Radio Clyde, joining in happily with the media feeding frenzy on A&E waiting times, encourages locals to stay away and risk their lives with:
In the run up to Christmas, NHS Lanarkshire recorded the worst A&E waiting times in Scotland.
Just 41.4% of patients at the health board were seen within the 4 hour target in the week ending 25th of December.
https://planetradio.co.uk/clyde/local/news/nhs-lanarkshire-records-worst-waiting-times/
Barking, Havering And Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust has yet to reveal its Christmas figures but in November 2022, only managed 29.8% in 4 hours, making NHS Lanarkshire in December likely to be at least 38.9% better.
The Barking and Dagenham Post is blissfully unaware of any problems with their local A&E and its two Labour MPs are too busy reporting on the gifts they received.
Other sources:
Talking-up Scotland 
An example of the MSM undermining faith in NHS Scotland occurred last night on Reporting Scotland. Deputy chair of BMA was interviewed. An attractive young doctor who has suddenly appeared on the scene – second time interviewed in as many days. Topic being discussed – A&E pressures. During the interview she slipped in this comment about performance: ‘if the figures can be believed’ thus throwing doubt on the stats on A&E published by PHS.
Once more the BMA is ably supported by BBC Scotland
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You may recall half way through the pandemic Nicola Sturgeon was revealed as more popular and better trusted than Boris–not just in Scotland but in England as well.
Since then there has been a (co-ordinated?) campaign of vilification and character assassination against Sturgeon, not least on the BBC, where guests and presenters on political/news shows repeatedly did her down.
BBC Scotland capitulated to political pressure to “allow” Labour, Tory and Dumb politicos on the air to rubbish anything the First Minister had said.
There was no equivalent on BBC England, where Boris could say any old nonsense (and often did).
Pravda on the Clyde.
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My problem with the BMA’s statements made to the media in Scotland is that they consistently fail to recognise crucial underlying causes of the current NHS crisis here and across the UK viz. (i) the under-resourcing by Tory governments in Westminster of the NHS and social care system in England over more than a decade, resulting in a fragile system that was exposed by Covid – this has severe knock-on negative impacts on the NHS in NI, Scotland and Wales; and (ii) the unwillingness now of the same Tories to respond constructively, quickly and at scale to the current situation – so again limiting what can be done presently in NI, Scotland and Wales because of severely restricted financial flexibility.
However, there is no doubt that the BMA recognises the failings of the Tories in government in Westminster (Tories in Scotland, especially health spokesperson Dr Gulhane MSP, should take note.)
1) BMA press release on 2 JANUARY, 2023: ‘BMA demands Government takes immediate action to alleviate NHS pressures’:
Professor Phil Banfield, chair of BMA council, said: “The current situation in the NHS is intolerable and unsustainable, both for our patients and the hard-working staff desperately trying to keep up with incredibly high levels of demand.
“The BMA has repeatedly invited the Government to sit down and talk about the pressures on our health service, but THEIR SILENCE IS DEAFENING. It is DISINGENUOUS FOR THE PRIME MINISTER TO talk about ‘backing the NHS’ in his New Year message, when his own HEALTH SECRETARY IS FAILING TO DISCUSS HOW THIS CRISIS CAN BE FIXED.” (my emphasis)
And “IT IS JUST NOT TRUE THAT THE COST OF RESOLVING THIS MESS CANNOT BE AFFORDED BY THIS COUNTRY. THIS IS A POLITICAL CHOICE AND PATIENTS ARE DYING UNNECESSARILY BECAUSE OF THAT CHOICE.
“… THE FUTURE OF THE NHS IS BALANCED ON A KNIFE-EDGE; IT IS SOLELY WITHIN GOVERNMENT’S GIFT TO PULL THIS BACK FROM THE BRINK.”
And then this BMA press release on 4 JANUARY 2023: ‘Prime Minister shows ‘baffling lack of urgency’ in addressing an NHS in crisis, says BMA’.
‘Responding to the Prime Minister’s five promises, one of which pledges to cut NHS waiting times, Professor Philip Banfield, BMA chair of council, said “THE PRIME MINISTER TODAY SHOWED A BAFFLING LACK OF URGENCY IN ADDRESSING A CRISIS THAT THE WHOLE COUNTRY CAN SEE with their own eyes has brought the NHS to its knees. HE REFUSES TO EVEN ADMIT THERE IS A CRISIS. He mentioned the upcoming workforce strategy sometime “early this year” as if it is something we can afford to wait for. We must be clear that retaining and growing the workforce, as soon as we possibly can, is our way out of this mess.”
And goes on: “Our members are telling us that THE NHS IS IN THE WORST STATE IT’S EVER BEEN; patients are being treated in cupboards, hospitals are running out of oxygen cannisters, and staff, rushed off their feet, are breaking down in tears mid-shift. Although Mr Sunak said he is aware of the acute pressures facing emergency departments, THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO ATTEMPT TO OFFER ANY IMMEDIATE SUPPORT, or to encourage those currently working in the NHS to return for another shift.
“THE NHS IS COLLAPSING BEFORE OUR EYES, BUT TODAY’S SPEECH LACKED THE DETAIL STAFF NEEDED to know that they haven’t been abandoned, and that the health service will be given what it needs to survive. Mr Sunak said he wants to be held accountable, and we are happy to oblige. He will be held accountable, as this crisis inevitably worsens and more staff and patients suffer as a result.”
And just in case Dr Gulhane and his ilk are still in any doubt of the mess his Tory Party in government is making. BMA (England) press release on 8 DECEMBER 2022: ‘Latest set of NHS performance data is ‘unacceptable’.
‘Responding to the latest set of NHS secondary care data, which shows record-breaking waits for hospital treatment and A&E assessment, Professor Philip Banfield, chair of council at the BMA, said:
“FOR TOO LONG, THE GOVERNMENT HAS WATCHED NHS WAITING TIMES GET HIGHER AND HIGHER. To now have more than seven million people waiting for treatment, and three in 10 patients waiting more than four hours to be seen in A&E is unacceptable.”
And: “THIS IS NO LONGER A QUESTION OF HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THE HEALTH SERVICE, BUT OF HOW WE CAN STOP IT FROM COLLAPSING FURTHER – because it will collapse even more widely if nothing is done. Staff shouldn’t be finding a place to cry mid-shift, patients shouldn’t be waiting in corridors in pain for hours or sometimes days, and it shouldn’t be a lottery about whether an ambulance gets to an emergency in time. OUR NHS IS STRAINED BEYOND BREAKING POINT, AND THE GOVERNMENT IS RUNNING OUT OF TIME TO FIX IT.”
Now whilst BMA statements about NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government are amplified by the corporate media and the BBC, I was unable to find on the BBC News website for example any mention of the BMA’s damning responses above.
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I suspect the BMA and others concerned with the parlous state of the NHS presently across the UK and with its future will have gained no reassurance from the UK Labour Party leader’s ‘big speech’ today. The BMA has previously expressed concerns about Labour’s stance.
From a BMA press release (11 December, 2022): ‘BMA responds to Shadow Health Secretary’s comments about patient standards in the NHS’
‘Responding to comments made by Shadow Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, about patient standards in today’s Sunday Telegraph, Dr Emma Runswick, deputy chair of council at the BMA, said:
“Doctors desperately want to see improvements in our NHS. The sad reality is that the whole NHS is in crisis and this results not only in poor provision for patients, but also incredibly difficult conditions for those of us delivering this care.
“THE ANGER FOR THAT CRISIS SHOULD BE DIRECTED SQUARELY AT THE GOVERNMENT AND THEIR FAILURE TO INVEST, NOT AT THOSE WHO WORK IN THE NHS OR THE UNIONS WHO REPRESENT THEM. IT’S INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTING THAT MR STREETING HAS CHOSEN TO ATTACK US IN THIS WAY.
“It wasn’t so long ago that Mr Streeting and the Labour Party were clapping healthcare workers for their contributions during the pandemic, so TO HEAR THEM NOW ACCUSING STAFF OF A ‘SOMETHING FOR NOTHING’ CULTURE AND POTENTIALLY SUPPORTING FURTHER REAL TERMS PAY CUTS WILL LEAVE MANY STAFF EXTREMELY CONCERNED.
“The BMA has repeatedly said that a strong workforce goes hand-in-hand with patient standards and that investment in the workforce is the only way to improve our NHS. WE VERY MUCH HOPE MR STREETING WILL FOCUS HIS ATTENTION ON CHALLENGING THIS GOVERNMENT ON ENSURING THAT THEY WILL OFFER STRONG SUPPORT TO THE DOCTORS, NURSES AND OTHER NHS WORKERS WHO ARE NOW SUFFERING UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF EXHAUSTION AND BURNOUT.”
One wonders whether Labour in Scotland’s Ms Baillie would dispute the BMA’s criticism of her party? This all begs the question: would Scotland’s NHS be any safer with a Labour government in Westminster? The better, safer future is to have Scotland’s health and social care system fully in the hands of a parliament and government with all the powers and agency of a normal, independent nation-state!
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O.K, not A & E, but I attended a Lanarkshire Hospital yesterday for an X-ray. Busy yes, but I was seen and attended to within fifteen minutes. I would say that was pretty good.
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