News.Scotland.Org

Scotland, Oct 24: The population in Scotland is on a raising mode, the family friendly leave laws are attributed as the reason behind this. A report submitted by the registrar-general for Scotland suggests that rising fertility level together with the economic migrants from Eastern Europe have encouraged the rise in population.

The population is expected to reach all time high of 5.37 million in 2031 as against 5.12 million in 2006. Earlier record was in 1974 when it peaked at 5.24 million. The Office of National Statistics also predicted that the population in UK is expected to grow to more than 70 million over the next 24 years.

The family-friendly maternity laws, which allow women to take maternity leave and return to work after having children is attributed as the main reason behind the rapid increase in the birth rate. Experts believe that the rise in Scotland’s birth rate was because of the cultural shift in the workforce. More and more women are eager to take advantage of the family friendly legislation and enjoy doing part time work.

Meanwhile Duncan Macniven, the registrar-general for Scotland, said: “We are seeing an increase in fertility for women. The legislation allows people the freedom to combine the career and family without any compromise. The recent increase in the birth rate and immigrants are set to contribute a major chunk to the rising population.”

Statistics with the Scottish government shows the influence of foreign nationals in the population. In the year 2004, 31 Polish babies born in Scotland that rise to 114 the following year and reached a maximum of 365 last year.

Traditionally, owing to the outward migration of people, Scotland had experienced a decline in its population level. But in the recent years this trend has been reversed as more and more immigrants entering Scotland and contributing about 20,000 people a year.

Scotland has become a prime importer of people from the rest of the UK, with 53,000 people showing desire to settle north of the Border in 2005-06 as against 44,000 people who went elsewhere. The rise in the immigration level is set to continue while the migration level is expected to decrease to 8500 people by 2012.

However the increase in the birth rate and the increase in the immigration level which stands as a solid evidence of the peoples confidence in Scotland.

October, 24

Can you imagine deaths occurring due to the apathy of hospitals in Scotland? This growing trend is making the life of people restless. It is known that the rate of death caused by the hospital superbug Clostridium difficile is rising rapidly day by day in Scotland. The main reason behind the spread of this killer bug is said to be the low standard of hygiene in the hospitals. About 164 people succumbed last year to the bug, pointing out the poor cleanliness in the hospital wards. It is innocent people who are paying off for the severe irregularity of the hospitals in Scotland.

According to Dr Ian Gould, a consultant microbiologist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, “There definitely is a real increase in the virulence of some strains. Dealing with C difficile is complicated, but much of it is the same as with MRSA. We are trying to improve the use of antibiotics to control the infection. “We need to improve hand hygiene and the hygiene of healthcare staff. We also need to look at bed occupancy and the space between beds to stop it spreading.

The C difficile is highly contagious and if not treated in the right time can cause diarrhea and can also result more fatal giving threat to the frail and elderly. Looking to figures which shows, the deaths caused by this bug has grown rapidly in comparison with last year. The figures revealed by Health Protection Scotland showed that about 6000 cases of C difficile associated disease has been traced this year in people over 65 years of age. Slowly it had taken a massive shape infecting people not only in Scotland, but during the year 2005 there were 2074 such cases in England and Wales related to C difficle.

These deaths have raised a question in the mind of people whether to go or not to go to these hospital’s where there lives are not safe. With such a silent stand by hospitals on the hygiene facilities its really very sad approach by them for the patients health. The hospital management should look at all aspects and make sure the patient is under safe hands and in a safe environment.

The health spokeswoman for the Scottish Conservatives, Mary Scanlon said these deaths have raised an alarm for all. She added now ” A hospital has become a hazardous place as opposed to a hygienic place for care and treatment, and patients are now more worried about getting these infections than they are about having surgery.”

Now the bug has even made the Scottish government to think seriously on the issue and make sure the situation don’t gets more severe. The hospitals should also come forward and upgrade there hygienic standards to make hospital a place to cure ailments and not a place to serve ailments.

What is C difficle?

C difficile is a spore forming bacteria which can be part of the normal intestinal flora in as many as 50% of children under age two, and less frequently in individuals over two years of age. C. difficile is the major cause of pseudomembranous colitis and antibiotic associated diarrhoea.