What's New: Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland

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What's New At CHSS?

Voices Scotland – Supporting Chest Heart & Stroke Patients & Carers to have their say

Hearty Voices Scotland has been delivered in Scotland, in partnership with the British Heart Foundation, for nearly five years. As a result of attending Hearty Voices Scotland sessions, hundreds of patients and carers across Scotland have been influencing heart services, through working with Managed Clinical Networks and other NHS decision-making bodies.

The Voices Scotland team are delighted to announce that, as a result of government funding, training and support is now available for Chest and Stroke patients and carers, to encourage them to work with health professionals to influence change in NHS Services.

Chest Voices Scotland, Hearty Voices Scotland and Stroke Voices Scotland are available across the country.

For further information, or to arrange for a session to be delivered in your area, contact Voices Scotland or call 0131 225 6963 and speak to the Voices Scotland Lead.

Support heart failure patients in the Biggar area
Evening information session: Wednesday 1st Sept 7.30pm, Gillespie Centre, Biggar

Please come along to our informal information session and find out about the interesting and rewarding roles available as a volunteer with CHSS's Lanarkshire Heart Failure Support Service.

Local coordinator Alison Campbell explained: ''We'd love to welcome you to our information evening and tell you more about the services CHSS can offer to local people in the Biggar area who are living with heart failure.

Heart failure can leave people feeling isolated and trapped in their homes and our heart failure support service is proving a great success in helping overcome these problems. The service works by matching heart failure patients with trained volunteers who visit on a regular basis and may, for example, help clients take part in social outings, go to the shops or for short walks. It also provides much needed relief for carers.

We're looking for more volunteers in the Biggar area to help run the service. If you would like to find out more please come along or call me on 01355 522806. You can also email me at Alison Campbell.

Volunteers are given an induction and provided with ongoing support and training and of course all expenses are reimbursed.''

Extended opening hours for CHSS Advice Line

Over the past 15 years, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland's Advice Line has answered almost 30,000 calls! Since 1995 the helpline has been continually evolving and striving to offer a compassionate and well–informed service of excellence to people, in Scotland, living with chest, heart and stroke conditions, their relatives and carers and health professionals.

To celebrate the service's 15th birthday CHSS is delighted to announce the latest development: extended opening hours.

In response to demand, the Advice Line will now remain open all day between 9.30am – 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Calls can be made in confidence to the Advice Line nurses at local rates on 0845 077 6000. A text phone service is available on the same number.

The nurses can also be contacted by texting 'chss', followed by your message, to 07766 40 41 42 or by emailing adviceline@chss.org.uk or by writing to the charity's Head Office address.

Stroke Chat Scotland

Stroke Chat Scotland is a new virtual stroke group (chat room) for people affected by stroke in Scotland. It is a space to talk with others affected by stroke, to ask questions, share experiences and find information.

stroke chat scotland

CHSS Strategic Plan 2010 – 2013

The CHSS Strategic Plan 2010 – 2013 is now available to download.

This document sets out the key objectives and priorities from our Strategic Plan, 2010 – 2013. It aims to give our staff, volunteers and supporters a clear idea of plans for the next three years.

Our plans are grouped into three main areas:

Research
Services
- (a) Advice and information
- (b) Support in the community
- (c) Training
- (d) Welfare
- (e) User participation
Influencing public policy

Ladies Driving Challenge 2010

Inverness - Sunday 5th September / Edinburgh - Sunday 12th September

“The ultimate girl’s day out” – Carol Smillie

Inverness - 5th September | Edinburgh - 12th September

Volcanic Ash in Scotland: Latest Information

If you are concerned about your health (particularly if you have a chest condition) following the recent Icelandic volcanic eruption please see the following Scottish information:

NHS 24 information

Health Protection Scotland: latest news

For more detailed information about the health effects of volcanic ash please see the following information produced by The International Volcanic Health Hazard Network (IVHHN):

The health hazards of volcanic ash: a guide for the public