YOUR VIEWS: Thanks for support of Caithness General Hospital and help for those in need
Thanks for help
On behalf of the League of Friends of Caithness General Hospital I would like to thank everyone who participated in our recent Scottish Place Names Quiz. Thanks, must also go to our committee members and local businesses who sold copies of the quiz. The significant sum of £267 was raised and a large number of quiz entries were submitted.
Congratulations to our winner, Mr D Rogalski!
We would also like to thank all those who supported our stall on Fun Day in Wick which raised £544 and our December collection in Tesco Wick which raised an amazing £722! As always, we are indebted to the general public in Caithness for their generosity, they never let us down! Thanks also to Tesco staff for their help on the day.
Barbara Nicol
Thurso Road
Wick
Support is here
Christmas is such a special time of year. A chance to celebrate and create lasting memories with those closest to us. It’s also a time when we miss our loved ones the most.
But spare a thought for those people facing the last Christmas with a loved one, or the first without them - the festive season can be particularly challenging and difficult to navigate. Many families need help to get them through the season, and don’t know where to access the support they need.
Marie Curie believes everyone should have expert care and support at the end of life, free from unnecessary pain, and have the dignity and respect they deserve, whatever their illness or where they live. Our free support line and webchat is open over the festive season, including New Year’s Day, offering practical and emotional support on everything from managing symptoms, navigating care to financial information, including how to get help with energy bills, and bereavement support.
Our trained Support Line Officers are there if you need support or a listening ear, as well as our Telephone Companion service that offers regular calls at a time that suits you.
Whatever your question, we’re here to help you.
If you or someone close to you needs support over Christmas and New Year, please contact Marie Curie for free on 0800 090 2309 or visit mariecurie.org.uk/support to chat online.
Top stories
Matt Williams
Marie Curie Associate Director, Information and Support
Help with hearing
The festive season is a time for connection and conversation, but for those with undiagnosed hearing loss, it can feel like a struggle to keep up. This Christmas, RNID is encouraging everyone to look out for the signs of hearing loss in themselves and their loved ones.
Do you notice someone turning the TV up louder than others prefer? Do they struggle to follow conversations in noisy places like pubs or restaurants, or frequently ask people to repeat what they’ve said? Perhaps they find it hard to hear on the phone, feel like others mumble, or have a partner who thinks they’re not listening. If any of these feel familiar, it might be time to check your hearing.
The good news is that it is very easy to look for the signs of hearing loss in yourself and loved ones and to do something about it. Taking our free simple check at rnid.org.uk can be the first step on your hearing journey. This Christmas, let’s keep everyone part of the conversation!
Crystal Rolfe
Director of Health at RNID
Reasons to be happy
As another year stumbles to a close, it has been one dominated by what appears to be one of relentless bleakness on a global stage. Conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as a continuing cost-of-living crisis on our own shores.
However, there have been many positives to come out of 2024, which have maybe not grabbed the headlines and gained the profile merited.
New medical breakthroughs included the delivery of a new era of schizophrenia treatment, with the approval of the drug KarXT. And groundbreaking medical trials, like the world’s first mRNA lung cancer vaccine, offered a glimpse into a healthier future.
In the UK, renewable power overtook fossil fuel generation for the first time, and Norway became the first country in the world where electric cars outnumbered petrol cars.
Greece legalized same-sex marriage and adoption, becoming the first Orthodox Christian Country to do so, and 642 million people voted in India’s general election, setting the record for the world’s largest election.
Meanwhile, the Paris Summer Olympics dazzled the world with extraordinary athletic performances, and the San Marino football team, who had previously never won a competitive match, won not one, but two.
In what may appear to a doom-laden year, let us spare a few moments to reflect on the many positives.
Alex Orr
Marchmont Road
Edinburgh
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