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPS) across Lothian have enhanced their “discharge to assess” programmes, which helps support people to leave hospital as soon as it is safe and appropriate. Single points of contact (SPoC) services have also been increased, aimed at coordinating services for people who are at imminent risk of hospital care to be safely managed in the community.
Where to seek help: Medics say the NHS Inform App is the first stop for self-care and advice, while local pharmacies, GP, or Minor Injuries Unit can provide expert care and treatment, usually closer to home. If patients are unsure where to get help or if they need urgent health care at night or at the weekends, they should call 111 day or night. In Edinburgh, patients may be directed to other services if they turn up at A&E when they don’t need to be there.
YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING
‘KICK IN THE TEETH’: Vandals caused £10,000 worth of damage in the latest attack on Musselburgh Racecourse. Around 20 panels of a marquee were slashed and a Volkswagen campervan which had been repurposed to sell hot chocolate was wrecked following a break-in after Christmas. General Manager Bill Farnsworth told the Racing Post: "It's just so demoralising. It kicks you in the teeth."
BEE GRADE: An innovative beekeeping course has been launched at an East Lothian school. Pupils at Musselburgh Grammar will learn how to look after bees, produce honey and help protect the area’s environment, after school staff underwent a one-year training course at Newbattle Beekeeping Academy.
WWII SHELTER REOPENED: One of the blast shelters built to protect Royal Air Force crew at East Fortune during the Second World War has been reopened at the National Museum of Flight in East Lothian. The refurbished shelter was one of a dozen on the site which had been filled in for safety reasons in the 1970s.
‘BIGGER THAN LINE OF DUTY’: Actor Martin Compston has spoken of his pride at being involved in the supernatural thriller The Rig, which was filmed at Leith’s First Stage film studio. He said: “Amazon Prime is available in 270 countries. That’s not only daunting to think about but makes this the biggest job I’ve ever had in terms of scope, bigger than Line of Duty” The Rig, written by Edinburgh-based David Macpherson, is awaiting confirmation of the go-ahead for a third series, after the release of season two last week.
JUSTICE DENIED: There has been a dramatic rise in the number of parents representing themselves in court because they can’t find a solicitor to represent them. Shared Parenting Scotland said one in five of the parents they questioned who were eligible for legal aid had to represent themselves because they could not find a solicitor. That compares to just one in 50 the previous year.
WASTE WORK: A wastewater pumping station in the Mountjoy/Goosegreen area of Musselburgh is being refurbished by Scottish Water to reduce the risk of sewer flooding. The refurbishment is expected to take around a year, and includes manhole chamber works, surveys and other work.
MONORAIL REJECTED: The Scottish Cabinet considered plans for a 500km-an-hour, levitating monorail between Edinburgh and Glasgow, before rejecting the idea, newly released government papers have shown.
ROAD DEATH: An 87-year-old woman has died in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh four days after being hit by the diver of a car on St John’s Road in Corstorphine Edinburgh on Monday.
THE BUSINESS
Will 2025 see greater investment in top grade offices?
A combination soaring demand coupled with a complete lack of new build supply has seen top-end rents hit high levels during the past year in Edinburgh.
The combination has seen rents breaking through £50 per square foot, but despite the rental levels which are being achieved the supply of grade A offices remains extremely limited.
Commercial property experts, speaking to the Herald, said that high construction costs allied with the cost of borrowing suppressing interest in investing in new offices. Glasgow is similarly impacted. No new-build developments are scheduled to get underway in Scotland in 2025.
Experts are uncertain as to whether the next 12 months will see any major uptick in interest in building high quality new offices. David Smith of CBRE told the newspaper he believes “savvy investors identifying the opportunity” in premium properties that meet modern expectations and demands could benefit significantly.
The view was shared by others, including Cameron Stott of JLL: “With the critical shortage of sustainable Grade A space across Edinburgh and Glasgow continuing to drive rental growth, a brave developer starting a project in 2025 may reap the reward by the time their development reaches completion.”
TOP CLASS: Emirates airline has chosen its daily route linking Edinburgh and Dubai to launch its new fleet of A350 aircraft, with the first flights happening over the weekend, which will provide "three spacious cabin classes, accommodating 312 passengers in 32 next-generation business class lie-flat seats, 21 premium economy seats, and 259 generously pitched economy class seat.”
TECH INVESTMENT: Edinburgh-based repair and reinstatement company Insurepair is investing £100,000 in new technology this year to overhaul its technology, allowing it to provide an enhanced service to customers and insurers.
NEW HOTEL PLAN: Perle Hotel Group is to turn a former town house office at 16 - 20 Castle Street into a new 28 bedroomed hotel. The hotel will also have a food and beverage offering. The plans have been approved by the city council.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
NUTS FOR BALLET: Always one of the highlights of the extended festive season, Scottish Ballet returns to the Festival Theatre. This year they will be performing Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker from Wednesday until Saturday, 18 January.
FOLK STARS: Singer-songwriter Katherine Priddy and Deacon Blue’s Ricky Ross are among the stars lined up by Scotland’s leading fiddle player John McCusker for a special night of Celtic folk music. Southside of the Tracks 2025 is at the Queen’s Hall on Saturday.
LIKE A ROLLING STONE: Relive the teenage Bob Dylan’s rapid rise to superstardom in the new biopic starring Timothee Chalamet. A Complete Unknown is at the Cameo Picture House and elsewhere from Friday.
QUICK BITES
SUSHI NO MORE: City restaurant Umai Sushi and Ramen Kitchen ha closed its doors. The restaurant was originally opened at Queensferry Street before moving early last year to Dalry. The restaurant made the announcement on social media.
PERI-PERI PLANS: An office building at 55 Frederick Street is set to be transformed into a new fast-food restaurant. A planning application has been lodged to make the change to a venue serving peri-peri dishes, roasted chicken, and pizza.