Traprain

My mother is in a Genesis LTC, and when I read this thread, I was really worried. I live in Scotland, and couldn't make the trip over to see her when she moved in (three years ago). Fortunately, I was able to go over for her 90th birthday in November, and found the home to be wonderful. What a relief! I had checked the Medicare reports, and it wasn't too good, but some of the things the facility was marked down on weren't the things that had an immediate impact on care. I found the staff amazingly kind and knowledgeable about the residents, and the whole building was clean and fresh. The food was wonderful!!! Obviously I don't work there, but I have worked in many hospitals (psych and general), care homes (some good and one appalling) and for agencies. I did feel that the staff were honest with me, and I saw plenty of signs of good practice. Hopefully there are other good Genesis homes as well.....

Hi Pete! Hope you see this before you do too much searching...I didn't mean to say Crewe Toll - it was Comely Bank I meant to put. My excuse is that the Western is on Crewe Road, and I just put the wrong thing. Students are coming back for the new term now, to several different unis and colleges, so it might be a good idea to get your skates on if you want a good choice of flat. If you're from Canada, you shouldn't find Edinburgh cold at all. It's a little...moister...than Canada. But Edinburgh has it's own microclimate, and tends to have better weather than much of Scotland. I used to live in Buckinghamshire, and found the breezy weather here very refreshing, but not too cold. We only had one decent snowfall last winter, which lasted a couple of days. We're trying to move to Orkney, and are having the same hassles getting a job for me sorted out. We just work on the assumption that if it's meant to be, it will all work out..... Good luck! Traprain

Hi Pete! Sorry to come in so late on this thread, but I've only just joined allnurses.com. I currently live and work in Edinburgh (at the Royal Edinburgh -psychiatric hospital). My only experience of the Western was as a patient Sounds like the very best place for you would be Stockbridge. It's a very easy walk, pretty area with lots of small, good shops, and an easy walk to Princes Street and the centre. Crewe Toll isn't too bad either, but avoid Muirhouse, Pilton and Granton like the plague!!! There are some flats available in the New Town, but only if you're very well off .... Further afield, Marchmont, Bruntsfield and Sciennes are very studenty, but you can get a flat share there fairly easily, although some students won't share with you if you have a job as it puts their council tax up too much. They are about an hours walk, but there are good bus links. Hope this helps a bit :wink2: All the best Traprain

Hi Mio! I'm currently working in the psychiatric hospital in Edinburgh, so am not sure if our experience of agency nurses is exactly the same as the general hospitals. We do use BNA, Allied, and New Cross, but Scottish Nursing Guild is a last resort agency for us as they are the most expensive (good rates for the nurses = higher costs for the hospital) As most of the hospital posts are advertised internally within the trusts first, it may be hard to find out about them from outside. Do you have the details of the local hospitals? Do you have any particular area you would like to work in? If you want, get in touch off list and I could look them up for you :) Hope this helps, a bit.... All the best Traprain