Percentage of babies born in ambulances ‘on the road’ in England & Wales is almost three times higher than in Moray?
Headlining on BBC Scotland today, the above. How common is this? It is at least the third time a woman has had to give birth at the side of the A96 since 2018, with two other cases reported by the Press and Journal, external in 2021 and 2022. Approximately 0.05% or less of all births to Moray families since the 2018 downgrade. In England? Office for National Statistics data for England and Wales show the category “elsewhere” (neither hospital nor planned home birth). In 2024 there were about 837 such live births, compared with roughly 583,600 in hospital. That is … Continue reading Percentage of babies born in ambulances ‘on the road’ in England & Wales is almost three times higher than in Moray?
Online gangs forcing children to self-harm – Only BBC Scotland headline it despite not one conviction here – the ‘Power of Nightmares’
Only BBC Scotland has this story: Detectives in Scotland have joined international law enforcement in targeting online gangs which groom and coerce children into acts of self-harm. Officers are hunting members of loose online networks of sadists known as “The Com”, which mainly targets girls on gaming platforms and social media. The groups, mostly comprised of teenage and young adult males, have risen in prominence in recent years after cases involving sextortion and hacking, as well as self-harm encouragement. So far, there has been one arrest in Scotland, while there have been a handful of convictions in England. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6vg03xl0751o So, … Continue reading Online gangs forcing children to self-harm – Only BBC Scotland headline it despite not one conviction here – the ‘Power of Nightmares’
House of Commons Public Accounts Committee condemns Sizewell C Nuclear project high-risk “terrible deal” for UK taxpayers and consumers in addition to breast cancer risks identified by independent researchers
Thanks once more to Frances McKie for alerting us to this In the Times yesterday, the above and these key points: The article (paywalled on The Times) critiques the Sizewell C nuclear project’s financing as a high-risk “terrible deal” for UK taxpayers and consumers, drawing on the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report Under the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model, consumers start paying via bill levies during construction. The government holds a 44.9% stake. Private investors are EDF 12.5%, Centrica 15%, La Caisse 20%, Amber Infrastructure 7.6% hold the majority equity. Most debt comes from government borrowing/loans, with … Continue reading House of Commons Public Accounts Committee condemns Sizewell C Nuclear project high-risk “terrible deal” for UK taxpayers and consumers in addition to breast cancer risks identified by independent researchers
Record 90% of Scots attend cultural events in 2025 but UK under Labour saw a fall to 85%
From Scottish Household Survey 2025 findings: Cultural Engagement published today: In 2025, cultural engagement is high. Nine in ten respondents (90%) were culturally engaged through attendance at a cultural event or place, participation in a cultural activity, or both. This has increased from 88% in 2023. Cinema is the most commonly attended cultural event or place (53%). Reading books, poetry and graphic novels or comics for pleasure is the most common cultural activity (64%) to participate in. Libraries and museums recorded the largest increases in attendance between 2023 and 2025 (both around six percentage points), followed by live music events, … Continue reading Record 90% of Scots attend cultural events in 2025 but UK under Labour saw a fall to 85%
Scottish vessels made £885m in 2025, up 16% even though they landed 10% fewer sea fish and shellfish – good business?
From Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2025 Published 29 October 2026 Scottish vessels landed 479 thousand tonnes of sea fish and shellfish in 2025. A decrease of 10 per cent compared to 2024 but an increase of nine per cent compared to 2021. Scottish vessels landed £885 million of sea fish and shellfish in 2025. Adjusted to 2025 prices, this is an increase of 16 per cent compared to 2024, and of 28 percent compared to 2021. https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-sea-fisheries-statistics-2025/ Double the good news? 16% more income for 10% less product? Well done lads! Other good news: The Scottish fleet is dominated by … Continue reading Scottish vessels made £885m in 2025, up 16% even though they landed 10% fewer sea fish and shellfish – good business?
Suspected drug deaths plummet despite pressure of Nitazines thanks to treatment rates at 90% plus and Naloxone kit distribution
From Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly report October 2026, the above and: Of particular interest: 82% of cases were aged 35 years and over. The most common age categories were 45 to 54 years (32%), followed by 35 to 44 years (26%) and 55 to 64 years (20%). Source: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/rapid-action-drug-alerts-and-response-radar-quarterly-report/rapid-action-drug-alerts-and-response-radar-quarterly-report-october-2026/harm-indicators/suspected-drug-deaths/ From the BMJ in 2026: Scotland saw a spike in deaths related to drug use last year—with a fifth of deaths linked to a group of highly potent synthetic opioids called nitazenes. Drug use deaths in Scotland rose by 11% (116 deaths) to 1133 in 2025, figures … Continue reading Suspected drug deaths plummet despite pressure of Nitazines thanks to treatment rates at 90% plus and Naloxone kit distribution
Drug-related hospital admissions fall by 50% from peak in August 2020
From Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly report, published today, the above and: Between April and June 2026, there were 1,901 drug-related hospital admissions (weekly average 146). The total number of admissions during this time was: 5% lower* than the previous quarter (2,007; weekly average 154) 16% lower* than the same period in 2024 (2,272; weekly average 175) 17% lower* than the same period in 2025 (2,286; weekly average 176) https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/rapid-action-drug-alerts-and-response-radar-quarterly-report/rapid-action-drug-alerts-and-response-radar-quarterly-report-october-2026/harm-indicators/drug-related-acute-hospital-admissions/ This weekly average of 146 compares with the August 2020 peak of 280: https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/rapid-action-drug-alerts-and-response-radar-quarterly-report/rapid-action-drug-alerts-and-response-radar-quarterly-report-january-2023/#section-5-3 Surely this trend is having an impact on pressure in Scottish hospitals. Is … Continue reading Drug-related hospital admissions fall by 50% from peak in August 2020
SNP Government builds THREE times as many houses for older people and people with disabilities as did last Labour Government in Scotland
From Excel Tables: Housing for older people and people with disabilities Last updated 27 October 2026 In the 5 last years of the Labour Government at Holyrood (2002 to 2006) there were on average 256 houses for older people/very sheltered. In the last 5 years (2022 to 2026), under the SNP, the equivalent figure is 807, THREE times as many. Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/housing-statistics-housing-for-older-people-and-people-with-disabilities/ This housing receives significant Scottish Government support, especially capital funding for new specialist homes and direct adaptation grants to housing associations plus broader funding to councils. Direct funding last year for adaptions to existing housing was around £21 … Continue reading SNP Government builds THREE times as many houses for older people and people with disabilities as did last Labour Government in Scotland
Nearly 11 000 more properties to rent in private sector in last five years
From Housing statistics: Scottish Landlord Register data Published 27 October 2026 the above show a decline in the number of landlords but an increase in the number of properties available to rent. https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-landlord-register-data/ How has this been reported in ‘out’ media? Funny that, owner associations claim they have fewer properties to let yet official figures say they have more. What could they and their media chums be up to? Continue reading Nearly 11 000 more properties to rent in private sector in last five years
Prevalence of major congenital conditions falls 8.4% in just two years in Scotland perhaps influenced by nearly 20 years of protection from worst of austerity policies, Child Payment, free prescriptions and more affordable housing
From Congenital conditions in Scotland 2021 to 2024 published yesterday, the above and: Source: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/congenital-conditions-in-scotland/congenital-conditions-in-scotland-2021-to-2024/ What factors influence the rate of these conditions? Genetic factors, environmental exposures (often interacting with genes), maternal age, area deprivation, maternal ethnicity, infant sex, and multiple pregnancy are the main factors associated with variations in rates of major congenital conditions. The rates for these conditions in England and Scotland are similar other than in South Asian communities in England where first cousin marriage is twice the national average rate as is the rate of congenital anomalies. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0140673613611320 The line graph at the top shows that … Continue reading Prevalence of major congenital conditions falls 8.4% in just two years in Scotland perhaps influenced by nearly 20 years of protection from worst of austerity policies, Child Payment, free prescriptions and more affordable housing
