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- π§ NHS Fife Pushing to Slash Waiting Lists
π§ NHS Fife Pushing to Slash Waiting Lists
PLUS: 45 Events to See This Week, Stunning Fife Country House Up For Sale, and more!
Good morning, Fifers! And a big welcome to the 1,077 new subscribers who joined us in the last month.
Hereβs whatβs coming your way today:
NHS Fife Reports Progress but Challenges Remain
Stunning Fife Country House Up For Sale
45 Events to See This Week
Letβs jump in, thereβs plenty to talk about!
β Duncan
TOP STORIES AROUND THE KINGDOM
π₯ NHS Fife Reports Progress but Challenges Remain
NHS Fife recently shared updates on its performance at its latest board meeting. With the health service facing tough choices nationally, the report shows areas of improvement while acknowledging ongoing pressures. One of the biggest milestones celebrated, as we reported in a previous issue, was the completion of 1,000 robotic surgeries since the programme launched in 2021.
Other key updates included:
Emergency care β performance reached 79.8%, the best in two years, though still below the national target of 95%.
Cancer care β NHS Fife continues to meet the 31-day treatment target and is working to improve performance on the 62-day referral-to-treatment goal.
Diagnostics β Fife remains the best performing mainland health board, with 85.8% of patients seen within six weeks (well above the national average of 58.5%).
Planned care β efforts continue to reduce waiting lists through weekend operations and national recovery programmes.
Complaints handling β 74.1% of simple complaints were resolved within five days, though complex cases still need improvement.
Financial performance β NHS Fife is forecasting a Β£9.25m deficit this year but has Β£29m of savings planned.
Delayed discharge - The number of patients experiencing delayed discharge from hospital continues to be high, impacting bed availability and patient flow.
π§ Want to help keep Fife Insider going? Join Fife Insider+ to support us and enjoy extended event outlooks every Sunday, exclusive giveaways, and more! Get 25% off for your first 3 months!
LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW
π€ Dunfermline marked 80 years of friendship with Trondheim by opening a time capsule buried in Pittencrieff Park in 2000, with the contents now going on display at Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries. A new time capsule has also been buried.
π± Fife Council has begun rolling out 35,000 iPads to pupils from P6 to S6 as part of its Transforming Learning strategy, aiming to boost digital skills, inclusion, and engagement across schools by Easter 2026.
π± The Transitions programme in Levenmouth, run by youth charity Clued Up, has secured Β£31,334 in funding to support children affected by family substance misuse, helping with early intervention, one-to-one support, and smoother transitions into high school.
π¬ Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlakeβs T-Squared Social will reopen St Andrewsβ New Picture House within weeks, transforming it into a sports bar, cinema and entertainment venue while retaining two of the original screens.
π± Fife high school students can now pre-order their school lunches using a new app. Pupils can check their account balance, select meals in advance, and pick up their food at the canteen using a unique order number.
π§ Bus services 95, X60 and X61 are being diverted due to emergency works on St Andrews Road, Anstruther, and the B9131 Dunino. Routes will avoid Wade and instead run via Kingsbarns until further notice.
π₯ Twenty firefighters tackled a major blaze at Lochhead landfill near Wellwood on Sunday, caused by a suspected battery in waste. The site reopened Monday, with officials urging safe battery disposal to prevent future fires.
π‘ Fife Council is encouraging residents to support local businesses during Scotland Loves Local Week, running until August 30th. If every Fife resident spent just Β£1 more per week locally, it could add Β£19.2 million to the regional economy.
π¨ Balbirnie House Hotel in Markinch has submitted plans for 12 holiday cabins in its grounds, a Β£1.2 million project aimed mainly at accommodating wedding guests.
π Fife Council has pledged Β£25k for Dunfermlineβs Christmas lights switch-on (Nov 16), promising better safety after last yearβs crowd issues. The 2024 event drew 21,000 visitors and boosted the local economy by Β£530k.
FEATURE OF THE WEEK
Each week, this section shines a spotlight on something standout in Fife, anything from a unique home for sale or a new local business, to an exciting upcoming event or a hidden gem staycation spot. Got something you think other locals should know about? Just hit reply to this email and tell us about it!
π‘ Ever Dreamed of Owning a Country Estate?
π· Offers Over Β£3,250,000 | 7 Beds | 123 Acres
Escape to the stunning Fife countryside with Aytounhill House, a contemporary country home built in a traditional style, set within 123 acres of gardens, woodlands, lake, and arable land. This majestic Queen Anne-style house offers:
7 bedrooms, including 5 en-suites, plus family bathroom
4 reception rooms perfect for entertaining
Heart-of-the-home kitchen with Aga, breakfast area, and conservatory
Extensive ancillary spaces: utility, boot room, study, walk-in cupboards
Lake and mature woodlands rich with wildlife
Formal gardens, meadows, orchards, and croquet-pitch-sized lawn
Outbuildings with potential for conversion
Perfectly positioned for country seclusion but highly accessible: 5 miles from Cupar, a short drive to St Andrews, and under an hour to Edinburgh.
Check out the full listing here!
@THEFIFEINSIDER
πΈ Share your photos of Fife with us! Tag @thefifeinsider and you could be featured in the next edition.
WHATβS ON IN FIFE?
π Tuesday, 26th August
Bike Tour of St. Andrews - Join Stuartβs Bicycle Tours for a fun, relaxed, and engaging guided ride through this iconic town and its stunning surroundings.
π Entertainment | π’ 9:30am & 2:30pm | π 11 College St, St Andrews | ποΈ Β£46+
Walk ON - Casual and relaxing group promoting the health benefits of walking and socialising.
π Entertainment | π’ 11:00am | π Kirkcaldy Galleries | ποΈ Free
Bead Bracelet Fun Drop In - Grab some beads and some thread and have some colourful fun.
π Family & Children | π’ 1:30pm | π Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther | ποΈ Free
Cheese and Wine Night - Enjoy a glass of wine of your choice and a chessboard.
π Food | π’ 5:00pm | π The Old Vic, St Andrews | ποΈ Β£15
Paddlenight Splash - Staff will be on hand to assist you with selecting and launching equipment but remember this is not a taught course.
π Sport | π’ 6pm | π Lochore Meadows Country Park | ποΈ Β£10.50
An Evening with Mhairi Blyth - Mhairi Blyth will be discussing her book Ascent of a Woman.
π Entertainment | π’ 7pm | π Waterstones, Kirkcaldy | ποΈ Free
π Wednesday, 27th August
Wee Forest Tree Party - There will be some activities and snacks available for all ages.
π Family & Children | π’ 9am | π Muiredge Park, Buckhaven | ποΈ Free
Bike Tour of St. Andrews - Join Stuartβs Bicycle Tours for a fun, relaxed, and engaging guided ride through this iconic town and its stunning surroundings.
π Entertainment | π’ 9:30am & 2:30pm | π 11 College St, St Andrews | ποΈ Β£46+
Coastlines - Exhibition showcasing dynamic drawings by Fife school pupils.
π Exhibitions | π’ 11am | π Methil Heritage Centre | ποΈ Free
Seeds of Thought: Anne Magurran - How biodiversity changes over space and time - from Irish oakwoods to the flooded forests of Amazonia.
π Talk | π’ 12:30pm | π St Andrews Botanic Garden | ποΈ Β£3
Kids' Den: Lego Club - Learn skills, meet people, have fun as you construct, create and chill out!
π Family & Children | π’ 3:15pm | π Methil Library | ποΈ Β£2
Paddlenight Splash - Staff will be on hand to assist you with selecting and launching equipment but remember this is not a taught course.
π Sport | π’ 6pm | π Lochore Meadows Country Park | ποΈ Β£10.50
π Thursday, 28th August
Bookbug - Sing, rhyme, and share stories with your little ones.
π Family & Children | π’ 10:30am | π Kirkcaldy Galleries | ποΈ Free
Coastlines - Exhibition showcasing dynamic drawings by Fife school pupils.
π Exhibitions | π’ 11am | π Methil Heritage Centre | ποΈ Free
Game ON - Casual gaming club with a huge range of board games.
π Entertainment | π’ 5pm | π Kirkcaldy Galleries | ποΈ Free
Paddlenight Splash - Staff will be on hand to assist you with selecting and launching equipment but remember this is not a taught course.
π Sport | π’ 6pm | π Lochore Meadows Country Park | ποΈ Β£10.50
Paddlenight Coach - Weekly coaching sessions for individuals with some basic experience of paddling.
π Sport | π’ 6pm | π Lochore Meadows Country Park | ποΈ Β£16
Dunfermline Opera House and Sarasota Florida - Story of Dunfermline Opera House and its recreation in Sarasota Florida after its demolition.
π Entertainment | π’ 6:30pm | π Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries | ποΈ Β£7
Fife Flyers vs. CSM Corona BraΘov - Pre season ice hockey game.
π Sport | π’ 7:30pm | π Fife Ice Arena, Kirkcaldy | ποΈ
Singers Night - Evening of folk music with the Crail Folk Club.
π Music | π’ 8:00pm | π Crail Community Hall | ποΈ Β£2
π Friday, 29th August
Hill of Tarvit Guided Tour - Find out more about the people who lived at Hill of Tarvit Mansion House, in this 50-minute guided tour.
π Entertainment | π’ Varies | π Hill of Tarvit Mansion House | ποΈ Β£14.88
Artisan Fridays Market - A lively weekly food market offering hot & cold food on Kirkcaldy High Street.
π Markets | π’ 9am | π Kirkcaldy High Street | ποΈ Free
Bike Tour of St. Andrews - Join Stuartβs Bicycle Tours for a fun, relaxed, and engaging guided ride through this iconic town and its stunning surroundings.
π Entertainment | π’ 9:30am & 2:30pm | π 11 College St, St Andrews | ποΈ Β£46+
Creative CafΓ©: Draw with a Cuppa and Cake! - Discover observation skills, rendering techniques and composition, and how to make washes with graphite.
π Art | π’ 10am | π Eden CafΓ©, Cupar | ποΈ Β£15
Learn Photography @ Fife Zoo - Full day course with Drew Cunningham and Grant Keelan for beginners, amateurs and enthusiasts.
π Entertainment | π’ 10am | π Fife Zoo | ποΈ Β£50
Edinburgh Sketcher - Join Mark as he shares his skill and technique for sketching around the grounds of Kellie Castle.
π Art | π’ 10:30am | π Kellie Castle | ποΈ Β£48.24
Coastlines - Exhibition showcasing dynamic drawings by Fife school pupils.
π Exhibitions | π’ 11am | π Methil Heritage Centre | ποΈ Free
What a Pickle - Learn how to quickle (quick pickle) almost any vegetable and make tomato chutney.
π Food & Drink | π’ 12pm | π Philp Hall, Kirkcaldy | ποΈ Free
Life Drawing - Artists of all levels welcome, from those established to those just curious to try life drawing or starting out.
π Art | π’ 6:45pm | π Dreel Halls, Anstruther | ποΈ Β£7
Cinema Paradiso - A film that will stay with you and heighten your appreciation of the art of film.
π Entertainment | π’ 7pm | π Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | ποΈ Β£6
The Goonies - A group of young misfits discover an ancient map and set out to find a legendary pirateβs long-lost treasure.
π Movie | π’ 7pm | π Adam Smith Theatre | ποΈ Β£6.50+
Soul Station - Resident DJ Martin Duffy keeps us entertained, so bring your dancing shoes.
π Music | π’ 7pm | π Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | ποΈ Β£9.38
Sandy Tweeddale's Blues Messengers - Blues at its best from Buddy Guy, Freddy King, BB King, Hound Dog Taylor, John Lee Hooker, and Abert King.
π Music | π’ 8pm | π Backstage at the Green, Kinross | ποΈ Β£24.20
π Multi-Day Festivals & Exhibitions
π Futures by Nick Domminney & Landscapes by StΓ©phane Abbt - Exhibition featuring works from 2 local artists.
π
Fri, 1st - Fri, 29th August | π’ 10am (Mon-Sat) & 11am (Sun) | π Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther | ποΈ Free
π Forthlines - Displays of squares made by people living in Fife, of places that they know and love.
π
Sat, 24th May - Sun, 31st August | π’ 10:00am (11:00am Sun) | π Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther | ποΈ Museum Entry
π Making Waves; Breaking Ground - Unique exhibition of large scale paintings and artwork.
π
Sat, 16th - Sun, 31st August | π’ 10am (Tue-Sun) | π Bowhouse, St Monans | ποΈ Free
Outwith Festival - 5 day celebration of creativity, culture, and community.
π
Wed, 3rd - Sun, 7th September | π’ Varies | π Dunfermline | ποΈ Varies
Fife Seaweed Fest - Explore the wonderful world of seaweed in our packed programme of workshops which include foraging, cooking, tasting and making.
π
Sat, 6th - Sun, 14th September | π’ Varies | π Fife | ποΈ Varies
Fife Outdoor Activities Week - A week of outdoor activies put on by local businesses, from paddleboarding to yoga and more.
π
Sat, 6th - Sun, 14th September | π’ Varies | π Fife | ποΈ Varies
Doors Open Days - Giving everyone the chance to explore Fifeβs rich history, architecture, and cultural heritage.
π
Fri, 5th - Sun, 21st September| π’ Varies | π Fife | ποΈ Free
π Unearthed - Step back in time to discover how Scotland was formed and explore prehistoric creatures.
π
Sat, 8th February - Sat, 27th September | π’ 10:30am | π St Andrews Museum | ποΈ Free
π Rewrite the Future - Explore how today's choices can shape a fairer, more sustainable tomorrow.
π
Sat, 31st May - Sun, 28th September | π’ 9:45am | π Wardlaw Museum, St Andrews | ποΈ Free
π The Lost Words - Featuring original artwork by artist Jackie Morris and spell-poems by writer Robert Macfarlane.
π
Sat, 28th June - Sun, 26th October | π’ 10:00am | π Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries | ποΈ Free
π Jack Vettriano Exhibition 2025 - Collection of Jack Vettriano prints, including rare and sold-out pieces.
π
Tue, 4th March - Tue, 28th October | π’ 10:00am | π Affordable Arts, Methil | ποΈ Free
π Bunker Shots: Stories of Golf and Conflict - Surprising connections between golf and conflict, including the impact on golfers and their equipment.
π
Fri, 18th April - Tue, 31st March 2026 | π’ 9:15am | π The R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | ποΈ Β£17.50
Fife Insider+ members got these events two weeks early. Upgrade today to get 25% off for your first 3 months and get an extended event outlook every Sunday.
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THANKS FOR READING
Thanks for reading Fife Insider today. If you found something useful, please share it with a friend in Fife.
Cheers,
Duncan
Got an event or news you want to feature? Or perhaps youβd like to promote your business to readers in Fife? Get in touch with us at [email protected] - letβs make it happen!
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