That headline has nothing to do with the First Minister. The Metro is not an explicitly anti-SNP organ so a cheap commercial tactic, attracting sales and clicks online, seems likely to explain it but it still adds to the demonising of the SNP leader and to a potential reduction in support. Continue reading Dishonest

In July 2021, 19,587 people started psychological therapies treatment in NHS Boards and NHS 24. This is an increase of 8.1% (1,464) from the previous quarter, and also an increase of 81.0% (8,767) from the same quarter the previous year. Half of the people started their treatment within 2 weeks. More than four out of five (82.7%) people started their treatment within 18 weeks, compared to 80.5% for the previous quarter, and 74.7% for the quarter ending June 2020.  This is another great achievement by NHS Scotland which the opposition parties will try to present as a failure because an … Continue reading 83% receive psychological therapies within target despite large increase in demand

In July 2021, 10,193 children and young people were referred to CAMHS in Scotland for the quarter ending June 2021 which is the highest in the trend since records began. This compares to 7,883 for the previous quarter, and 4,052 for the quarter ending June 2020. Despite this 28% increase in demand, over seven out of ten (72.6%) children and young people were seen within 18 weeks, which is an increase from 61.7% for the quarter ending June 2020.  This is an astonishing achievement which, of course, our MSM will twist into bad news about not meeting an essentially aspirational … Continue reading Waiting times performance maintained despite huge increase in referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

In July 2021, NHS Scotland’s Accident & Emergency services saw 81.5% of patients within 4 hours. Only 2.8% waited more than 8 hours and only 0.6% waited more than 12 hours. In the same period, NHS England’s performance fell to the lowest figure ever recorded – 67.7%. They do not seem to publish the percentages for those waiting longer but simple arithmetic estimation suggests many more do. Also, attendance at Scotland’s A&E departments was much higher with 132 595 compared to 847 679. With 10 times the population, NHS England should be receiving 1 320 000, roughly, 50% more. Sources: … Continue reading Scotland’s Accident/Emergency services 20% better as NHS England fall to lowest ever

By Alasdair Galloway In a recent letter to the Herald, Gavin Weir comments on the report “that the Ministry of Defence could keep Trident within an independent Scotland by creating a new British Overseas Territory.” He questions, however, “Who would exercise sovereignty, and for how long?” He also doubts whether “any Scottish government would agree to a long-term lease, though a decade might work, if oversight could be “fudged”.” While I agree with him about the view of an independent Scottish Government, we need to keep in mind that there are two involved in this particular matter – Westminster as … Continue reading Relocating Trident: Hobson’s Choice

Nowhere in this report do we see any mention of the fact that Maura McGoldrick is a Labour Party activist, member of Young Labour at Edinburgh University. Her social media trail is clear. Surely that’s relevant. How many times has BBC Scotland wheeled in political activists connected to the opposition parties and presented as just members of the public with a genuine complaint. On the very same topic, we’ve had a Lib Dem activist who moved up to Scotland. We’ve had a relative of Anas Sarwar on alleged PPE shortages for GPs. We’ve had Tory activists on SQA ‘failures’. In … Continue reading Labour activist wheeled in to attack SNP on vaccine certificate

I’ve already shared the quality reporting of Left Foot Forward, more Corbyn than Starmer/Sarwar and certainly not pro-SNP in any way, just accurate. It’s well worth a look. In addition, SNP Media have listed these: Those backing the 2021/22 legislative programme outlined earlier by the First Minister include: RNIB Scotland: Great to see a commitment to replace the Edinburgh Eye Pavilion within the Programme for Government. Well done to all those who have campaigned to protect eye care services, particularly the members of Keep Edinburgh Eye Pavilion (KEEP) CHAS: We welcome the confirmation in today’s #ScotPfG that @scotgov will ensure provision of … Continue reading Massive support for SNP/Greens Programme for Government

You’d never know from this report with its sneaky wee inaccurate reference to the land being owned by the Scottish Government, that Network Rail is responsible for the infrastructure of all of the UK’s railway lines, employs the remaining inspectors after cut-backs and that it is responsible to the UK Transport Minister, Grant Shapps. Transport Scotland which reports to the Scottish Government is only responsible for the services on those lines. If, as they say, Network Rail was unable to identify the owner of the land on which the tree grew, that remains entirely their responsibility. There’s a very curious … Continue reading UK Government agency to blame for train driver injuries

‘But Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland will GET MORE MONEY to decide how to spend’ After Johnson brayed with the pride of a 5 year-old ‘I’m on message (miss)!‘ because he’d managed to scrawl ‘social care‘ on a mug, we hear the above explanation of how a UK-wide tax hike will lead to investment in the devolved health areas. It just comes naturally to them, to put it that way. They think of us as dependents and that narrative then resurfaces in adult political exchange, even among those who should know a bit about Scotland’s wealth. It all adds up. Continue reading How the myth of our dependency is perpetuated

In Scotland, there have been 3 114 deaths among the 85+, 2 663 among the 75-84 and 1 434 among the 65-74, 877 among the 45-64, 82 among the 25-44 and less than 10 in each of the 3 younger groups. Scotland and Northern Ireland have given 1st doses to 100% of the three oldest groups, most at risk, but only Scotland has also given 2nd doses to 100% of these same groups. In June, when Wales was first to fully vaccinate 50% of all adults, BBC Wales acknowledged it. BBC Scotland prefers to find evidence of Scotland lagging behind. Continue reading Scotland first to fully vaccinate the most at risk