Sally Witcher

This is brilliant! Masking can be fun ☺️

In case you need a break from all the awfulness, here's what @sainsburys.bsky.social delivered to me today😂. Equally bonkers was when I asked if I could just keep one tomato (as per order) I was told no. Either keep the lot or they all have to go back!🤦‍♀️😂

Having wrongly stated that no infectious person should wear an FFP3 as they don't filter exhaled air (so don't protect others), those responsible for Scotland & Wales' infection protection & control manual are going to review. Valved FFP3 don't filter exhaled air. Fit-tested unvalved FFP3 do.

We need to show rightwing newspapers that actions have consequences. Add your name: goodlawproject.org/s/abb8a1

Eclipses - reflection in a conservatory window.

Looking forward to facilitating online activities today at the Biomedical Data Science Leadership Alliance event on "Better Teams, Better Science: Making Collaborative Change in Biomedical Data Science", bringing together leaders from research, industry, funding & policy #BetterTeamsBetterScience

With wildfires raging & indoor air quality in the vicinity likely to be very poor, now would be a great time for @publichealthscot.bsky.social to inform the public about HEPA filtration units that remove hazardous smoke (& other) particles. Not expensive & widely available.

With three wildfires in Edinburgh over the last year alone, big inner city fires in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and more across Scotland & the UK, it's becoming more and more important to clean air indoors - get in touch with us if you want to borrow a purifier or help buying or building your own!

📢 Calling Edinburgh-based folk!

Wildfires, drought, polluted air, people dying from heat, the real prospect of the Gulf Stream collapsing & 15 degree colder Winters & hotter Summers, yet fossil-fuel induced climate catastrophe just isn't happening fast enough for some people, e.g. Mr Burnham 😡. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Lodge this in your mind. The reality is diametrically opposed to what most of the media and several political parties are telling us.

People may understand that outdoor air quality can be a major health issue, but so can the air in our homes. Looking forward to discussing "Indoor air quality inequality: removing barriers to inclusion" - HESTIA network webinar, 23 June, 12.30-1.30pm BST events.teams.microsoft.com/event/bde680...

Good to see a country push back against foreign billionaire profiteers. I so wish the British public would do the same.

Disabled people's rights in the UK are under wholesale attack from multiple directions. This Supreme Court ruling today is the latest example and it is utterly appalling. I could weep. youtu.be/bojHxNTjDAI?...

If we had an education system that was fit-for-modernday- purpose people would be taught to spot how they're being manipulated. If we had a fit-for-modernday-purpose legal system people would have protection, perpetrators prosecuted & assets frozen. But we don't. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

For some reason, this Christmas card I made some years ago came to mind yesterday. Not sure what the title should be. "The Voters' Dilemma"? "The Death of Democracy"?

Inaccurate assumptions on mode of transmission, Long Covid still a significant health priority? The UK Covid Inquiry report contains many criticisms & recommendations for the NHS. But are they taking any notice? What can we do? Join the discussion, Mon 11th May 6pm us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

This looks great! The link to the festival website where you can find out more and book is here: guinesspig.ghost.io/inspirefesti...

This is long and written in 2023 but I'm glad I spent time reading it. It touches on many of the profound societal shifts brought by the pandemic to a focal point, which continue to accelerate. We are in deep trouble. But it is not inevitable. johnsnowproject.org/insights/end...

📢 Happening today, Monday 13th April, at 6.00pm BST. Should be good. Still time to register...

1) 🔬🦠New article: we've made a comprehensive overview of the immune system in ME/CFS, analyzing major studies of the past 40 years. A longread with separate chapters on: - viral persistence - cytokines - neuroinflammation - antibodies - immune cells such as NK, B, and T cells

NEW: We often hear that Scotland’s more progressive income tax is “driving people out the country.” New HMRC data shows the opposite. Far more taxpayers are moving to Scotland than leaving it. Let’s look at the data 🧵

MSPs vote today on the assisted dying Bill. Many will wrestle with what to do. The right thing to do is vote against because no training can ensure coercion is detected & no 'safeguards' can't be got round now & removed later. This Bill is dangerous. I'm scared by where it will lead.

It beggars belief that 6 years into an airborne infection pandemic healthcare settings are among the places you're most likely to sick from airborne infection & every Winter hospitals are overwhelmed by them. When is Infection Prevention and Control policy and practice going to wake up?

I took this photo when I visited the War Horse statue, located in a park in a small town in the south of England, commemorating horses lost in the First World War. Today as the US seeks to unleash World War 3, it takes on a whole new meaning. Please everyone. Don't climb on the war horse bandwagon.

Still time to register for this great opportunity to hear from a leading international expert & join in discussion of the critically important issue of pandemic (un)preparedness. Monday 9th Feb 6.00pm GMT. Register here: bit.ly/cafebjv Please share 🙏

A chance to hear from and join in discussion with @jvipondmd.bsky.social, scientific adviser for @thewhn.bsky.social, advocate, and emergency physician based in Canada. Monday 9th February, 6.00pm GMT, registration details below.

A very clear explanation of where we are [spoiler alert - it's not good news]. Worth your time to watch.

🚨By-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party - lets get this to the 100,000 signatures needed petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...

Thanks @healthandcare.scot for this article, in advance of my petition calling for protection from airborne infections in health and social care settings returning to Committee. Still time to sign 🙏(anyone anywhere can: petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE...) healthandcare.scot/stories/4366...

It's easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless in these incredibly difficult times, but there's so much individuals can do to make a difference locally, on protection from airborne infections, & to build new connections and communities. Come & find out more, share your ideas & experiences 👇

In a world full of much ugly cruelty and injustice, I wish you courage and kindness in 2026. May we never forget that there is love and beauty to be found in this world too. Here are some images for you from a calendar I made for my mum, with photos I've taken over the year, to remind myself.