Waiting times at Hairmyres A&E Are rising

Across NHS Lanarkshire’s three acute sites, Hairmyres Hospital recorded the longest waiting times, with 37 patients waiting over 8 hours (week ending Sunday, October 7th). According to the latest figures, University Hospital Hairmyres has rising waiting times at the A&E department. Out of NHS Lanarkshire’s three acute sites, the East Kilbride hospital recorded the lowest percentage of patients seen within the four-hour target set by the

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Fun activities at EK museum for Harvest weekend

The National Museum of Rural Life are hosting ranger walks, scarecrow-making, storytelling and more this weekend. From bannock-making to straw craft sessions, there’s plenty to do at the National Museum of Rural Life event on today and tomorrow from 11am to 4pm. Families can learn about the local roe deer population, as well as other wildlife on the 170-acre area. Also, as well as just finding out

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EK Food Bank Drop-in Centre Closed

EK Food Bank Drop-in Centre Closed

The centre at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church is forced to close due to lack of funding. Struggling mums are devastated after East Kilbride community food bank drop-in centre has closed. The Greenhills-based facility run by the East Kilbride Community Food Bank is now shut due to a lack of funding. Organiser Thomas McNeil told the East Kilbride News it was a “tough decision”, but insisted it

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Ban on Balloons and Sky Lanterns in SLC

Ban on Balloons and Sky Lanterns in SLC

As a means of avoiding environmental damage, the council have decided to put a stop to the deliberate release of balloons and sky lanterns. South Lanarkshire Council have introduced a prohibition on the intentional release of sky lanterns and balloons into the sky for fear of the environmental damage they cause. Members of SLC’s executive committee approved the new policy which stops the release of these

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Increasing Number of Absences at Hairymyres Hospital Due to Mental Health

Medics are nearing the breaking-point with the largest number of stress-induced sick days in NHS Lanarkshire, according to The Royal College of Nursing. In the last three years alone, staff at the University Hospital in East Kilbride have taken almost 90,000 sick days. Through a Freedom of Information request, statistics from NHS Lanarkshire show an 18% rise in sickness at the hospital from 2016/17 to 2017/18. Norman Provan

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Letter From The Editor

Letter From The Editor

Hello and welcome to ‘The Oystercatcher’, the newspaper for St. Andrew’s and St. Bride’s High School that is run by students, for students. Over the past three years it has been a privilege to work with the fantastic people that make up this group and to experience first hand the hard work, dedication and talent that allows this newspaper to flourish year after year. Without these

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