By stewartb
This is yet another example of the mess that is BBC News coverage where we are. The story of this new drug featured heavily on Radio Four this morning: all and only however about its availability in England and Wales, and about the good deal on price achieved by NHS England.
But on the BBC News website’s Health section we have this today: ‘Life-saving cholesterol jab recommended on NHS’ by Michelle Roberts. On the introduction of this drug it acknowledges: “It will bring England and Wales in line with guidance for Scotland.” No such perspective – and no such useful information – on Radio Four earlier!
From Health Improvement Scotland/Scottish Medicines Consortium we have this:
‘The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), which advises on newly licensed medicines for use by NHSScotland, has today (Monday 9 August) published advice accepting six new medicines.’
And specifically for that same date: ‘The committee also accepted inclisiran (Leqvio) to lower cholesterol levels in patients at high cardiovascular risk in whom standard drug therapy has not lowered cholesterol levels adequately. Inclisiran is administered by six monthly injections and may provide a convenient option for some patients to manage their condition.’
https://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/about-us/latest-updates/august-2021-decisions-news-release/
If the introduction of this drug is so newsworthy for the ‘big’ BBC for being introduced to England and Wales why was it not newsworthy weeks ago when first approved in Scotland? Did BBC Scotland miss this? Can anyone recall coverage?
And now it’s big news in England and Wales, will BBC Scotland catch up and inform viewers/listeners in Scotland about it – in the public interest? Has anything appeared from BBC Scotland today? Or would that be just far too positive?
And why did Radio Four’s coverage not inform listeners in Scotland that they already have access to this important new drug? Do we – and the citizens of NI – not merit such information even when it is clearly known within the BBC?
This drugs story is but another and not the most egregious example of what we face from the BBC. BBC Scotland’s relentless negativity on matters in Scotland, its bias by omission, and its and the wider BBC’s failure consistently to provide perspective and due attribution makes for a powerful combination, the antithesis of proper public service broadcasting for Scotland.
Talking-up Scotland / Scottish media fact checking is like shooting fish in a barrel 
BBC Scotland.
“The enemy within…………………………………………….”!
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And not just BBC Scotland. The default position is Scotland baaad. If anything in Scotland is to be reported on the UK news, the criterion for inclusion is that it reflects badly on Scotland.
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In the dying days of the Soviet Union people had become so disillusioned with the state media propaganda that they pretty well ignored it and sought information elsewhere.
Something similar is happening in our country.
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Bias by omission.
Bias by commission.
Bias by staff collusion.
Bias by news management.
Bias by a lack of staff professionalism.
Bias by a lack of normal journalistic ethics.
Bias by staff affiliation with other political parties.
Bias by command directly from the BBC Board in London.
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Cholesterol drugs do not suit everyone.
A jab might be a problem.
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“The news where you are is not the news where we are”…
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Has ever a country been so ill-served by a ”national broadcaster” as Scotland is by the BBC ?
Not only do they charge us for the privilege of denigrating us and misleading us at every turn , they actually divert a huge proportion of our BBC Tax money to support the Mothership in England !
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