Staff at MG Alba attended drug and alcohol training earlier this month, delivered by Norma Macleod, Healthy Working Lives Advisor.

This training is designed to give information and guidance to employers to help deal with workplace issues on both alcohol and drugs. Delivered through blended learning, the course consists of an e-learning component followed by a 3-hour face-to-face training course.  On completing the course participants will have:

• increased their awareness of the impact of alcohol and drugs in Scotland and specifically in the workplace
• increased their knowledge of the responsibilities of managers in dealing with alcohol and drugs at work
• increased their skills, as a manager, in identifying and addressing alcohol and drug use at work.

For further information contact Norma on (01851) 762013 or email: norma.macleod1@nhs.net

Over the last 20 years there has been a significant change in physical activity opportunities within the Outer Hebrides from investment of over £15m into local facilities.

As part of the Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership’s Local Outcome Improvement Plan, an Active Hebrides Strategy has been produced to cover the period 2019-2030. This provides a framework for physical activity and sport throughout the Outer Hebrides and has been the result of a partnership between the NHS, CNES, SNH, Community Land Scotland, sportscotland and Lewis & Harris Youth Clubs.

The strategy aims to increase opportunities to improve the quality of life, wellbeing and health for all of our people from the youngest to the oldest as well as combating social isolation. In addition to the physical infrastructure, a number of programmes and partnerships have added vital components to current physical activity levels. With the Outer Hebrides providing a natural outdoor playground with expansive areas of green and open space theses assets have been taking into consideration within the strategy.

The strategy can be viewed at:

• Active Hebrides Strategy 2019-2030 – High Resolution (21MB)
• Active Hebrides Strategy 2019-2030 – Low Resolution (2MB)

For further information please contact Colin Gilmour, Health Improvement Manager, tel. (01851) 762017 or email: colin.gilmour@nhs.net

The Health Information & Resources Service (HIRS) drop-in service is located within the Health Centre on Springfield Road, Stornoway, and offers a wide range of health related materials, available free of charge to those living and working within the Outer Hebrides.

Topics include substance misuse, smoking cessation, physical activity, healthy eating and sexual health and are available in a range of formats e.g. teaching aids, books, leaflets, visual aid charts and health display models.

HIRS also provides free condoms and pregnancy testing kits. Simply pop into HIRS to discreetly obtain free supplies – you don’t even need to speak to a member of staff as supplies are located at the rear of the room! Alternatively contact HIRS in confidence, and request items to be posted discreetly to your address.

In addition, HIRS offers two public access computers for health-related use and hire equipment for events/conferences e.g. display boards, powerpoint screens and flipchart stands.

HIRS is open on Monday’s from 2pm-4.30pm, and Tues-Fri 9.30am-12.30pm and 2pm-4.30pm. For further information please contact Marissa MacLennan, Health Information & Resource Officer, tel. (01851) 701545 or email: marissa.maclennan@nhs.net  

NHS Western Isles is looking to ensure local care support groups and services based within the Outer Hebrides are featured within the national Scotland’s Service Directory (SSD), and need your help.

SSD is the comprehensive online directory available to all via the NHS inform website. The directory features a wide range of group and services involved in a wide variety of topics. This includes abuse, substance misuse, cancer, employability, pain management, long-term conditions, mental health, money advice, physical activity, older adults, etc.

The directory also enables the user to search for a group/service appropriate to their own NHS board and local authority area – visit: https://www.nhsinform.scot/scotlands-service-directory

In recent months a number of local groups/services have already been contacted and provided their information for inclusion, but we do wish to ensure as many of our local health-associated groups/services are represented.

Summer time is the time of year when friends and family get together, enjoying the sun and where friends gather at summer events.

The Outer Hebrides Alcohol & Drug Partnership wants to help everyone stay safe, have a good time and be free from harm so here are a few important tips to ensure you do!

If you are out and about and the sun is shining and you want to top up your tan, don’t forget to cover up with sun screen and don’t forget to top up with fluids too so you don’t become dehydrated. If you happen to be around or near water always play it safe and avoid any risky behaviours.

It is always a good idea when you are on a night out or going to a festival to agree a meeting point in the event that your party gets split up so that you know where to look for your friends. Ways to keep safe if you are drinking, using drugs or even if you decide to stay sober with your friends is to look after each other. Make sure you all know where everyone is going. If someone feels they want to leave early, make sure they get into a taxi and ask them to ring you when they arrive home. Before you leave the house make sure you have enough money to get home.

Whilst we do not encourage or condone the use of illegal drugs, if someone is going to take any drugs it is safer to start with a small amount, such as a quarter or half tablet and wait at least an hour to gauge the effects before considering taking any more. In recent years, the purity of drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy has increased up to 10 times stronger than 10 years ago, therefore it is difficult for people to know the strength of the drug they plan to take, and indeed what is in it. If you do decide to take any substance and are visiting a large mainland festival, consider accessing the forensic testing sites to ensure the drug is safe and help to reduce your risk of serious harm.

If you do take too many drugs your judgement will be impaired. It is also safer to stick to the amount you have rather than buy more, so for safety reasons you know how much you have taken, and only take drugs in a safe environment.

Polydrug use is when an individual mixes drugs which can increase health and harm risks. Mixing cocaine with amphetamines or ecstasy can put a potentially lethal strain on your heart and it is best to avoid doing so, and using alcohol with these. Mixing different alcohol drinks and drugs can lead to a very bad reaction. If you prefer not to drink or take drugs, that’s good and it’s okay for you to say so and don’t be swayed by peer pressure. Your friends should understand and respect your decision.

If you notice that one of your friends or for that matter anyone who may be on their own and has become unwell through possibly having taken any alcohol or drugs, and you are concerned for them, it is important that you seek help right away and bring them to the attention of stewards or the safe space team. If someone falls unconscious it is vital that you put them in the recovery position (shown below).

The recently launched Move More Western Isles project, aimed at inactive adults and those with long-term conditions (including cancer), offers support to help local individuals become more active and improve their health and wellbeing though a range of free physical activity opportunities.

Aimed at those aged over 16 years, a variety of one-to-one and group exercise programmes are uniquely tailored to each individual by a Move More Activity Officer. The personalised programme is developed to improve strength, balance and cardiovascular health, suited to individual needs and ability.

Activities on offer may include: easy aqua aerobics, gentle movement, group ‘Move More’ circuits, gardening, an introduction to fitness equipment and group walking. There are also a range of new Move More activities currently provided throughout the Outer Hebrides such as Easy Aqua Classes, Gentle Movement Classes, MacMillan Friendly Walks, 1-to-1 gym programmes, MacMillan Friendly garden projects and Move More Circuit Classes.

The Outer Hebrides Anti-Poverty Strategy (OHAPS) is currently being finalised and when completed, will be submitted to the Scottish Government for final approval.

Motivated by a statutory requirement to submit an annual Child Poverty Report, the OHAPS was developed after a GAP analysis and workshop involving community planning partners, reviewed existing work and identified additional service needs. It was then agreed that the OHAPS would be developed with the Child Poverty Report information incorporated into the wider strategy document.

In addition, in response to demand, further Poverty Awareness workshops are being organised. Course participants can expect to increase their knowledge and understanding of the relationship between poverty and inequality and how poverty impacts on individuals’ lives. This in turn, will enable course participants to identify ways in which they can provide a more effective service to those who experience poverty.

Health Literacy training for staff continues to be run in partnership with The Learning Shop, offering participants the opportunity to identify what they can do to improve the health literacy of those using their services, whilst increasing their own knowledge on the subject and understanding its relevance to their role and their organisation. This is particularly important as more often, staff are communicating with an increased diverse mix of people from a range of cultures and abilities.

For the first time, residents across the Outer Hebrides can access ‘Healthy Weighs’ through NHSWI Healthy Weight Practitioners Laura MacLeod (Lewis and Harris) and Monica MacLeod (Uists and Barra).

Both are delivering the ‘Healthy Weighs’ programme for individuals who wish to lose more than one stone of weight loss. Registration was held in various community locations across the islands during February and March, and have been followed by monthly meetings through which participants have had the opportunity to ask questions and hear tips towards achieving a healthier weight, as well as having their weight taken. Clients also receive a starter pack, weekly motivational texts with the option to text their weekly weight, and access to electronic resources such as fact-sheets and video clips.

“It’s been really exciting to have representation in the Uists and Barra,” said Monica, who is based in Barra but travels to venues in Benbecula and South Uist to deliver ‘Healthy Weighs’.

The Outer Hebrides Alcohol & Drug Partnership recently held a partnership event with service providers and service users on how to support and engage with individuals and their families who are furthest away from services, especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged and those who live in more remote and rural areas.  The feedback from the day will be used to assist the OHADP when updating and developing the local strategy.

The event took place in the Harris Hotel, Tarbert on 26th April 2019, enabling those across the islands to come together.  Presentation topics included the new Scottish Government Strategy ‘Rights, Respect and Recovery’, the local picture in relation to alcohol and drug issues and a series of snapshots from the emergency services about how alcohol and drugs feature in their services and priorities. Participants were able to join small group discussions about how service providers can reach out to those furthest from services or that are hard to engage and what they saw as the Outer Hebrides priorities in relation to alcohol and drug issues.

​Staff at Uist & Barra Hospital attended a mental health session on Wednesday 19th June.  The session, delivered by Norma Macleod, Healthy Working Lives Advisor, was aimed at raising awareness of how stress can affect physical and mental health.

Discussions took place regarding short and long term effects of stress and the different mental health conditions, their signs and symptoms. The group looked at how they cope with stress and how they can support any colleagues who may be experiencing difficulties with their mental health. 

For further information please contact Norma MacLeod, HWL Advisor, tel. (01851) 762013 or email norma.macleod1@nhs.net

Fas Fallain began as a virtual Healthy Living Centre providing outreach services and advice on healthy eating, encouraging grow-your-own and consumption of fruit/vegetables, but has evolved over the years to become a project focusing on all aspects of inequality.

The original three year project offered training in horticulture, marketing and cooking skills, various healthy eating activities and tailored education. Training opportunities were often held in the form of social events, which combined an enjoyable social experience with learning. It also sought to work and support groups in more depth to look at issues of interest to them e.g. healthy eating on a low income.

Mary MacLean, Fas Fallain Manager, said “Our core work still remains at encouraging people to grow their own food and adopting a healthier diet, whilst also using food to address issues such as community engagement, community development and poverty. We also provide support to local initiatives through small grants and advice, and encourage communities to take the lead when developing their own local projects.

A total of 62 employees attended the QinetiQ Wellbeing Breakfast where information was provided on a range of health topics. This included promotion of the overall health benefits of walking, Tick and Lyme disease, quitting smoking, alcohol and drug guidelines, and the importance of mental health wellbeing.

Health Promotion staff Isabel Steele, Sexual Health Promotion Officer, and Marion Matheson, Health Improvement Practitioner, were invited to attended the event, in partnership with the Outer Hebrides Alcohol & Drug Partnership, MacMillan Cancer and the Sports HUB.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) Hebrides Range is operated by QinetiQ, a major employer within Uist and Benbecula. QinetiQ are considering holding similar events in the future and thanks are paid to Donnie Steele and Alan MacSween for the invitation to attend and Elior for the healthy breakfast provided.

Health Promotion have hosted the ‘Walk on Hebrides’ walking project for over 13 years, and last year took the opportunity to rebrand it with a new colourful and engaging ‘Join In Get Active’ theme.

‘Walk on Hebrides’ provides people living throughout the Outer Hebrides with opportunities to be active through walking. It does this by hosting regular led walks, organising an annual step count challenge during spring and training volunteer Walk Leaders, providing them with the support and resources needed to launch even more new Health Walks within their local communities.

The project also offers regular and ‘Macmillan Friendly’ Health Walks. Macmillan Friendly (MF) walks are similar to regular Health Walks although MF Walk Leaders will have attended additional training, providing them with the skills and confidence to support walkers affected by cancer; people living with cancer, their friends, family and carers.

The Outer Hebrides Alcohol & Drug Partnership and Health Promotion staff delivered a session on Substance Misuse and Alcohol Brief Interventions.

The morning session included a discussion on local and national alcohol and drug data, the different drugs and categories followed by an interactive exercise focussing on a person in recovery, the factors that can lead to harmful and hazardous drinking and the different services that can be accessed.

The afternoon session focused on health impacts of alcohol, raising awareness of units and strengths of alcoholic drinks and how to calculate these and how to undertake an alcohol brief intervention.

The Alcohol & Drug Partnership Development Officer provided inputs at the Lews Castle College to the Hair & Beauty Students and Mixed Ability students.

The learning sessions included awareness of different strengths and types of alcohol; the current recommended units and the different categories of drugs, using a drug samples box.

The classes also looked at the long/short term mental and physical effects of alcohol and drugs on the body. Resources such as unit measure glasses, leaflets and mocktail recipes were available for the students to take away.

Health Promotion staff held a Learning, Evaluation and Planning (LEAP) day for 2nd year nursing students on 15th May.

The training was in the form of presentations, exercises and general discussion. The aim was to support a particular area of their ongoing assessment.

Health Promotion staff recently attending a ‘Developing the Young Workforce’ event for pupils and parents at Balivanich School, Benbecula. This event was aimed at encouraging pupils to gain a better understanding of the skills required to do different jobs/careers in their communities.

Find out where your nearest walking group is being held by viewing our at-a-glance calendar below:

• Lewis and Harris Calendar
• Uists and Barra Calendar

Norma Macleod from Health Promotion spent two days recently training work coaches from the local Job Centre on mental health.

The course, which was developed by the DWP, was for staff who work directly with claimants and is aimed at building on existing skills to give them techniques to use during contact with claimants with mental health issues.

After the training participants stated they felt they had increased their confidence and knowledge on mental health, and felt better equipped to have discussions with claimants. They were also able to identify how their behaviour could have an impact on claimants and how to work with them to identify the claimant’s strengths, build their confidence and increase their self esteem. Finally they looked at their own mental health and learnt more about the range of assistance/sources available to them from DWP.

Welcome to our quarterly snapshot of work that Health Promotion staff are involved in. Visit at: https://bit.ly/305sf3Y