MIDLOTHIAN AND EAST LOTHIAN RESIDENTS URGED TO VISIT COMMUNITY PHARMACY WITH MINOR ILLNESSES
 
People across Midlothian and East Lothian have been encouraged to visit their community pharmacy for advice and support to treat minor illnesses or common conditions, after a new NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service was launched earlier this week.
 
Local SNP MSP, Colin Beattie has said the new service will allow community pharmacies to give people expert help for treating conditions such as sore throats, earache and cold sores, along with common clinical conditions such as Urinary Tract Infections. Pharmacy teams will offer advice, treatment or referral to other healthcare teams if required.
 
The move will allow Midlothian and East Lothian residents to access the right care without having to visit their GP pharmacy or an A&E department for non-urgent treatment.
 
A&E departments remain open for emergency care – with the necessary public health measures in place to protect staff and patients.
 
Commenting, SNP MSP Colin Beattie for Midlothian North and Musselburgh said:
 
“The launch of NHS Pharmacy First Scotland means that people in Midlothian, East Lothian and across Scotland, will get the right care and medical support closer to home - often with no waiting time or appointments needed.
 
“In recent months, perhaps more than ever, the NHS has been there to protect us – but many of us don’t need to visit A&E to get the care we need.
 
“This new service will provide a local approach to ensure the community has access to healthcare for more minor ailments.
 
“Let’s remember though – in an emergency you should always contact 999 or go to your nearest accident and emergency department.”
 
Chair of Community Pharmacy Scotland Martin Green said:
 
“NHS Pharmacy First Scotland is an exciting service development for everyone. It recognises the role that the community pharmacy network can play in helping patients and the wider NHS team by ensuring people get the right care in the right place.
 
“Pharmacists, supported by their pharmacy teams, will be able to offer consultations for anyone with minor illnesses and provide the appropriate advice and support.”
 

BORIS JOHNSON’S BREXIT HAS ALREADY COST SCOTLAND £3.9 BILLION
 
SNP MSP Colin Beattie has called on Boris Johnson to apologise during his flying visit to Scotland, after a new report found that people in Midlothian have already been left £775.84 worse off per head, and people in East Lothian £273.54 worse off per head, as a result of Brexit.
 
The new analysis, published from experts at Warwick University, found that nationally Scotland is now £3.9 billion worse off thanks to Brexit and has already lost £736 per head of population.
 
Separately, Scottish Government analysis has revealed that ending the transition period in 2020 could cut £3billion from the Scottish economy in just two years - on top of the impact of coronavirus.
 
Commenting, SNP MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Colin Beattie said:
 
“This new analysis makes clear that any form of Brexit will inflict major harm on Scotland’s economy – with people in Midlothian having already been left £775.84 worse off per head, and people in East Lothian left £273.54 worse off per head, thanks to Boris Johnson.
 
“These Tory Brexiteers at Westminster want to drag Scotland out of the EU against our will. In the middle of a global pandemic that’s the last thing our economy needs.
 
“The people of Midlothian and East Lothian didn’t vote for this Tory government and they certainly didn’t vote for Brexit – but Boris Johnson simply doesn’t care.
 
"With Westminster hellbent on taking a wrecking ball to our economy, it's clearer than ever that the only way to protect Scotland's interests and our place in Europe is to become an independent country."
 
 

LOCAL MSP PRAISES SNP GOVERNMENT’S AMBITIOUS ‘SPACES FOR PEOPLE’ INITIATIVE
 
MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Colin Beattie, has said the announcement of £157,293 for Midlothian Council, and £1,400,000 for East Lothian Council will help normalise the increasing number of people walking or cycling in the local area.
 
In partnership with Sustrans Scotland, the SNP Government has now awarded nearly £30 million to pop-up infrastructure projects across the country to encourage temporary active travel routes that enable physical distancing during lockdown.
 
The fund aims to support a rapid increase in active travel rates in recent months and encourage more Scots to continue walking, wheeling or cycling in the future – which in turn helps to manage demand on our public transport network.
 
Commenting on the announcement, Colin Beattie MSP said:
 
“I am absolutely delighted that uptake of this £30 million has been so high. This is a huge cash boost for Midlothian and East Lothian Councils, and I hope it will help encourage local people get out cycling or walking for their everyday journeys.
 
“This initiative is exactly the kind of progressive approach we need if we want to see more sustainable forms of travel in Midlothian and East Lothian.
 
“I’m looking forward to seeing Midlothian and East Lothian Council put this funding to good use so we can create a more active community and ensure that more people are cycling or walking than ever before.”
 
John Lauder, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Sustrans and Executive Director for Scotland said:
 
"Giving people safe space in which to physically distance while they get about their day by walking, wheeling and cycling is vitally important as we look to normalise the increasing rate of people travelling actively.
 
“The fast pace of delivery and the quick uptake by local authorities and other statutory bodies in utilising the Spaces for People funding is testament to the appetite in Scotland to make walking, wheeling and cycling as safe as possible.
 
 

New figures show that 1103 businesses in Midlothian and 1514 in East Lothian have received support from the Scottish Government to support them through the coronavirus crisis. 
 
A total of £12.77 million has been awarded to businesses in Midlothan and £17.01 million to East Lothian through a Scottish Government scheme designed to support small businesses and the retail, hospitality and leisure sector.
 
Across Scotland, over 83,000 grants valuing £942 million have been awarded through the Small Business Grant Scheme and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Grant Scheme.
 
Commenting, SNP MSP Colin Beattie said: 
 
“This pandemic has put real pressure on businesses across Midlothian and East Lothian. 
 
“The SNP Government has provided swift and substantial financial help to support firms and ensure that our economy is on the best possible footing when we get through this unprecedented crisis.
 
"This package of support for businesses is welcome, and will help alleviate the hardship some individuals and businesses in Midlothian and East Lothian may be facing. 
 
“I’d continue to encourage any eligible businesses facing economic instability to apply for the support offered by the Scottish Government.”