Lawford Kidd's Blog

The Penrose Inquiry, which was announced by the Scottish Government in 2008, has now published its final report.

Lord Penrose chaired the inquiry, which looked in detail at how patients were infected with hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS through blood transfusions and other procedures carried out at NHS hospitals from 1974 onwards.

Following the publication of the report, Health Secretary Shona Robison has apologised on behalf of the NHS and Government in Scotland to all patients and families affected by infected NHS blood and blood products in Scotland during the 1970s and 1980s.

Discretionary Fatal Accident Inquiries (FAIs) for circumstances in which a Scottish person dies abroad and their body is repatriated to Scotland are to be allowed for the first time across the nation, following the introduction of The Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Bill.

While the decision whether or not to hold an FAI still remains with the Lord Advocate, who must believe there to be real prospect of establishing the circumstances of the death abroad and that said circumstances have not been already established by way of investigation, the Bill is aimed at modernising and strengthening the FAI process in Scotland.

A Forfar metal galvanising company has appeared in court over serious leg injuries sustained by an agency worker when a half-tonne A-frame slipped and fell onto him from a forklift truck.

Robert Ramsey had been helping colleagues move the large A-frame, which measured 3.82 metres by 1.6 metres and weighed almost half a tonne.

The A-frame was lifted and moved outside, where it was raining, on the forks of a forklift truck. It was then turned and was being moved into the correct position with Mr Ramsey and another colleague on opposite sides of the A-frame to steady it.

Edinburgh City Council have proposed bringing in a 20mph speed limit on over 80% of the citys’ roads in a bid to reduce road traffic accidents.

In a move that has been applauded by safety groups, the proposal looks to place a blanket ban on travelling over 20mph across the vast majority of the capital’s urban areas. There will be a small number of roads that drivers can go above 20mph. However, the vast majority will be outwith the city centre.

Scheme Delayed

The £2.2 million scheme was announced by the Edinburgh Council who have since delayed the implementation of the scheme by at least three months to grant those opposed to the changes to raise their objections above the policy. The changes, which have been met by some objections, will take two years to put in place if approved. The blanket speed limit will be rolled out by April 2016.

An Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) campaign – namely, the No Time to Lose Initiative – aimed at addressing the alarming number of deaths which result from work-related cancers, is proving to be a success, Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) have been told.

The Cross Party Group on Accident Prevention and Safety Awareness, which is made up of MSPs, organisations and members of the public, heard the encouraging news when it recently met at Holyrood in Edinburgh.