As 58 babies might have survived with better care in Oxfordshire, BBC Scotland gleefully report one Scottish maternity unit not ‘up to standard’ in some way but no avoidable baby deaths
BBC Scotland’s insert in BBC Breakfast this morning had a story of Maternity Services in Kirkcaldy not being ‘up to standard.’ As search found the above. BBC Scotand’s Edinburgh, Fife and East website had Nothing. I tried again: OMG, that’ll be it! 58 babies not saved. I have relatives in Fife. I clicked on the link: Wait why is BBC Oxfordshire reporting on maternity care in Fife? I read on: At least 58 babies at an NHS maternity unit might have survived with better care, a BBC investigation has found. The deaths included 32 stillbirths and 26 neonatal deaths – … Continue reading As 58 babies might have survived with better care in Oxfordshire, BBC Scotland gleefully report one Scottish maternity unit not ‘up to standard’ in some way but no avoidable baby deaths
Covid Inquiry returns today to look at impact on NHS – How Scotland’s stronger primary care kept intensive care numbers down to prevent overload
On 21 December 2022, there were only 8 Covid patients in ICU in Scotland but 174 in England, nearly twice as many per head of population. Even in Wales with a smaller population, there were more, 10. Throughout November and December as Covid hospitalisations began to climb again, there had been 2 to 3 times as many, pro rata, in English Hospitals than in Scotland. What was going on? Scotland has an older population with historically worse health outcomes and life expectancy, yet fewer in ICU. Could it be the effects of vaccine hesitancy amongst some ethnic groups? I can’t … Continue reading Covid Inquiry returns today to look at impact on NHS – How Scotland’s stronger primary care kept intensive care numbers down to prevent overload
Covid Inquiry returns today – The Scottish Government took a significantly different approach to achieve the lowest death rate in the UK ‘in spite of the relatively high levels of poverty-related ill health in Scotland, which might have been expected to result in a higher Age-standardised Mortality’
BBC England and Wales are headlining this but BBC Scotland is not. Perhaps this is why. – excess deaths during the worst of the pandemic, March 2020 to February 2022, were nearly twice as high in England and 20% higher in Wales, revealed in the above archived document for excess deaths and in this on the overall death rate: The Scottish Government took a significantly different approach to extending NPIs in September and October 2020 at a time when it is suggested that there was a delay in the UK Government acting. 12. In this context, a key question that … Continue reading Covid Inquiry returns today – The Scottish Government took a significantly different approach to achieve the lowest death rate in the UK ‘in spite of the relatively high levels of poverty-related ill health in Scotland, which might have been expected to result in a higher Age-standardised Mortality’
As Covid Inquiry reconvenes – How and why Scotland had fewer Covid deaths than England – short video
As UK media panic over gas supplies remember in 2024 alone Scotland’s surplus gas trade was worth between £7 and £11bn
Contrary to Daily Record’s shameful front page today – Scotland’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services hit 90% target for fifth time in a row but in media silence
Reposted as BBC Scotland wrongly claim Scot Gov was ‘forced to buy Ardrossan harbour because new ferries were too big’ rather than because owners had neglected it:
Major ‘gold standard’ research reveals Scots are significantly less worried about all forms of violent crime, especially personal attacks, in the SNP era
From the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2024/25: Main findings published yesterday, see the above striking images. From the first year of SNP-rule until their 18th in 2023/2024, worry about all forms of violent crime, based on what people say themselves and not the often under-reported police figures, has fallen, in the case of physical violence of a personal nature, by around just under half. Imagine the media coverage if these trends went the opposite way. The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) is a large scale social survey which asks people about their experiences and perceptions of crime and … Continue reading Major ‘gold standard’ research reveals Scots are significantly less worried about all forms of violent crime, especially personal attacks, in the SNP era
Violent crime as experienced by people, beyond police reporting, reveals huge 37% fall and more than 100 000 fewer affected per year, in SNP era, revealed by ‘gold standard’ research
From the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2024/25: Main findings published yesterday, see the above striking figures. From the first year of SNP-rule until their 18th in 2023/2024, violent crime, based on what people say themselves and not the often under-reported police figures – a 37% fall and 118 000 fewer victims per year! Imagine the media coverage if these trends went the opposite way. The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) is a large scale social survey which asks people about their experiences and perceptions of crime and the justice system. The survey is conducted in person, within respondents’ … Continue reading Violent crime as experienced by people, beyond police reporting, reveals huge 37% fall and more than 100 000 fewer affected per year, in SNP era, revealed by ‘gold standard’ research
Suspected drug deaths static but official figures point to greater optimism
Suspected (left) and official drug deaths (right) in Scotland From Suspected drug deaths in Scotland: October to December 2025, published today, the above, and: There were 248 suspected drug deaths recorded during the period October to December 2025. This was 15% (43) fewer than the previous quarter (July to September 2025, 291 deaths), and 7% (16) more than the same calendar quarter in the previous year (October to December 2024, 232 deaths). This is the lowest quarterly total of suspected drug deaths recorded in 2025. https://www.gov.scot/publications/suspected-drug-deaths-scotland-october-december-2025/pages/3/ The data in this report is operational information from Police Scotland who compile figures … Continue reading Suspected drug deaths static but official figures point to greater optimism
Talking-up Scotland 