The number of family planning clinics NHS Western Isles is offering to access contraception and family planning services has recently been increased.

Three clinics are now available on a weekly basis at the Western Isles Hospital (Monday 2pm-5pm, Wednesday 9am-1pm and Thursday 9am-1pm) and individuals can simply book their appointment by telephoning 01851 708035 to obtain information, support and access to family planning services.

Clinics will be held by the Consultant Gynaecologist and although aimed at supporting access to Long Term Acting Reversible (LARC) forms of contraception – the most effective form for family planning and for women who wish to space their pregnancies – other forms of contraception will be available to suit individual needs.

Individuals are reminded that family planning and sexual health appointments can also be booked at any GP Practice, even if it is not at their own regular GP Practice. Free condoms and lubricant gel are also provided by NHS Western Isles and are available from a number of locations which include:

• GP Surgeries throughout the Western Isles
• Health Information & Resources Service (HIRS)
• Pointers Youth Cafe • Health Promotion (Stornoway and Benbecula)

Yesterday (30/09/19) some of the ‘Walk on Hebrides’ Walk Leaders caught-up for a walk in the Lews Castle Grounds. They chatted about how they were getting on leading walks across Lewis, discussed opportunities to grow the Health Walks network and offered support and guidance to each other.

Walk Leader Jana Grimms joined us and her new Tiumpanhead Community Walk starts next week (Monday 7th October).  Click here to view all ‘Walk on Hebrides’ details.

If you’d like to become a Walk Leader as part of the ‘Walk on Hebrides’ project please get in touch with Karen Peteranna, ‘Walk on Hebrides’ Coordinator, tel. 01851 762015 or email: karen.peteranna@nhs.net

The ‘Walk on Hebrides’ walking project was recently awarded £5625 by Paths for All through their Walking for Health Fund for the development of walking opportunities in the remote and rural communities of the Outer Hebrides.

The funding aims to increase the provision of group walks available across the islands and increase the number of walkers on group walks by providing Walk Leader training in North Uist and Harris. The project also aims to support new and established Walk Leaders by providing them with the opportunity to attend Strength and Balance exercise training, First Aid training and networking events.

Paths for All are a Scottish charity that champions walking for ‘Everyone. Everywhere. Everyday.’ The Walking for Health Fund aims to improve the wellbeing of walkers and reduce ill-health, increase the number of new walkers taking part in Health Walks in Scotland and the amount of physical activity undertaken by people in Scotland, especially those experiencing health inequalities.

The Walk on Hebrides project has been hosted by NHS Western Isles’ Health Promotion Department for 14 years and has grown substantially over the past three years. The project has trained over 50 Walk Leaders since 2017 and currently offers 11 group walks across the Outer Hebrides with many more planned to launch soon.

Employers in Uist have recognised the importance of having their managers trained in ways to improve staff mental health. This commitment to have a healthy workforce was demonstrated when 25 staff from 14 workplaces attended the “Mentally Healthy Workplace” training which was delivered in Benbecula and South Uist earlier this month.

The training is part of the ‘Healthy Working Lives’ programme and looks at the positive effect that work can have on mental wellbeing, and the factors which are likely to have an adverse effect on an employee’s mental health.

Maintaining good mental health is an important public health challenge which also has a significant impact on workplaces. Training aimed at small organisations can help staff to gain access to support that is often routinely available in larger ones. Across Scotland, around 1 in 3 people are estimated to be affected by mental illness in any one year. Training managers in how to spot and manage the early signs of mental ill health can be invaluable; providing them with the confidence to approach matters that concern them and helping them to support their team in the best way possible. Employers and managers are not expected to be specialists in mental health, however they should know where they and their team can access support both within their organisation and externally.

A very successful event was held in Balivanich recently, where parents and carers of babies and children under 5 were offered healthy lifestyle advice.

Over 28 families attended and received information and advice on weaning, healthy eating, childhood first aid, healthy eating on a budget, and coping with children who are fussy eaters. Information on the Healthy Start/Best Start voucher and vitamin scheme also featured.

Organised by the NHS Western Isles Maternal and Infant Nutrition (MIN) group, the event hosted a range of services including Health Promotion, Health Visiting, Speech and Language Therapy, Healthy Weighs, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Early Years Worker, Cothroms’ Grow Me Project, Action for Children’s Early Intervention Substance Misuse service, Uist & Barra Communnity Sports Hub Officer, Taigh Chearsabhagh’s Art Therapist and Solas’ Complimentary Therapist delivering a Baby Yoga session.

Parents and children were encouraged to play together through the medium of art, with one parent commenting, “It was good to see the children having so much fun and the first aid information was really great”.

The UK Chief Medical Officers’ (CMOs) Physical Activity Guidelines have been updated and released this week (07/09/19).

The guidance explains the amount of activity and type of activity people should aim for to improve (or maintain) their health. They have created six helpful ‘at-a-glance’ infographics for the following groups (click on each to view):

1. Early Years (birth to 5 years)
2. Children and Young People (5 to 18 years)  
3. Adults and Older Adults  
4. Disabled Adults  
5. Pregnant Women  
6. Women after Childbirth (birth to 12 months)

You can download the guidelines and infographics at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/physical-activity-guidelines

Congratulations to Health Promotion’s very own Karen Peteranna, who was nominated as the Health Walk Volunteer Manager, at an event to celebrate Scotland’s national walking charity, Paths for All!  Her article (featured in the Press & Journal) can be read below.

An inspiring volunteer is helping to put the Western Isles on the walking map after being shortlisted for a prestigious award.

Karen Peteranna, 36, from Stornoway, has been nominated as the Health Walk Volunteer Manager, at an event to celebrate Scotland’s national walking charity, Paths for All.

The annual event showcases the nation’s walking champions and the outstanding dedication and achievements of volunteers across the country who help to create a happier, healthier and greener Scotland.

Are you a smoker or have you recently quit smoking? Ever wondered what your Carbon Monoxide levels should be… or how old your lungs are?

Pop by the ‘Quit Your Way Hebrides’ stand on Thursday 19th September as your friendly local QYWH team will be offering free Carbon Monoxide (CO) checks and lung age testing at Western Isles Hospital’s League of Friends Tea Bar, from 10am-8.30pm (closed for lunch 1pm-2pm).

As well as offering support on how to quit smoking, the team will also be providing information about Nicotine Replacement Products (NRT), non NRT products and the use of e-Cigarettes/vapes.

For those who’d like to make an appointment with one of the experienced, friendly Smoking Cessation Advisors, you can do so on the day – at a mutually agreed time and place or in their office based at Laxdale Court.

No matter whether you’re a member of staff, patient, student or hospital visitor – all are welcome to attend.

Walkers across the islands took to their feet this spring while virtually walking through the islands as part of an Active Hebrides Strategy initiative – the ‘Walk on Hebrides’ step count challenge led by NHS Western Isles.

Outer Hebrides residents were invited to join the challenge; aiming to walk the length of the islands (172 miles) over six weeks. By logging their steps on the Big Team Challenge app and web system, their progress was tracked along the World Walking virtual route ‘Na h-Eileanan Siar’; starting on Barra, travelling north through the islands and finishing at the Butt of Lewis.

Over 300 people took part in the challenge either as individuals or as a team of two; with teams sharing the distance covered. Over two thirds of participants completed the route with many more completing over 75 percent. After targeting, this year saw an increase in participation from males, people aged 65+ and residents of Harris.

This year’s International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day falls on 9th September, where the Outer Hebrides Alcohol & Drug Partnership (OHADP) and NHS Western Isles will be spreading the word on how drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause harm to the unborn baby.

Alcohol is damaging to the baby’s cells and cell growth. When a pregnant woman drinks, the alcohol in her blood passes through the placenta into the developing baby’s blood. As the foetus does not have a fully developed liver it cannot breakdown the alcohol. Instead, the alcohol circulates in the baby’s blood stream, destroying developing cells and damage to the nervous system of the foetus at any point during the nine months of pregnancy.

FASD describes a range of birth defects that can result in life-long damage. The effects of FASD on a child can include serious behavioural and social difficulties such as poor learning skills, hyperactivity, attention and memory problems. The physical effects include heart problems, limb or kidney damage, eye and hearing problems.

Women may not realise the affect that drinking whilst pregnant can have, so to be sure that your baby will not be born with any of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, the message is clear – avoid alcohol. No alcohol = no risk.

Are you a new or returning student at Lews Castle College?  Health Promotion are hosting a display area at the UHI reception where information on a range of health topics will be available all week.

Two draft Sport & Activity Directories for the islands of Uists and Barra have been launched by NHS Western Isles. To view each of the drafts please click on the link below:

• Sport & Activity Directory – Barra 2019
• Sport & Activity Directory – Uist 2019

Each directory contains information on local sporting activities/services available within their respective islands.  A brief information snapshop is provided to encourage individuals to look up activities on individual group websites and/or their Facebook pages or twitter accounts, to view information on local classes or events taking place.  

NHS Western Isles would like to thank those who have already contributed and if you would like to add or amend your details, please email: alison.macdonald9@nhs.net by no later than 6th September 2019.

Once finalised, the directories will be made available online, as well as hard copies being printed and distributed throughout the Uists and Barra.

The Health Promotion Step Count Challenge (Spring 2019): Full Report is now available to view. 

Click here to view.

Staff from NHS Western Isles, Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar and Befriending Lewis attended a 3-hour workshop held on Friday 16th August.

Led by Norma Macleod, NHSWI Healthy Working Lives Advisor, training is aimed at increasing awareness of the impact of alcohol and drugs, and managers responsibilities in identifying and addressing alcohol and drug use at work.

For further information contact Norma Macleod, HWL Advisor, tel: 01851 762013 or email: norma.macleod1@nhs.net

A new local travel voucher scheme to assist individuals using recovery services is being piloted by the Outer Hebrides Alcohol & Drug Partnership (OHADP).

The concessionary scheme has been launched for individuals who live in the Western Isles. Those eligible are individuals who are engaged in one or more recovery service which requires them to travel by bus to attend appointments or participate in activities (as part of regular and ongoing support, care, treatment and rehabilitation). This includes appointments/services provided by voluntary sector organisations.

Receiving practical support, treatment and access to alcohol and substance services is a fundamental part of the recovery journey. Enabling people to physically connect with others is a key component in recovery and being able to travel therefore allows the individual to meet new people, reduce stigma and social isolation, and make connections. It also helps to ensure that they are not marginalised.

The latest HIRS (Health Information & Resources Service) Update, aimed at keeping you abreast of recent/future developments in health information, resources and campaigns, both locally and nationally, is now available.  To view click here. 

Don’t forget you can also keep in touch with local and national health improvement activities and events by visiting our Facebook page HIRS Western Isles.

NHS Health Scotland is pleased to announce the launch of the Very Brief Advice (VBA) on smoking eLearning module. The module can empower everyone to have a very brief conversation about stopping smoking. It will take approximately 30 minutes to complete, and the advice can be delivered in 30 seconds!

Learning outcomes – you will be able to: 

• explain what very brief advice (VBA) on smoking is, the purpose and it’s benefits
• introduce very brief advice into your interactions with people who smoke 
• reflect on your own role and be aware of the support and services available to help people to stop smoking.

The module consists of presenter led short films to introduce the different sections of the module and films of scenarios showing very brief advice in practice. While the scenarios are based on consultations between GPs and their patients, the scenarios can also be applied to non-health settings, by the wider workforce.

Staff from a range of workplaces attended training on Mentally Healthy Workplaces on 24th July.

The training, delivered by Norma Macleod, Healthy Working Lives Advisor, takes the form of three hours of presentations, activities and discussion.

By the end of the training participants are able to:
* identify the key factors that contribute to a mentally healthy workplace
* have a broad understanding of mental health in the workplace
* a raised awareness in their responsibilities in relation to mental health
* awareness of how they can deal with issues should they arise within their workplace.

For further information contact Norma Macleod, NHSWI Healthy Working Lives Advisor, tel: 01851 762013 or email: norma.macleod1@nhs.net

In a bid to promote and improve physical activity levels in Lewis and Harris, a team of new Walk Leaders was recently trained.

A total of seven new Walk Leaders have been trained to lead group walks in their local communities, joining a team of 50 volunteers already trained by the ‘Walk on Hebrides’ project in recent years. These volunteer Walk Leaders are invaluable in providing walkers with an opportunity to reap the health rewards from group walks.

The training was delivered by Karen Peteranna, NHS Western Isles Health Improvement Practitioner. The aim of the training is to provide participants with the skills and confidence to lead Health Walks in their local community. A Health Walk is a group walk led by trained Walk Leaders. They are open to all and the distance and pace depends on the ability of the walkers.

Walking is a simple way to increase your physical activity. It’s an all round great activity for all ages and fitness levels, which can improve your health, help you lose weight, make you feel good and it’s free – all you need is a pair of comfy shoes! Group walking has the added bonus of being a social event where you can meet new people and have a blether.

Drug & Alcohol training was delivered today (16th July) to staff from a variety of workplaces.

The training, delivered by Norma Macleod, NHSWI Healthy Working Lives Advisor, 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 this course participants 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 Macleod, NHSWI Healthy Working Lives Advisor, tel. 01851 762013 or email: norma.macleod1@nhs.net