Watch Dennis Potter's classic drama about the thriller writer Philip Marlow in hospital with the skin complaint psoriasis, tormented by his past and threatened by his future. Available to view here

Scotland's chief medical officer, Sir Harry Burns, has said children aged six months to five years should be taking daily vitamin D drops. He also warned that pregnant women should be taking the vitamin to protect against bone disease and other illnesses, and that people aged 65 and over and those who are not exposed to much sun should also take a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms.

Vitamin D is important for healthy bones and teeth and a lack of the vitamin has also been linked by some studies to high rates of multiple sclerosis in Scotland.

You can read more about the story on the BBC website

Psoriasis Scotland (PSALV), Scotland’s patient-led registered psoriasis charity, is holding a Public Information Meeting on Saturday 3rd March from 12.45 - 16.00 at the Scottish Health Service Centre's Conference Centre, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh (adjacent to the Western General Hospital).

There will be presentations and information provided by Dr Daniel Kemmett, Consultant in Dermatology at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and Dr Stephen Boyle, Specialist Registrar in Rheumatology at the Western General in Edinburgh, with time for questions between presentations. Refreshments will be provided.

Please note - this is not a drop in session. To book a place, please telephone 0131 556 4117 or 01592 200185, or email
janice.johnson5@btinternet.co.uk.
You can visit our website at www.psoriasisscotland.org.uk We look forward to seeing you there!

The International Federation of Psoriasis Associations have announced that the winner of the 2011 Under the Spotlight Award is Celia Marin Rancel of Murcia in Spain.
Under the Spotlight is a unique series of documentaries which aims to demonstrate first-hand how the burden of psoriasis can impact a person’s life and how this may accumulate over time. Janice Johnson, the Director of PSALV, took part in the filming last year, documenting the affects that psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis have had on her life.
You can read more about Under the Spotlight here

A lack of vitamin D is causing an increase in the incidence of rickets in the UK, with a steep rise in the number of cases reported over the last 15 years. This disease had almost died out in the UK by the 1940's but has now returned, and health campaigners are concerned that there will also be an increase in related diseases. You can read more about the story on the BBC website here 

The Scottish Government has published the Chief Medical Officer's Annual Report for 2010, continuing with the theme of the creation of health as well as the burden of disease, which follows last year's report. The full report can be accessed on the Scottish Government's website here

Measures to combat the abuse of disabled parking and the Blue Badge scheme have been announced in Scotland and England. New badges will have added security features and the method to determine people's eligibility is being improved. You can read more about this story on the BBC website.

PSALV held a reception and MSP briefing on the 14th September 2011 at the Scottish Parliament. This photo shows the Director of PSALV, Janice Johnson, with Professor McInnes and the Public Health Minister Michael Matheson.

The Scottish Government has launched a fund of almost £2million to help children with disabilities and their families take a short break or access respite care. You can read more about this on the BBC website here

The European League Against Rheumatism invite all people with a rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease in their countries to participate in the competition by writing and submitting an essay on the topic of the year. In 2012 this will be “overcoming the challenges of getting around with a rheumatic or musculoskeletal disease”.
In addition to a prize of €2 000, EULAR provides the recipient with travel to Berlin and hotel accommodation in Berlin for up to 4 nights as well as an invitation to attend the opening ceremony and the gala dinner at the Congress. You can read more about this on the EULAR website

PSALV, Psoriasis Scotland, the only Scottish charity for people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, exhibited at the Scottish Parliament from 25 - 27 October 2011, to mark the first anniversary of the introduction across Scotland of SIGN Clinical Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis and also to raise awareness of these painful conditions by highlighting World Psoriasis Day, 29 October.

Motion S4M-01150 - Fiona McLeod (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Scottish National Party) : PSALV and World Psoriasis Day

That the Parliament recognises World Psoriasis Day on 29 October 2011; welcomes the opportunity that this day provides to increase awareness of a condition that can not only be psychosocially debilitating for over 100,000 people in Scotland, but also physically debilitating for over 20,000 people who have the associated condition of psoriatic arthritis, and considers that Psoriasis Scotland Arthritis Link Volunteers (PSALV) does fine work in supporting people and providing much-needed awareness and information on a condition that needs to be highlighted to the general public.

This can be viewed along with the other Motions related to psoriasis by clicking here.

Today a special supplement on psoriasis was published in the UK newspaper the Guardian.The International Federation of Psoriasis Associations has been involved in the editorial part of the supplement. They hope that you will find it interesting and that it will raise awareness for psoriasis, not only in the United Kingdom, but wherever they are represented by their members.

You will find the supplement here.