Highland vaccinations unhappiness and Inverness gritting hero
New oil and gas expansion ‘economic suicide’
It is economic suicide and a betrayal of my new grandchildren to continue exploring and exploiting new oil and gas.
It makes much more economic sense to phase out fossil fuels and use our wealth of skills in the sector for the new renewable economy.
We need to reach Net Zero as fast as possible to avert economic disaster.
Currently the forecast is of at least three degrees of warming this century which would lead to widespread crop failures, food insecurity, and destruction of the kind we are now seeing in California and have seen in floods and droughts, stronger hurricanes etc around the world in recent years, never mind the inundation of coastal communities and infrastructure caused by sea level rise.
We are already looking at a projected drastic decline in global economic output by mid century which would wipe out any short term gain from fossil fuel production and use and lead to further war, migration and humanitarian disasters.
Any delay in achieving Net Zero would make the bleak prospects even worse, but achieving them sooner would improve health and well-being across the world and give us much more energy security.
Renewables are now the cheapest form of energy generation and across the globe, particularly in China we are seeing massive expansion in them and the storage needed to balance intermittency.
This is happening because it makes economic sense and improves health just as much as the drive to lower our exposure to climate driven disasters.
If we spent the money we spend on supporting and lining the pockets of the oil and gas industry we could ensure our homes and businesses are properly insulated and powered with clean energy, people can afford to keep warm, and businesses which are not wreaking the planet can thrive.
In Scotland we already generate a similar amount from renewables to that which we use, with some exported to the UK and beyond.
We are now able to make more efficient use of power with heat pumps like ours using around a quarter of the kilowatt hours needed for conventional heating and electric vehicles being several times more efficient than conventional vehicles.
Anne Thomas
Drumsmittal
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Vaccine system ‘not fit for purpose’
Calls to return the delivery of essential vaccination services to GP practices have been issued following increasing concerns the current programme run at health board level is “not fit for purpose”. Uptake levels for the seasonal flu and childhood illnesses vaccines have both fallen in recent years.
“Can't get an appointment at a GP clinic in under a couple of weeks, how will they fit in all the extra appointments?” - Nigel Smith
“Or are GPs whinging because they they are missing out on the income from vaccination clinics?” - Liz Peck
“Liz Peck, they’re NHS funded and most UK surgeries would happily half their workload, you can’t honestly tell me you’ve never heard someone moan about how long it takes to get a doctor’s appointment?” - Jamie MacIver
“Didn’t help having to wait over two months for appointments when they send out messages. Perhaps go back to drop-in clinics and not cancel them at drop of a hat. Oh, and stop using an app.” - Karen Shane
“I tried to get an appointment at Eastgate back in October and they had nothing until the end of December so I was going to pay for the flu vaccine myself. Booked at Dalneigh Pharmacy at the beginning of November and because I'd been invited to get vaccinated I didn't have to pay.” - Erynn Nicol
“Lochardil Pharmacy and Travel Clinic I went to, no hassle. Staff very good and fab service.” - Sarah MacDougall
“A question should be, how many people weren’t called for flu and Covid vaccines because they weren’t notified this year? I wasn’t. I’ve been on the system since Covid but no call, text or letter. Had to ring for an appointment myself when realised friends had been called before me.” - Olivia Bell
“Olivia Bell, likewise. I am on the vulnerable list, still not heard a thing.” - Diane Armstrong
“I definitely agree, return vaccines to GPs. Sometimes no sense in where people had to go for vaccines, caused a lot of stress, no wonder people didn’t bother.” - Adele Mitchell
“Vaccination clinics keep getting cancelled.” - Ray Shields
“No appointments available when I went online to book.” - Doreen MacLeod
‘Phantom gritter’ spent over 30 hours gritting streets
A kind-hearted Inverness man spent over 30 hours gritting the city’s streets during the recent cold snap. James Glennie (known as Jimbo) covered over 50 side streets with grit, for free, ensuring that the elderly and disabled could get out safely in the sub-freezing temperatures.
“Fantastic, such a kind person.” - Lisa Menzies
“What a kind hearted man, well done.” - Fiona Andreas
“Not all heroes wear capes, hats off to you young man.” - Louise Dunn
“Guy with a heart of gold.” - Lorraine Robertson
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