MARY There is support out there for you
BY WEST SCOTLAND MSP MARY FEE
I truly hope everyone is keeping safe and well during these troubled times.
My thoughts go out to all who have suffered a loss during this crisis and to those battling with coronavirus.
My thanks are offered to all frontline staff working hard to support everyone - health and social care workers, police, firefighters, postal workers, retail staff and many more working each day.
I wanted to use some of my column this week to share a few helplines and websites that may be of use to you or someone you know.
If any of these can provide guidance or support, then please be patient with the organisations as they cope with resources and demand issues:
Renfrewshire Council 0300 300 0333 www.renfrewshire.gov. uk
NHS Inform 0800 028 281 www.nhsinform.scot
Age Scotland 0800 1244 222 www.ageuk.org.uk/scotland/
Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87 www.breathingspace.scot
Samaritans 116 123 (freephone) www.samaritans.org
Capability Scotland 07971 745 066 www.capabilityscotland.org.uk
Renfrewshire Carers
0141 887 3643 www. renfrewshirecarers.org.uk
Renfrewshire Foodbank 0300 201 2500 www.trusselltrust. org and,
Young Scot 0808 801 0338 www.young.scot
I know there are more organisations still working hard to support people, I will share some on my Facebook page and website, www.maryfeemsp. co.uk.
For the foreseeable future, my office remains closed, however my staff and I are working from our homes to continue helping people in Renfrewshire and West Scotland.
If you would like my help, please email mary.fee.msp@ parliament.scot or visit www. maryfeemsp.co.uk
Finally, remember to maintain social distancing guidelines and follow the advice of medical and scientific professions.
Scottish Labour has also formally asked the transport minister to introduce free public transport for NHS and social care workers for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an official letter, Scottish Labour’s transport spokesperson Colin Smyth appealed to Michael Matheson to take the measures to help the vital key workers who are on the frontline of our fight against coronavirus.
I fully support this call and also the guidance from the Scottish Government for people to avoid travelling by public transport. I realise that isn’t an option for some, however if buses and trains continue to run and with public money backing them, they should allow NHS staff and care workers to travel for free.