logo
Six West Lothian residents honoured in King's Birthday Honours List

Six West Lothian residents honoured in King's Birthday Honours List

Daily Record15-06-2025
West Lothian Provost Cathy Muldoon has praised the recipients of the various honours.
Six West Lothian residents have been honoured in King's Birthday Honours List.
Professor Rowland Kao, from Torphichen, was awarded the CBE for services to Mathematics and Infectious Disease Dynamics.

Mr Raymond is Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology and Data Science at the University of Edinburgh.

Professor Kao has worked at the Roslin Institute since 2017. He also serves as Chair of the UK Government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Science Advisory Council, and took up this role in 2025 having served as a member of the SAC from 2018 to 2024.
He said: 'I am honoured to be chosen for this award, and am especially pleased to see this recognition for animal science research.
'This underscores the importance of research in infectious animal diseases, and recognises its contribution to public health, through the wider efforts of many researchers and collaborators.
'I am continually thankful for the hard work, skills, and creativity that colleagues and collaborators bring to everything I do, and am indebted to them for making it a pleasure.'
Bathgate-based Victoria Dunnett has received an MBE for services to Vulnerable People in West Lothian
Mrs Dunnett is the chair of the board of directors of the Boghall Drop-in Centre.

Also receiving an MBE is Malcolm Kirby from Uphall.
Mr Kirby is a volunteer at Red Dot Radio and received his gong for services to hospitals in Edinburgh.
Police Scotland's Chief Human Resources Nicky Page, from Bathgate, receives an MBE for services to Policing, to Equality, and to Health.

Nicky joined Strathclyde Police in 2010 and has provided strategic human resources leadership for over 22,000 people in Police Scotland.
This included playing a key role during the transition period that brought together eight legacy forces to form Police Scotland.
She delivered a single national HR function achieving public sector savings of around £200 million annually since 2013.

Since 2017, Nicky has also volunteered as a Community First Responder with the Scottish Ambulance Service, contributing over 1000 hours of service while balancing the demands of her role and family life.
Nicky said: 'I am both grateful and surprised to receive this honour. I'm deeply appreciative of the support I have received from my colleagues in policing, the Ambulance Service and fellow responders within the Bathgate Group.
'This honour reflects the shared commitment and teamwork that have made my contribution possible.'

Community stalwart Margaret Graham, the chair of Broxburn Family Centre, has been honoured with a British Empire Medal (BEM).
Margaret, a well-known community activist in West Lothian for many years, received the award for her services to the community in Broxburn.
Finally, school crossing patroller Shirley Jamieson, from West Calder, received a BEM for services to the Safety of Pedestrians in Juniper Green, Edinburgh.

West Lothian Provost Cathy Muldoon said: 'Congratulations to all the recipients. It is wonderful to see individuals from such a diverse range of services being honoured and recognised.
'What a great honour and richly deserved.'
The Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, added: 'Communities across Scotland benefit from the extraordinary effort of those honoured.

'The Honours list showcases the remarkable achievements of individuals across Scotland who have gone above and beyond in their respective fields.
'Their service to our communities represents the spirit of dedication and excellence that makes Scotland proud.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Concerns rise among authorities over supply of weight loss drugs
Concerns rise among authorities over supply of weight loss drugs

Glasgow Times

time6 days ago

  • Glasgow Times

Concerns rise among authorities over supply of weight loss drugs

It comes as an increased amount of people turn towards medicine to help them lose weight. Some of the drugs have recently become available on the NHS but the majority who use them purchase them from online pharmacies and in private because it is not regularly prescribed by the NHS. Many doctors in Scotland are unable to prescribe them due to the cost with the two main drugs being semaglutide under the brand name WeGovy and tirzepatide under the brand name Mounjaro. This has led to a black market for the drug and a letter was sent to healthcare professionals to tell them to be cautious of potential illicit drugs and to report anything they may find to Police Scotland. The force is not running an official investigation at this stage, but it is asking for any information that may help them in the future if the problem continues to grow. In the letter, seen by The Herald and sent by the Scottish Government's Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Professor Alison Strath, reveals that a number of NHS weight management programmes have attendees who have told them they are using the drugs without a prescription. This has caused concern for medical professionals and the Government and the letter is encouraging staff to report the illicit supply anonymously. It is estimated almost 1.5 million people across the UK are using the GLP-1 injections such as Mounjaro and Wegovy. Figures also show that 80% of those are buying from online retailers and the fear is that many are paying out cash regularly but not receiving the correct medicine. A [[Police Scotland]] spokesperson said: 'We work closely with a range of partners including Public Health Scotland, the [[Scottish Government]], alcohol and drug partnerships and drug support services to identify current or emerging trends caused by substance use, including the use of unlicenced or unprescribed medications 'We would urge the public to be aware of the risks of misusing any medication and report any concerns about criminality to us so they can be fully investigated.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Anyone seeking to use weight loss medication should only do so, under medical supervision, and where medicines are prescribed by a registered healthcare professional. The supply of medicines without a prescription is illegal. 'The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer wrote to healthcare professionals on 17 July with updated guidance on how to report the known or suspected illicit supply of obesity medicines after feedback from healthcare professionals working in NHS weight management programmes about people privately sourcing supplies of obesity medicines without a prescription. 'Any healthcare professional with concerns over this should contact their health board's Fraud Liaison Officer (FLO). They can also report it anonymously to [[Police Scotland]] via Crimestoppers or by asking the FLO to complete a NHS Counter Fraud Services form on their behalf.' The drugs are taken as an injection once a week and make you feel full so you eat less, and can help people lose up to 20% of their bodyweight. It was initially a drug licensed to treat Type 2 Diabetes but has since become an option for dealing with the obesity crisis, with two thirds of Scottish adults overweight and 32% living with obesity, which is the highest level recorded in more than 20 years. Read More The drugs also have side effects that can have a dangerous effect on patients, including sickness and diarrhoea while more severe cases show a risk of pancreatitis and gastroparesis. Medical professionals are worried about the impact the illicit drugs are having on the market with Dr Jack Henderson of the Stockbridge Clinic fearing patients are receiving dangerous medicines. He said: "We're deeply concerned about people unknowingly purchasing counterfeit medications online. "Many patients have no idea they're buying fake products that may contain dangerous substances or incorrect dosages. We have seen patients who thought they were getting legitimate medication but were actually injecting completely unknown and unregulated substances. "We need much stronger regulation of online suppliers selling these medications. The illegal market has grown exponentially, and even with legitimate NHS access, people continue to turn to cheaper, unregulated sources. 'We urgently need authorities to crack down on these dangerous suppliers before more people are seriously harmed."

Concerns rise among authorities over supply of weight loss drugs
Concerns rise among authorities over supply of weight loss drugs

The Herald Scotland

time26-07-2025

  • The Herald Scotland

Concerns rise among authorities over supply of weight loss drugs

Some of the drugs have recently become available on the NHS but the majority who use them purchase them from online pharmacies and in private because it is not regularly prescribed by the NHS. Many doctors in Scotland are unable to prescribe them due to the cost with the two main drugs being semaglutide under the brand name WeGovy and tirzepatide under the brand name Mounjaro. This has led to a black market for the drug and a letter was sent to healthcare professionals to tell them to be cautious of potential illicit drugs and to report anything they may find to Police Scotland. The force is not running an official investigation at this stage, but it is asking for any information that may help them in the future if the problem continues to grow. In the letter, seen by The Herald and sent by the [[Scottish Government]]'s Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Professor Alison Strath, reveals that a number of NHS weight management programmes have attendees who have told them they are using the drugs without a prescription. This has caused concern for medical professionals and the Government and the letter is encouraging staff to report the illicit supply anonymously. It is estimated almost 1.5 million people across the UK are using the GLP-1 injections such as Mounjaro and Wegovy. Figures also show that 80% of those are buying from online retailers and the fear is that many are paying out cash regularly but not receiving the correct medicine. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We work closely with a range of partners including Public Health Scotland, the Scottish Government, alcohol and drug partnerships and drug support services to identify current or emerging trends caused by substance use, including the use of unlicenced or unprescribed medications 'We would urge the public to be aware of the risks of misusing any medication and report any concerns about criminality to us so they can be fully investigated.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Anyone seeking to use weight loss medication should only do so, under medical supervision, and where medicines are prescribed by a registered healthcare professional. The supply of medicines without a prescription is illegal. 'The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer wrote to healthcare professionals on 17 July with updated guidance on how to report the known or suspected illicit supply of obesity medicines after feedback from healthcare professionals working in NHS weight management programmes about people privately sourcing supplies of obesity medicines without a prescription. 'Any healthcare professional with concerns over this should contact their health board's Fraud Liaison Officer (FLO). They can also report it anonymously to Police Scotland via Crimestoppers or by asking the FLO to complete a NHS Counter Fraud Services form on their behalf.' The drugs are taken as an injection once a week and make you feel full so you eat less, and can help people lose up to 20% of their bodyweight. It was initially a drug licensed to treat Type 2 Diabetes but has since become an option for dealing with the obesity crisis, with two thirds of Scottish adults overweight and 32% living with obesity, which is the highest level recorded in more than 20 years. Read More The drugs also have side effects that can have a dangerous effect on patients, including sickness and diarrhoea while more severe cases show a risk of pancreatitis and gastroparesis. Medical professionals are worried about the impact the illicit drugs are having on the market with Dr Jack Henderson of the Stockbridge Clinic fearing patients are receiving dangerous medicines. He said: "We're deeply concerned about people unknowingly purchasing counterfeit medications online. "Many patients have no idea they're buying fake products that may contain dangerous substances or incorrect dosages. We have seen patients who thought they were getting legitimate medication but were actually injecting completely unknown and unregulated substances. "We need much stronger regulation of online suppliers selling these medications. The illegal market has grown exponentially, and even with legitimate NHS access, people continue to turn to cheaper, unregulated sources. 'We urgently need authorities to crack down on these dangerous suppliers before more people are seriously harmed."

10,000 steps myth - should you be a stickler for recommended daily doses?
10,000 steps myth - should you be a stickler for recommended daily doses?

BBC News

time26-07-2025

  • BBC News

10,000 steps myth - should you be a stickler for recommended daily doses?

It felt like there was a collective sigh of relief when a study, published this week, suggested 10,000 steps a day isn't the health utopia we had all been led to news that we only had to reach 7,000 steps was enough to quite literally stop us in our fervent step-counting what about some of the other health targets that many of us swear by? Can we fall short of the mark but still live long, healthy and happy lives?We've taken a handful of commonly cited healthy lifestyle benchmarks, examined them with various experts to get an idea of why they exist, explored the health claims, and, most importantly asked if there is any wriggle sleep so important that we have to spend so much of our lives doing it? How much exercise is enough? What about drinking water? How much do we really need?Disclosure - the below is not medical advice, it's more of an inspection of many of the health ideals we have on our radar. Water (6-8 glasses a day) According to the NHS, the average grown-up should be drinking between six and eight glasses (1.5-2 litres) of water a day. However, maybe we don't need to cart our fancy flagons around with us as much as we thought. Prof Neil Turner, kidney specialist at the University of Edinburgh, says as humans we existed for thousands of years without knowing what a pint or a litre was."I mean, mice don't need flashing water bottles telling them how much to drink - why do we?" he says."Our bodies are set up to do things just right - we eat when we are hungry, we breathe when we need to breathe, and we drink when we are thirsty." it really that simple? According to Prof Turner, who has seen a lot of kidneys in his time, that rule applies to the vast majority of us. Those with specific conditions, like a kidney disorder, may have to drink says if our urine is dark, in the general healthy population, we shouldn't panic that we haven't drank enough - that is the kidney doing its job. It is reserving water in our body, he explains, and our body should tell us that we feel thirsty and then we will get a Linia Patel, a performance nutritionist, disagrees. We might drink different amounts, she says, due to factors like our size, how warm we are, whether we've been drinking alcohol, but she feels having a target of 1.5 to 2 litres is a good thing - especially for women."I would definitely say from a women's health point of view, where I work, what I see is a lot of the symptoms [associated] with being dehydrated. It might be fatigue, constipation, brain fog, feeling hungry [or] cravings."She says that if the problem is related to hydration then it's "an easy one to get right, if you're consistent with it". Sleep (7-9 hours a night) Moving on to sleep - the NHS recommends seven to nine hours a night for the average adult, and there's not much wriggle room to be had there. Prof Ama Johal, a specialist in sleep disorders, says sleep is vital; without it we are beginning to shave years off our lives."The evidence is there, there are huge bodies of research which show that the health benefits are multiple."A good night's sleep - that's at least seven hours of quality sleep - reduces the risk of obesity, diabetes, depression and finally, it lowers mortality rates."He points to a study which used 10,000 British civil servants - those that slept for fewer than five hours a night had an increased risk of early could we shave an hour off the minimum recommended - and settle for six hours a night?"No," Prof Johal says. "As soon as we lower the limit then there's a risk people will think it's ok to sleep for less time."Cat napping?"Unfortunately not," he says, "Our bodies have very different reactions to naps through the day, and eventually if we tried to make up the hours we were missing overnight by sleeping through the day, we would struggle to fall asleep at night."But all is not lost, nappers among us - there are studies that suggest a short snooze in the day can keep the brain youthful, and even compensate for poor or broken sleep the night Johal suggests that for those who struggle to get the recommended amount, try to target a few nights of good sleep a week, and just being "more aware that sleep is so important". Emily and Lucy are two avid walkers from Manchester. But alongside their love of walking, the two women share a less healthy trait: they struggle to nod off because of their they say the target of seven hours sleep a night is something they "are working towards". Exercise (150 mins a week) Emily and Lucy are, however, "definitely nailing it" when it comes to exercise. Through their group, Soft Girls who Hike, they have found a love of walking which has not only improved their mental health, they say, but connected them with many other don't try to meet all the healthy benchmarks on their radar, they explain, because "life just gets in the way". But they are doing 7,000 steps a day and taking long, low impact walks at the Chief Medical Officer recommends doing 150 minutes of exercise a week and two strength training sessions. Is that achievable for most?Dr Sinead Roberts, a sports nutritionist who trains elite athletes, is pragmatic in her approach. While moderate strength training and physical activity is vital for maintaining muscle mass, she says, as well as resistance to injuries and supporting our immune systems, you have to adapt the recommendations to fit with your life."Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise people," she says. "This phrase really does apply here."I have friends who do nothing - and that really does show, I say, 'You're walking like an 80-year-old!'"But if you are doing one strength session a week and some moderate exercise then that is definitely a good thing, just try and do more if you can."She uses an analogy of a highway - the more things we can do to stay healthy the wider the road, which, in turn means we can go off course sometimes without careering up a grassy verge."All those benchmarks are interlinked - you can't just do one healthy thing and ignore the rest. Equally you don't need to put so much pressure on yourself to achieve them all."This attitude chimes with Emily and Lucy, who say they happily "chip away" at some of the health benchmarks."For example, we might do five minutes of meditation [which is] better than nothing, but we wouldn't stress about not hitting the recommended goal." Mindfulness (10 mins a day) Through its Every Mind Matters campaign, the NHS recommends 10 minutes of mindfulness a day. Basically, instead of pondering the future or thinking about the past, you pay attention to the moment, noticing what is going on inside and outside of ourselves, letting our thoughts pass by without studies suggest activities like mindfulness can have a positive effect and also help change the structure of the Natasha Tiwari, founder of The Veda Group, says 10 minutes is a good start to "give the mind time to settle, and the brain enough time to truly benefit" from the process of many of us lead busy lives, and to carve out 10 minutes in the day can be a luxury. In some respects, could having these targets make life more stressful?Ms Tiwari disagrees - it's less about the time spent and more about the awareness of mindfulness and bringing it to our everyday lives."Even brief pauses," she explains, "can still have a positive impact". Most experts I've spoken to agree that while benchmarks are useful, and simplicity is key, it's better not to fixate on a number. Rather, find a way to incorporate a healthy outlook to diet, exercise and mental health into everyday sitting for some time writing this, I am going to sign off - there is another health benchmark I've just come across: limiting sitting down to less than eight hours a day. So, I had better get moving.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store