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STV News
4 hours ago
- Health
- STV News
Parents fear for children's safety at ASN school lacking medical staff
Parents say the absence of medical staff at a school for pupils with special needs has left them fearing for the safety of their children. They are also concerned that Drummond School in Inverness is oversubscribed, while teacher numbers have fallen, and are calling on Highland Council to intervene and invest urgently. The parents say they have nothing but praise for the teachers, but claim growing demands on fewer staff have left them tired and pupils suffering as a result. Lindsay Fulton, treasurer of the Drummond School Parent Council, told STV News: 'We're really fearful of something dangerous happening – not because of the staff, just because there's not enough staff that are trained to do certain duties. 'And if an incident were to happen, there are not enough adults on the ground at the time. 'What's really concerning for us, as parents, is we have no school nurse. A school nurse is not a luxury. It's a necessity and it's a safeguarding issue.' Unison said its members have told them staff are burnt out and that support from senior council management is extremely poor. It also said support staff are expected to carry out increasingly complex medical procedures with minimal training. Some are blaming council budgets, while others blame recruitment difficulties. Either way, pressure is mounting on Highland Council to act. Local Highland councillor Isabelle Mackenzie said: 'The council need to come up with a clear, transparent plan of action. 'They need to convince the school community that they are listening to the parents and everybody involved and I urge them to be taking this matter up seriously and soon.' In a statement, Highland Council promised 'a project' involving both family support and a registered nurse to work in the school. It has also promised to engage with the parent council in future and that discussions are ongoing with the head teacher to finalise staffing for the next school session. Drummond School was built for 90 pupils, but there are currently 106. The staff number has slipped from 118 to 102 in the past year and some classes have been cancelled. Parents have told STV News that there have been multiple ambulance callouts because staff are not sufficiently trained in medical matters. A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: 'Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide for and review the support they provide pupils with additional support needs (ASN). 'Ministers are clear that all children and young people should receive the support they need to thrive in their education. 'The Scottish Government is investing an additional £29m this year to support the ASN workforce, in addition to the record spend of over £1bn by local authorities on ASN in 2023-24. 'A cross-party roundtable with local government will be held in early autumn to discuss what more can be done on ASN. Following that, a review of ASN will be scoped.' Q. Why is there no school nurse? Is that not an essential requirement at a school with such specialist needs? A. recent adaptations to the nursing service are part of a national change. The school nurse role changed in 2017, as part of the 'transforming roles programme for nursing'. Introduced to Highland 2019, it paused as a result of the pandemic and there is further implementation underway. We have carefully considered Drummond School within the national, local and professional context and in line with the Highland health support model for other special schools. The national model for school nursing has moved away from a one nurse/one school approach to a 'team approach' where children can, according to their individual needs, be supported by varying members of staff from the skill mix in the school nursing team. This ensures the right professional supports the child and recognises that no one nurse can hold the knowledge to be accountable for the complex medical need of all children in one particular school. We have recognised there is a gap in Drummond School as a result of the complexity of the medical need and in terms of ensuring that all the relevant 'health and medical' plans, from various professionals reach the GIRFEC child's plans as well as ensuring families are supported in the school and have confidence that the school staff have the skills to meet the needs as part of the child's plan. To this end we are looking to take forward a project in Drummond School where there will be both family support and a registered nurse to work in the school with parents to make sure the health needs are supported. Q. The parent council says Highland Council has never taken up an invitation to meet with them to discuss these concerns. Why not? A. Responses have been provided and most recent communication highlighted that area quality improvement manager for the school with the headteacher will engage with the parent council going forward. If parents have individual concerns and questions they should contact the school directly. Q. Why the staff cuts, especially when the school roll has increased? A. Staffing allocations for Drummond School are based on the national Scottish negotiating committee for teachers (SNCT) staffing regulations for special schools. This is a different model to how we support and resource ASL provision in mainstream schools. The revised ASL allocation staffing standard for mainstream school support, which was approved by council members in February 2023, is solely in relation to mainstream ASL support and resource allocation. The overall resource for additional support in our schools has not been reduced, but we are working towards the implementation of a more equitable allocation of resource across all schools in Highland. The committee report also highlights the need to review specialist education provisions and equality of provision/resource amongst all special schools and specialist provisions in Highland and we continue to progress this. As already stated, Highland Special School staffing is not part of the ASL allocation approach. The staffing is agreed locally between headteacher and officers. We are currently in discussion with the headteacher around staffing needs of the school and finalising the staffing at Drummond for the next school session. Q. What will you do to address the concerns listed above? A. We are aware that higher than normal levels of staff absence are impacting on staffing in the school this session. Staff absence is managed in the same way as all other schools. In the event of any staff shortages, the school can arrange cover or backfill using supply or existing staffing as available. We do appreciate however, the difficulty that our schools can sometimes face in being able to get backfill for staff absence, but this is an issue for all schools, not just at Drummond. Officers link in with schools to support with this, and we update our supply lists regularly to ensure they are as up to date as possible, so that headteachers are able to access cover as required. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
20 hours ago
- General
- STV News
Festival to showcase country's best and oldest fishing boats
Sailing ships from a time gone by, the 32nd Portsoy Traditional Boat festival is set to showcase some of the country's best and oldest fishing boats. It's one of Scotland's largest maritime festivals and gets underway in the Aberdeenshire village this weekend. One of the oldest vessels in attendance is the fishing boat the Isabella Fortuna. It's skipper Malcom Bremner said: 'She was built in Arbroath in 1890 and at that time she was the largest fishing vessel in the East coast of Scotland. STV News Isabella Fortuna: One of the oldest vessels in attendance. ''I'm interested in looking after old boats but also more importantly passing on traditional skills like engineering, woodwork, carpentry, even rope work, sails. 'It's all traditional industries that used to be the normal over 135 years ago.'' More than two dozen are due to arrive across the weekend for visitors to see… some more than a hundred years old. And as time marches on – keeping traditional skills going and the historic boats afloat is becoming a challenge. David Urquhart is the festival's Chairman: ''It is very important, because there is less boats coming to the festival. I've been doing this for over 30 years and some of the skippers then were 80 years old back then and sadly they're no longer with us. ''But it's important to see the boats as they come in like 'Isabella' and get the youngsters down onto 'Isabella' to see what fishing was like 50/60 years ago.' But there are those working to preserve skills from times gone by. Traditional wood workers have come from Norway to pass on their skills and to bring new ones back from Scotland. Tove Hjellnes, Norwegian Coastal Federation explained: ''We are neighbours, we are part of the same history, same tradition. Especially the boats are the same, the same way you build boats in Scotland and in Norway or Scandinavia. ''Since we are living on the coast along the water, we should know how to make boats and how to repair boats and to use boats because it connects us as people, I think.'' And what would a festival be without music? A live soundtrack will accompany the weekend which kicks off with the Scottish Folk Band Manran. Aidan Moodie, Mànran Guitarist: 'You've got Marcus and me from Orkney, everybody from the west coast and Ryan from Ireland. We try and showcase a lot of the different Celtic music cultures in what we do, even though now a days we've got a bit of pop and rock in it. It's great to be here. We're hoping to sail away in a dinghy boat by tonight.' As time marches on, organisers say the festival is becoming even more important in keeping Scotland's maritime heritage alive. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
20 hours ago
- STV News
Thousands jet off from Scots airport as summer holidays begin
The schools are closed, and the summer getaway is underway for tens of thousands of Scots heading off on holiday. There were 110 flights set to depart from Glasgow Airport on Friday, carrying around 10,000 passengers. Travellers are being advised to arrive at the airport at least three hours before departure during the busy period. STV News Over 100 flights left Glasgow Airport on Friday STV News While hundreds of families jetted off to sunshine and beaches like Greece and Spain, the travel hub also welcomed visitors to Scotland. STV spoke to those arriving in the city with visits to castles, lochs, and Highland hikes on the agenda. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
21 hours ago
- Health
- STV News
What is acute pancreatitis and is it a side effect of weight-loss jabs?
Health experts are investigating the risk of acute pancreatitis from injections for weight loss jabs such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy. Patients have reported being hospitalised with inflammation of the pancreas suspected to be related to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 medicines), such as Ozempic and Mounjaro. Sometimes referred to as 'skinny jabs', they are licensed for both weight loss and Type 2 diabetes. STV News spoke to a GP earlier this year who said the weight loss drugs are the most 'transformational' she has seen in her 20-plus-year career. The drugs have been helping thousands of people at risk of poor health due to obesity to lose huge amounts of weight rapidly. Many are also prescribed weight-loss drugs privately. Common side effects such as nausea and headaches are well documented, and users are provided with guidance about what to do if they experience them. But dramatic weight loss can also result in sagging or loose skin. Those who want the excess skin to be removed can face issues. In response, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Genomics England will begin an investigation into acute pancreatitis through its Yellow Card Biobank. Healthcare professionals are also being asked to help recruit for the study by reporting Yellow Cards on behalf of patients experiencing acute pancreatitis while taking the medicines. Acute pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas and can be 'serious' for some patients. The pancreas is a small organ, located behind the stomach, that helps with digestion. The main symptom of the condition is severe pain in the stomach that radiates to the back and does not go away. Most people with acute pancreatitis start to feel better within about a week and have no further problems. But some people with severe acute pancreatitis can go on to develop serious complications. It is different to chronic pancreatitis, where the pancreas has become permanently damaged from inflammation over many years. The most common symptoms of acute pancreatitis include: suddenly getting severe pain in the centre of your abdomen, feeling or being sick, and a high temperature of 38C or more, like a fever. Treatment for acute pancreatitis aims to help control the condition and manage symptoms. This usually involves admission to hospital. Patients may be given fluids directly into a vein (intravenous fluids), pain relief, liquid food through a tube in your tummy, and oxygen through tubes in your nose. Recent estimates suggest that about 1.5 million people in the UK are taking weight loss jabs. Health officials have suggested that they can help to turn the tide on obesity, but have stressed they are not a silver bullet and do come with side effects. Since the drugs were licensed, there have been hundreds of cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis among people taking GLP-1 medicines. 181 cases were reported of acute and chronic pancreatitis linked to tirzepatide – the active ingredient for Mounjaro. Five people died. There were 116 reported reactions of this kind linked to liraglutide, one of which was fatal. 113 cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis linked to semaglutide – the active ingredient for Ozempic and Wegovy were reported. One person died. 101 reported reactions of this kind were linked to exenatide, and three people died. There were 52 reported reactions of this sort linked to dulaglutide and 11 reported reactions linked to liraglutide. No fatalities were linked to either drug. These cases are not confirmed as being caused by the medicines, but the person who reported them suspected they may be. Dr Alison Cave, MHRA chief safety officer said: 'Evidence shows that almost a third of side effects to medicines could be prevented with the introduction of genetic testing. It is predicted that adverse drug reactions cost the NHS more than £2.2bn a year in hospital stays alone. 'Information from the Yellow Card Biobank will help us to better predict those most at risk of adverse reactions – enabling patients across the UK to receive the safest medicine for them, based on their genetic makeup. 'To help us help you, we're asking anyone who has been hospitalised with acute pancreatitis while taking a GLP-1 medicine to report this to us via our Yellow Card scheme. 'Even if you don't meet the criteria for this phase of the biobank study, information about your reaction to a medication is always extremely valuable in helping to improve patient safety.' Professor Matt Brown, Chief Scientific Officer of Genomics England, said: 'GLP-1 medicines like Ozempic and Wegovy have been making headlines, but like all medicines, there can be a risk of serious side effects. 'We believe there is real potential to minimise these, with many adverse reactions having a genetic cause. 'This next step in our partnership with the MHRA will generate data and evidence for safer and more effective treatment through more personalised approaches to prescription, supporting a shift towards an increasingly prevention-focused healthcare system. 'Although infrequent, acute pancreatitis has been reported with GLP-1 medicines. This can be serious. The main symptom of this is severe pain in the stomach that radiates to the back and does not go away. Anyone who experiences this should seek immediate medical help.' When a Yellow Card report is received, the MHRA contacts patients to ask if they would be willing to participate in the study. Patients will be asked to submit more information and a saliva sample, which will be assessed to explore whether some people are at a higher risk of acute pancreatitis when taking these medicines due to their genes. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- STV News
Lewis Capaldi returns to stage in Glastonbury 'surprise' set
Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi has returned to the stage in a 'surprise' slot at Glastonbury music festival. The 28-year-old last performed at Glastonbury in 2023 before taking a break, citing anxiety, and announced on New Year's Eve the same year that he planned to take a hiatus to focus on his health. The crowd started chanting 'oh Lewis Capaldi' before he began playing the hit song Before You Go to kick-off his set, which had been listed as 'TBA' on the Glastonbury website. On Thursday, speculation grew that Capaldi was among the secret performers scheduled for the festival with mysterious billboards being linked to a rumoured new single. At midnight, he released a new song titled Survive and alongside a video montag. Ge wrote on Instagram: 'It's been a while…' The mysterious billboards in Glasgow near the St Enoch Centre and outside the Glastonbury festival site were revealed to match the lyrics of the new release. A phone number on the signs when called linked to a message that read 'Hey, it's TBA, thanks for signing up.' That was a reference to the Secret Slot at Glastonbury on Friday. This year's Glastonbury line-up features a number of acts listed as TBA, with the Friday slot on the Pyramid Stage at 4.55pm speculated as the one Capaldi would perform in. This was confirmed when the singer stepped out to resounding applause and cheers. Capaldi, from Bathgate, West Lothian, has Tourette's Syndrome and released his first album in 2019, with a second album following in 2023. On New Year's Eve in 2023, Capaldi said in a lengthy Instagram post that he would 'continue taking some time to carry on looking after myself' following the announcement he would take a break from touring after struggling with his voice during his Glastonbury Festival set earlier in the year. Capaldi explored how the pressures of fame have affected him mentally and physically in the Netflix documentary Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now which was released in April 2023. His critically-acclaimed 2019 debut album Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent emerged as the biggest-selling UK album of both 2019 and 2020. His hit songs include 2019's Someone You Loved, 2020's Before You Go and 2022's Forget Me. STV News is now on WhatsApp Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
