Please note that the Walk Leader Training being held in Harris on 26th January is now fully booked.

For further training on Paths for Health please contact Norma MacLeod, Health Promotion Department, tel. 01851 762013 or email: norma.macleod1@nhs.net

Smokefree Hebrides was delighted to receive a surprise visit from three of their successful quitters on Friday 16th December.

Angus Campbell (Stornoway), Malcolm Campbell (Stornoway) and Murdo Fraser (Aignish) arrived at the Smokefree Hebrides offices at Laxdale Court, to offer their thanks for the support received on their quit smoking journey.  All three men have now been quit for several years and are overjoyed by this.

Joanne O’Donnell, Smokefree Hebrides Coordinator said, “Angus and Malcolm who are brothers and friends with Murdo, have all been such wonderful supporters of our service.  They have actively promoted and encouraged others to take up the offer of quit smoking support, stating how it was much easier than they had imagined and that the benefits speak for themselves.  In fact the men were our “Poster Boys” for the Western Isles No Smoking Day campaigns held in 2015 and 2016, creating great interest on social media encouraging other quitters to join our gallery.” Continue reading →

 “It takes 3 to shift a stone” is a weight loss competition being launched in February 2017 to help you to lose weight and keep it off!

We all know that faddy diets and yo-yo dieting is not recommended as a sensible long-lasting way in keeping lost weight off.

By taking part in ‘It takes 3 to shift a stone’ you will be encouraged to achieve a sensible gradual weight loss – you may lose 1 stone in just 3 months by losing an average 1-2lb per week and keep it off.  This gradual weight loss is far easier to achieve and maintain than losing a lot of weight in a short time.

The competition, organised by NHS Western Isles and held over 12 months, will help you to reap those weight loss rewards through the support of friends and family as team members.  Continue reading →

Neil Galbraith, Chair of NHS Western Isles, was today proud to endorse Scotland’s Charter for a Tobacco Free Generation.

The Charter for a Tobacco-free Generation is an initiative by health charity Action on Smoking and Health Scotland to help deliver a tobacco-free generation by 2034 (by this we mean less than 5% of the population still smokes). The Charter inspires organisations to take action to reduce the harm caused by tobacco.

NHS Western Isles is joining an esteemed list of over one hundred organisations that have already backed the Charter including: British Lung Foundation, Early Years Scotland, Scottish Cot Death Trust and Fife College.

This move to endorse the Charter highlights NHS Western Isles forward-thinking policy in relation to tobacco. The Charter is in keeping with the Health Board’s aim of encouraging the whole health care community to help reduce the harm caused by tobacco. Continue reading →

NHS Western Isles is reminding individuals to ensure they are getting enough Vitamin D, especially during the winter season.

Vitamin D is important for pregnant and breastfeeding women and for young children – and is available free of charge for these groups.  Adults are also recommended to take a single daily Vitamin D supplement, whilst for older adults, a single daily Vitamin D supplement with added calcium may be recommended to protect against Osteoporosis.

Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and a lack of Vitamin D may lead to health problems.  Vitamin D is known to be important for good overall health and strong and healthy bones (specifically Vitamin D3 which increases the body’s ability to absorb calcium); it is also an important factor in ensuring muscles, heart, lungs and brain work well and in helping the body to fight infection. Continue reading →

From 05 December 2016, the law has changed to protect babies, children and young people up to 18 years old from exposure to tobacco smoke in cars.  From that date, smoking in a vehicle containing anyone under 18 will be against the law.

The new legislation has been introduced to protect children and young people from the harm caused by second hand smoke, which can put them at increased risk of serious conditions such as bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma.

Latest research highlights that the toxic particles in second hand smoke can reach harmful concentrations within a minute of lighting a cigarette in a car.  Continue reading →