Tag Archives: coronavirus

National helpline numbers for coronavirus

0800 111 4000 is a national helpline to provide essential assistance to those who don’t have a network of support but who are at high risk of contracting COVID-19. Those with health problems are re-directed to phone NHS 111 (dial 111) or the NHS Inform website. More information is on the Scottish Government Website.

0800 028 2816 was the original helpline. It remains live for general advice and guidance on COVID-19. It is non-clinical.

GP practices remain available during usual hours.

Emergency services are unchanged on 999.

Hearing-aid battery distribution

(adapted from a post on CEC website)

Due to the closure of Libraries the advice for people who require hearing aid batteries is to contact the audiology department at Lauriston Place either by phone  0131 536 1637 – open 10am – 1pm and 2pm to 4pm or email  Audiology@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk and they will send batteries out by post.

The Audiology Department advice that people either phone or email and not physically attend as they want to limit numbers of people visiting Lauriston Place as much as possible.

Individuals will get two packs of batteries for each hearing aid every four months.

If you have any queries regarding increased battery use please phone the Audiology office in 0131 536 1637.

Deaf Action on Albany Street will also have hearing aid battery supplies for NHS hearing aids

Parks and Greenspace update (31 March)

(adapted from an email sent to LCCC on 31 March 2020)

Here are a couple of briefing notes that have been issued regarding the measures the Parks and Greenspace Service are putting in to place to help contain the spread of Coronavirus.

  • The first one details the general approach for all our parks and greenspaces across the city
  • The second regards those details specific to the Pentland Hills Regional Park.

All events that were scheduled to take place in April and May in a park have been either postponed or cancelled. CEC will keep you informed when any guidance is issued for those booked in June, July and August.

Obviously as time goes on litter/bins and things relating to health and safety in some parks may become issue’s. Can those who are not in self-isolation and who are taking their daily exercise in parks please keep their eyes out for any problems and report them via https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/report

There are still some Parks Officers, Rangers, Forestry, and others from Greenspace along with the Waste teams, still on the ground and inspecting parks and emptying bins. However, with so many areas for them to monitor, it’s taking a little longer than usual. So if we can alert them to serious problems in specific areas these can be prioritised appropriately.

Please just let me know if you need any further information.

Sarah Murphy
Senior Programmes Officer
Parks, Greenspace and Cemeteries
Level 3.1, Waverley Court
4 East Market Street
Edinburgh, EH8 8BG
Tel: 0131 529 7955
Sarah.Murphy@edinburgh.gov.uk

Council resilience centres

(copied from an email sent by CEC on behalf of Cllr Adam McVey)

Council resilience centres are based in

  • Wester Hailes – South West Locality Office, 10 Westside Plaza, EH14 2SP
  • West Pilton Gardens – North West Locality Office, 8 West Pilton Gdns, EH4 4DP
  • Captain’s Road – South East Locality Office, 40 Captain’s Rd, EH17 8QF
  • Craigmillar – North East Locality Office, 101 Niddrie Mains Road, EH16 4DS
  • Leith – Criminal Justice/ Social Work Centre, Newkirkgate Shopping Centre Units C&D, Newkirkgate Shopping Centre, Edinburgh EH6 6AD

They provide a base for our teams to provide welfare, housing and household support by phone and email. Customers are asked to attend in-person only if it is critical, for example if you are

  • are experiencing homelessness
  • are experiencing threats to your wellbeing
  • need urgent cash payments.

This will help us to prioritise support for residents who face financial hardship. All the centres operate 10am to 4pm, with the exception of Craigmillar which operates 8.30am to 5pm Mon-Thurs and 10am to 4pm Friday.”

The latest information can be found on the following link: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/contactus .

Kind regards

[sent on behalf of} Cllr Adam McVey, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council and Councillor for Leith Ward

Trams: shut-down plans overview (27 March)

(from the Trams to Newhaven newsletter dated 27 March)

Construction on Edinburgh’s Trams to Newhaven project will stop this week to protect the safety of workers and residents during the current Coronavirus outbreak.

The Council’s decision to instruct contractors Morrison Utility Services (MUS) and Sacyr Farrans Neopul (SFN) to cease site works follows advice from Scotland’s First Minister that all construction sites should close, unless the project being delivered is essential, such as a hospital.

SFN and MUS will make sites on Leith Walk, Constitution Street, Lindsay Road and Ocean Drive safe and secure by the end of the week before shutting down. There will be contractors on site as necessary for safety and security checks.

Emergency services have access to all sites at all times should they require it.

Work will continue off-site where this can be done remotely,  including design, planning and scheduling, as well as drawing up a remobilisation strategy for returning to the site once restrictions are lifted. The project team will also be closely liaising with MUS and SFN to look at ways of mitigating the impact of work stopping on the wider project.