Medical Help around Faslane

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24 hour Helpline: 01389 751717

If a patient or their doctor calls for an Ambulance, the patients will be taken to the hospital best equipped to deal with their particular problem. That could mean the Vale of Leven Hospital, the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley or a hospital in Glasgow.

The Ambulance will take patients with medical emergencies such as: Heart Attacks, Strokes, Asthma, etc (see below) to the Vale of Leven Hospitals New Medical Assessment Unit.

The Ambulance will take the following patients to Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley, which has 24 hour surgical cover and is best placed to give quality care to these patients

All serious injuries including road traffic accidents

All surgical and urology emergencies,

Fractures requiring orthopaedic surgery,

Serious eye injuries and head injuries

Children

The Ambulance will automatically take all seriously unwell or injured children to the Accident and Emergency Department at Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley. This is supported by a 24-hour Consultant-led Paediatric Service.

Children of any age with minor illness such as mild fevers, tummy upsets, coughs etc., should be seen by their own GP. Children of 5 and over with minor injuries can be seen in the Minor Injuries Unit (see details below). Children under 5 are more difficult to assess and should either be seen by a GP or taken directly to the Accident and Emergency Department at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley.

Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley

(30 miles - one hour depending on traffic)

The full Accident and Emergency Service will be provided at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. This unit is staffed by senior doctors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will provide care for all serious injuries.
Travelling to Royal Alexandra Hospital By Car

Follow the A82 until the turn off for the Erskine Bridge.

Once across the bridge you should take the M8, following the signs for Paisley/Glasgow.

Leave the M8 at J29 (Irvine, Paisley, Glasgow Airport), at the roundabout take the 4th exit for A737 Irvine. (Ignore 3rd exit, signed for Paisley.) After 1 mile, leave A737 dual carriageway at first exit, signed for Linwood. At roundabout at bottom of slip road, take 1st exit on left into A761 Linwood Road, heading towards Paisley. There is signposting from this point to the RAH.

IF IN DOUBT, CALL 01389 751717 FOR ADVICE

Vale Of Leven Hospital in Alexandria

(16 miles - 35 mins)

Medical Assessment Unit

This unit will be staffed by doctors and nurses at all times of the day and night, 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. This unit will assess and treat all Medical Emergencies. These patients will access this service either through their own doctor, or by ambulance or by going directly themselves. The Medical Assessment Unit will treat patients with:

Heart attacks, Diabetes,

Asthma and other breathing problems,

Strokes, Unconsciousness, Epilepsy,

Allergic reactions and Overdose.

Minor Injuries Unit

The doors will be open from 9am to 9pm every day and the Unit will be staffed by Nurse Practitioners, supported by Accident and Emergency Consultants.

In the Minor Injuries Unit, nurses will assess and treat adults and children over 5 with minor limb injury (including requesting x-rays when required for suspected broken bones), wounds requiring dressings or stitches, minor burns, foreign bodies or minor injury to eyes, ears and nose.

GP Out of Hours Service

This service operates Monday - Friday from 6pm until 8.30am plus all weekend. Lomond Docs will expand to cover all practices in Dumbarton, Alexandria, Helensburgh, Kilcreggan, Garelochhead, Arrochar and Lochgoilhead.

Overnight minor injuries will be covered by local GPs with nursing support and should be contacted first by phone to arrange treatment (Tel 01389 751717). This service will be provided at the Vale of Leven Hospital alongside the Minor Injuries Service and Medical Assessment Unit.

Patients should always phone first to arrange for an emergency appointment out of hours (Tel: 01389 751717)

Doctors Surgery in Helensburgh

Helensburgh Medical Centre

12 East King Street
Tel. 01436 672277 & 01436 673366
Dentist

Dunlop & Humphreys

4 Sinclair Street
Helensburgh
Tel: 01436 673197

Welfare and Comfort

Although it is likely that police will clear away blockaders within a few hours you need to plan for the contingency that the blockade will be maintained for the two - day period and for how you intend to cover that contingency by employing a rota of blockaders or having people willing to stay in place for that entire time.

At each gate identify people who will avoid arrest and can offer welfare support to blockaders, covering such issues as:

Food and Drink

Many blockaders will be able to be self-sufficient in this but others will need support and attention, including those in complex lock-ons with no hands free! Have plenty of water available and high-energy foods, such as cereal flapjacks.

Shelter

Individual blockaders need to give serious thought to clothing. In spring, autumn and winter the basic rule is to have as many layers as will still allow you to move freely, and good waterproofing. Take material such as polystyrene sheeting to insulate you from the cold tarmac. It is amazing how cosy you can be for a very long time in the coldest days, especially with other warm bodies close by! Supporters should have tarps handy which can make improvised tents over blockaders - and spare insulating material. Exposure to the sun is a less obvious but equally problematic issue, even in the winter months. Individual blockaders should ensure skin coverage and sunblock cream. Supporters are advised to have spare sunblock. Most importantly, blockaders who are having problems with cold, sun, or any other problem should not hesitate to leave the blockade. Supporters play an important role in identifying emerging problems and facilitating solutions. It is advisable to check local weather forecasts and advisable also not to take them completely seriously.

Midges

Not a joke, unfortunately, from June to September. Experience shows that Avon Skin-so-Soft moisturising spray is the best lotion available. Locally made midgie hoods can also be helpful in the worst situations. We are arranging for sets to be available either for sale or for borrowing.

Toilets

For those at the south gate of the base a walk to Faslane Peace Camp is an option. In the past we have set-up a temporary toilet in the woods close to the north gate (tarp shelter with seat and removable bucket). With a little discreet help from supporters using a banner or tarp for privacy blockaders can pee without leaving the scene - large paper coffee cups can come in handy.

First aid

Identify a first aid person at each gate and make sure they are well equipped with basic supplies. In more serious cases do not hesitate to engage the help of police or base personnel.

Maps

Maps of Faslane and the surrounding area will be available here soon.

Accommodation

With so many groups coming to Faslane over such a long period we are all going to have to think very creatively about accommodation.

People who are not travelling too far could come straight to Faslane on their first day and could go home after they have finished on their second day - flexible transport arrangements will allow people to leave as they are released by the police (if arrests are made!)

Other groups might have a mixed approach to accommodation. For instance most of the group could travel overnight to arrive at Faslane but a small group who know that they can't manage this could arrive the day before and stay in a Bed and Breakfast in Helensburgh.

There are not many options for groups of 100 plus supporters to stay together near to Faslane due to the local sensitivities. However the Youth Hostel and camp sites are a possibility.

There are a number of Church halls in Glasgow which have been used for Big Blockades and we are contacting these but we will have to keep them for groups who have got really stuck or international groups.

On May 15th Scotland's churches launched a joint petition urging the UK Government not to replace the Trident nuclear weapons system. Leaders of The Church of Scotland, the Catholic Church and the Episcopal Church signed the petition. If anyone in your group has relatives or friends in the Glasgow area they could try and connect with a local church. From this you might find accommodation and other support as well as some more blockaders. This personal contact will work better than anything we can do.

We have compiled below some useful information that may be of help.

Scottish Youth Hostels Association

There are usually lots of regulations in SYHA Youth Hostels including a curfew. CENTRAL BOOKINGS: 0870-155-3255.

Deposit (20% of full fee) required 4 weeks from date of booking. Full payment 6 weeks before date of arrival

Dates & Prices: see website or phone the number above

Check Availability

Glasgow YHA

Address: 8 Park Terrace, Glasgow, G3 6BY Hostel Tel: 0870 004 1119

Map Reference: O.S.64 (GR 575662).

Total beds 148 Open all year.

Loch Lomond YHA (At Balloch)

Balloch Central train station is 2 miles from the Youth Hostel. Also possible to cycle there safely.

Loch Lomond YHA (Balloch) O.S. map ref: O.S.56 (GR 368834).

Total 153 beds. Open until October 28th. After that you can book the whole hostel for £1500 a night until it reopens at the end of February. This hostel often gets fully booked especially in the summer.

Independent Hostels

Glasgow Euro Hostel

318 Clyde Street, Glasgow G1 4NR.

Go to their Website

It is open all year and has 364 beds. The more people you share with the cheaper it is. For a 14 bed dorm it is £14 per person per night. Reception is open 24hrs. You can book on-line or phone 0141 222 2828.

Bunkum Backpackers

26 Hillhead St, Glasgow, G12 8PY.
Telephone: 0141 581 4481.
Fax: 0141 581 6258.
Email: BunkumGlasgow@hotmail.com
Web: www.bunkumglasgow.co.uk

Or to find other cheap Glasgow hostels see www.hostelscentral.com/city-193.html

Camping & Caravans

Luss Camping and Caravaning Club Site
Faslane 8 miles (non-members tents welcome), Luss, Loch Lomond, Alexandria, Scotland G83 8NT. Tel: 01436 860658. No calls after 8pm please. Closes Oct 30th to March 30th

Website

Lagganbeg Camping and Caravan Park

Gartocharn, Loch Lomond, Argyll, G83 8NQ. Tel: 01389 830281.Open all year except February.

Website

Lomond Wood Holiday Park

Lomond Woods Holiday Park
Tullichewan
Balloch
Loch Lomond
G83 8QP

Tel: 01389 755000

Website

Other Camping Options

Peaton Wood near to Coulport, where Trident Ploughshares have their camp has camping space. The landowner is only allowed to have camping there for 28 days a year so there are 14 days left in 2006. Please get in touch if you want to camp there and we will see if there are days left and liaise with the landowner.

Faslane Peace Camp is about a mile from the North (main) gate, a few hundred yards from the South (back) gate. The Peace Camp are setting aside a caravan and a bus for Faslane 365 to use. This will allow people to get a break a few at a time. It will be a warm, dry space where hot drinks can be made. There will also be access to a phone. They do not have the facilities to put up 100+ people night after night. The camp is always under threat of eviction and with local elections coming in May 2007 we have to be careful not to cause friction with their neighbours.

Bed and Breakfasts

There are many Bed and Breakfast in the area. See Visit Scotland or A1 Tourism

More information is available from:

Helensburgh Tourist information Office. 08707 200 615 Open Easter to October
Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park Gateway Centre 08707 200 631 Open all year

Transport

There are good public transport options from Glasgow. At the time of writing trains from Queen Street station (low level) for
Helensburgh leave every half-hour from early till late. There are service buses from Helensburgh's Colquhoun Square (destination
Garelochhead or Coulport) which stop at Faslane Peace Camp or Faslane north gate. There is also a train service from Queen Street (main level: destination Mallaig/Oban) which stops at Garelochhead (about a mile walk from Faslane north gate). Check the current situation with Traveline Scotland (http://www.travelinescotland.com/). There are also ferries from Cowal and Inverclyde to Helensburgh and Kilcreggan.

It is more likely, however that groups will organise their own transport, especially if they want to use a minibus or a coach as a shelter, break or refreshment point. Parking then becomes an issue. The main parking points will be indicated on the map but these may change or be affected by police or council decisions in response to blockading. Make sure you check the current situation in contact with the blockading group who will arrive the day before you, or by contacting the F365 Information (a number will be advertised nearer the time or email info@faslane365.org). You will also need to check the latest developments in regard to what the police and council will allow in terms of passengers alighting on the A814 which passes the base.

Download the Transport Briefing, covering some of the issues around booking coaches, minbuses, etc.