Help halt spread of winter flu
People with signs of flu and colds are being asked to steer clear of local hospitals in a bid to help halt the spread.
Following an increase in levels of influenza across Scotland, NHS Forth Valley is asking people who have symptoms of a respiratory illness not to visit the area’s hospitals until their symptoms have disappeared.
Dr Jennifer Champion, NHS Forth Valley Consultant in public health medicine, said: “Influenza is a highly infectious virus that causes outbreaks in the community, healthcare and care settings every year. It can be more serious amongst the elderly and people who are already unwell. Health professionals across NHS Scotland are working to minimise the likelihood of outbreaks and the public is being asked to play their part too. Please don’t come to see someone in hospital if you feel unwell or have any flu-like symptoms. These include coughs, runny nose or a temperature. Flu is highly contagious and could harm patients, especially those whose immune systems are already weak.”
A by-election has been called for early in the new year following the announcement that an SNP councillor is to step down on Hogmanay.
Clackmannanshire North member Archie Drummond resigned from the authority to pursue other interests.
The councillor, whose ward includes Alva and Tillicoultry, was elected in May 2012 as an independent but joined the SNP this year.
Councillor Drummond said: “For the past six years or so I have been pleased to represent the people in my communities as best as I could but have decided that I want and need the time to do personal stuff that I have put off for those years.
“I recognise that this is more boring than a sex scandal or a tale of financial impropriety but I really do want to quit politics to spend time with my family and my postponed personal plans. I trust that, in the by–election, the people of Clackmannanshire North will continue to put their trust in the Scottish National Party to best protect their interests.”
The council’s SNP group currently controls matters at Kilncraigsil but Councillor Drummond’s decision to resign leaves them with seven members - two more than Labour and the Conservatives who each have five.
And the by-election is set to take place as the council considers cutting more than £13 million from its forthcoming budget.
Leader of the Council and SNP group Les Sharp said: “Councillor Drummond is standing down for entirely personal reasons and we, as the administration in Clackmannanshire, will carry on with our work as normal and with an impending by–election sometime in the new year will campaign vigorously to maintain our position and continue to provide the excellent stewardship of Clackmannanshire Council that our residents have come to expect and appreciate.
“We wish Councillor Drummond all the very best for his future plans and look forward to his continued engagement with the SNP”.
Councillor Drummond had served as deputy leader of the council until recently.
Clackmannan North Labour councillor Dave Clark, leader of the council’s Labour group, said: “I think Archie’s intellect will be sadly missed by the council in general and SNP in particular.
“Maybe he has enough integrity that the drastic cuts that we are facing this year were too much for him to swallow.”
Councillor Drummond, from Tillicoultry currently sits on the council audit and finance committee, licensing board, local review body, planning committee and scrutiny committee.
In April 2016, he was suspended from all council and committee meetings for six months after the Standards Commission for Scotland ruled that he had breached the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.
He was found found to have inappropriately sought to influence operational decision-making at a panel hearing after becoming involved in a social care case involving a constituent.
The probe also decided he had been “discourteous and disrespectful in certain correspondence with council officers”.
The notice of election will be published in January and the by-election will be held within three months.