Latest news with #ScottishBorders
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Harris Mcdonell: Concern for teens in adult psychiatric wards
A sheriff says a teenager's "wholly inappropriate" placement in an adult psychiatric ward may have contributed to his reluctance to speak to health professionals before his Macdonell died age 19 in 2020, near his family home in the Scottish years earlier, he spent nine nights at Huntlyburn psychiatric ward in Melrose as there was no space in Young Persons Units (YPU) in Glasgow, Edinburgh or a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) determination, Sheriff Peter Paterson said that while "no precautions" could have prevented his death, he was concerned about the shortage of hospital beds for young people with serious mental health issues. Sheriff Paterson said that it was a "sad truth" that young people continue to be admitted to "wholly inappropriate adult wards" and the situation has worsened since 2018. Harris' mother, Jane, says the sheriff's findings and recommendations fall short of what she had hoped she told BBC Scotland News that Harris's case could still act as a catalyst for said: "Good will only come from the sheriff's findings if people will sit up and listen to what is being said."I fear that Harris' story will be forgotten within a few weeks unless people who are going through similar situations engage with their MPs , MSPs and local authorities." Harris took his own life in the early hours of August 19, 2020 close to the family home in the Borders village of family described him as being a "bright, active boy with a quirky sense of humour".But shortly after turning 16 in 2018, he told his GP that he had begun to feel suicidal. He was prescribed medication and referred to child and adolescent mental health services (Camhs). 'Mistrust' of health staff Within a few weeks he had climbed on to the roof his home, and fearing for his safety, a request was made for him to receive residential to find a bed for Harris in one of Scotland's three young persons mental health units failed, and he was admitted to the adult psychiatric unit within the grounds of Borders General Hospital, near family believe his nine nights within Huntlyburn scarred him mentally - as well as mother Jane, who worked as a consultant paediatric consultant for 30 years, is convinced her son's stay in an adult unit was responsible for him failing to engage with health professionals in the final two years of his said: "The main outcome of this FAI has been about Harris' experience at the Huntlyburn unit, which is inextricably linked to what happened afterwards."He had a mistrust of health professionals after that, and was terrified of ever being sent back to a place like that."Harris was an intelligent lad and he knew about what could happen if he became ill again." During his time at Huntlyburn Harris made several attempts to one occasion he was found a couple of miles away, and when being transported back to the ward he threw himself from the moving required plastic surgery for facial and scalp injuries at St John's Hospital in Livingston.A bed was found for Harris two days later at the Edinburgh young persons are only three young people's mental health units in Scotland - Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee - although Lothian Health Board is currently looking to open two new six-bed units with a different pathway for admission. Sheriff Paterson referred to evidence heard from Dr Kevin Brown, a consultant psychiatrist who treated Harris at the young person's unit in Edinburgh. "Harris was admitted to Huntlyburn ward because of a lack of available beds in a unit suited to young persons," the sheriff said."It is acknowledged by all that this is highly undesirable, yet as Dr Brown so powerfully observed, the position is worse now than in 2018."The sheriff highlighted that there had been 67 admissions involving 59 under 18s in the year 2023/24. Figures from the Mental Welfare Commission show there has been a continuous reduction in the number of under 18s being treated in adult units - from 103 admissions in 2017/18 and 79 in 2022/ Dr Brown told the FAI that adult psychiatry services were overwhelmed, and so the fall in admissions of children were due to lack of capacity not lack of demand. He added that as a result "delay to admission is prolonged, with young people at very high risk in the meantime". For details of organisations which offer advice and support visit BBC Action Line, or call 0800 066 066 for free, at any time, to hear recorded information.
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
Body found in Scots woods in search for missing teenager
A BODY has been found in a section of woods during the search for a missing teenager. Margaret Grigor, 18, disappeared from Melrose in the Scottish Borders yesterday afternoon. 2 A major search was launched after she was reported missing from the town. Cops previously told how they were growing "increasingly concerned" for her welfare. Anyone with information was urged to get in touch if they knew where she could be. Tragically, a body was found in the woods on the outskirts of the village of Ancrum, 11 miles away from Melrose. The devastating find was made earlier today. Although the woman has yet to be formally identified, Margaret's family have been informed. Cops probing the tragedy say there are no suspicious circumstances. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "The body of a woman has been found in a wooded area on the outskirts of Ancrum. "Formal identification is yet to take place however the family of Margaret Grigor, reported missing in Melrose on Tuesday, 17 June, 2025, has been informed. "There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal." Gutwrenching cause-of-death revealed of 16-year-old track star after 'devastating' medical emergency 2
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Scottish schools to convert gender-neutral toilets to single-sex
At least 18 schools across Scotland that previously offered only gender-neutral toilets are to create single-sex facilities following a legal schools in Aberdeenshire, Argyll and Bute, Scottish Borders and Shetland plan to change provision by adding separate bathrooms for boys and April, a judge ordered that Scottish schools must provide single-sex toilets for pupils, days after the Supreme Court ruled that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities Scottish government said that local authorities have statutory responsibility for the school estate, including the provision of toilets. Most schools in Scotland offer at least some form of gender neutral bathrooms, but the vast majority also have single-sex rules around gender provision in school toilets have not been updated in almost 60 years since the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967 came into force. Figures obtained by BBC Scotland News by freedom of information requests found 52 schools across 11 council areas offered only gender-neutral those, 10 are located in Shetland, however its local authority said it now plans to provide separate Borders, Aberdeenshire and Argyll and Bute councils are also adding separate councils are yet to confirm whether their schools will comply with the ruling. In April, a couple from the Borders took their local authority to court over the installation of only gender-neutral toilets at the new Earlston Primary judge ruled that mixed-sex schools must have single-sex toilets, but they can have gender neutral toilets in addition to council conceded that they had a legal obligation to provide male and female facilities at a hearing at the Court of Session in following week, East Lothian Council said children in two of their primary schools with gender neutral toilets would be directed to use separate facilities in future. What are other councils doing? Dumfries and Galloway Council said its legal team was considering its position in relation to the court ruling before deciding how to City of Edinburgh Council said it was "considering what changes may need to be made" and would provide an update over the other councils - Clackmannanshire, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, Midlothian and Perth and Kinross - all confirmed they had at least one school in their area which offered no single-sex did not provide an update on any changes to provision since Ayrshire, Moray, Stirling and South Lanarkshire councils said none of their schools offered any gender-neutral provision. Ministers are considering the separate implications of the Supreme Court judgement on the definition of sex, and whether any changes will have to be made to toilet provisions based on May, the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association called on the Scottish government to urgently publish new guidance on how schools should deal with single-sex spaces.
Telegraph
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
SNP's new net zero wind farm ‘will harm golden eagles'
A net zero wind farm in Scotland is likely to harm rare golden eagles, warn conservationists. The SNP Government is considering a proposal for Scawd Law, an eight-turbine scheme on the Holylee estate in the Scottish Borders. Each turbine would be up to 180m tall and, according to developer Fred Olsen Renewables, the wind farm would generate more than £8 million for the local community. However, ministers have been warned that the wind farm's impact on golden eagles – a protected species – has been 'substantially' underestimated. They are being urged to block the scheme with concerns raised over the cumulative impact of wind farms in the region, which is being driven by the SNP's net zero targets. Dr Cat Barlow, the chief executive of Restoring Upland Nature (RUN), said the charity had formally objected to Scawd Law. 'After comparing proposals with the insights provided by our state-of-the art monitoring equipment and detailed field observations by our highly experienced staff, we do not believe Scawd Law in the Moorfoot Hills is the right place for a wind farm development,' Dr Barlow said. 'The additional information report currently being used by the site's developers is dated and substantially underestimates the impact on golden eagles at a particularly critical time for the local population.' Scottish ministers have pledged to reach net zero by 2045. However, regions such as the Scottish Borders have emerged as battlegrounds with local communities fighting the expansion of wind farms. These include plans for a 62-turbine scheme near Teviothead and the 59-turbine Liddesdale wind farm that if consented would be located a couple of miles apart. Borders Wind Farm Watch, a campaign group, said the developer's information report relies on data that only account for eagle activity up to early 2024. The group said 'it estimates minimal impact' and pointed to recent tracking held by RUN showing eagle presence has surged by 238 per cent in the area. It said this 'drastically' alters the risk profile, adding: 'Collision risk estimates based on older data are no longer valid and significantly understate the threat'. Though once abundant in southern Scotland, by early 2018 the golden eagle population had decreased to between two and four pairs across Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders. Conservation efforts have helped the species bounce back and the golden eagle population in the south of Scotland has more than tripled to the highest number recorded in the area for three centuries. Last year, a three-year-old golden eagle named Sparky died after colliding with a wind turbine in Dumfries and Galloway. It was locally fledged from a nest and was found 15 metres from a turbine base at the Windy Rig wind farm. Dr Barlow said breeding territories must remain undisturbed for long-term population sustainability, as golden eagles were highly sensitive to disturbance and tended to avoid areas around wind turbines. She warned that the expansion of wind farms 'without rigorous, up-to-date environmental data risks pushing these birds out of the very landscapes they need to survive'.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DIY giant loses industrial estate sign appeal
DIY giant B&Q has lost an appeal for an illuminated sign outside a store in the Scottish Borders. The local authority rejected its proposals for land at the Tweedbank Industrial Estate so it took the case to the Scottish government. A reporter has now concluded that the proposed signage would add "clutter" to the roadside in the area. He ruled it would be harmful to the amenity of the area and rejected the firm's appeal. More stories from South Scotland Listen to news for the Scottish Borders on BBC Sounds Scottish Borders Council rejected the plans earlier this year, prompting the appeal by B&Q. The company argued that the sign would help the business survive and also "contribute to the economic vitality, aesthetic appeal and fair competition". However, the Scottish government reporter said the proposals would "appear obtrusive and discordant for pedestrians and road users" on the nearby A6091. "Although illumination levels for the signage may be controlled and could be subject to the imposition of appropriate conditions, the illumination will add to its prominence in the street scene," he added. He ruled that due to its impact on the amenity it should not be allowed to proceed. Proposed retail development could create 150 jobs
