Under the headline ‘Doctors’ call for return of face mask guidance BBC Scotland is quoting the Scottish Healthcare Workers Coalition ‘accusing the Scottish Government of playing Russian Roulette with patients and staff.’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-66215539
The Scottish Healthcare Workers Coalition seems to be no more than a Facebook/Twitter group of 79 and 94 followers respectively.
The FB page has had 3 posts in the last month and no new members in the last week – ‘growing pressure?’ The Twitter thread, with 429 following, seems restricted to healthcare workers affected by Long Covid.
Clearly not much of a presence in the context of NHS Scotland’s 160 000 staff.
‘Doctors call?’ Not quite?
What’s the World Health Organisation view? On 5 May 2023:
“Yesterday, the Emergency Committee met for the 15th time and recommended to me that I declare an end to the public health emergency of international concern. I’ve accepted that advice. It is therefore with great hope that I declare Covid-19 over as a global health emergency,” Dr Tedros said.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-65499929
At the very end of the BBC report:
David Osborn, a chartered safety and health practitioner, said: “It is unclear that any health and safety risk assessment was undertaken by the Scottish government before making their decision to abandon universal masking which is viewed by some patients as playing Russian roulette with their health.”
A Scottish government spokesman said: “The guidance on the extended use of face masks and face coverings in health and social care settings was withdrawn in May.
“This means that patients, service users, staff and visitors are no longer strongly recommended to wear face masks or coverings in these settings.
“This is a proportionate approach which recognises that Scotland continues to adapt to the Covid-19 pandemic and has entered a calmer phase of the pandemic.”
The spokesman said any change to the extended use of face masks and face coverings guidance was in relation to the latest scientific evidence and was continually under review.
He added: “The removal of this extended guidance does not stop or prevent staff, service users or visitors from wearing a mask.”
Osborn, above, is a London-based freelance consultant who specialises in remote and dangerous areas such as jungles. Ideal for NHS Scotland then?
When the WHO calls an end to a pandemic, does the Scottish Government then need to do its own research to check if the WHO is correct? Should we ignore the WHO assessment?
Should BBC Scotland pay attention to its own editorial guidelines on sources?
3.3.4 We should be reluctant to rely on a single source. If we do rely on a single source, it should be credible, and a named, on-the-record source is always preferable.
Corroborate claims and allegations made by contributors.
https://www.bbc.com/editorialguidelines/guidelines/accuracy/guidelines/
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Ah but….. Helen McArdle tellt us they ur EXPERTS!
She widnae be guilty o sloppy use o language wid she?? She works fur The Herald an it’s a ‘quality’ newspaper, thur aye tellin us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think this story is much more important,who made money out out of this.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/19/mysterious-pile-of-dumped-ppe-angers-people-in-calmore-new-forest-hampshire?CMP=share_btn_tw
LikeLiked by 4 people
Shaking my head here. I’m now reluctant to visit Twitter (although I will dip my toe in since I’m a nosy old bint) because of the wall-to-wall negativity regarding anything to do with Scotland. We are bombarded by the British press, the TV, the UK government, the Scottish Tories, ScotLabour and the LibDems, British National types and any other random person who fancies taking a potshot. They are usually uninformed and totally at a loss to understand Scottish politics. It’s all getting a bit wearing. SNP/SG supporters are calling for the SG to debunk the nonsense printed or broadcast but even trying to debunk half of would be a never-ending task.
LikeLiked by 4 people
The Scottish Gov has given the healthcare staff their pay rises. Averting strikes. The Scottish NHS funded £13Billion + social care. Integrated. Westminster funded NHS £125Billion. Scotland has to mitigate Westminster cuts.
Westminster to increase military bill £5Billion. Instead of increasing NHS funding £5Billion. Killing people rather than saving them. Fuelling conflict on the Russian border. Breaking International Agreement.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By way of further note, David Osborn and the BMA management’s criticism of the SG decision has even featured in WalesOnline.
The SG spokesman’s final comment “The removal of this extended guidance does not stop or prevent staff, service users or visitors from wearing a mask” seems entirely sensible response for patients who “have entirely legitimate concerns”.
Yet Osborn refers to “their decision to abandon universal masking”, despite it already being in the “strongly recommended to wear face masks or coverings in these settings” phase before the latest change in May.
The piece look likely to be an orchestrated diversion from recent events surrounding the UK’s Covid Inquiry, viz Eau de Latrine….
LikeLiked by 1 person
As an immunocompromised outpatient I’m afraid I can’t agree with you on this. I get my bloods tested regularly. Recently no phlebotomy staff wear a mask – so much for strong recommendations. May I remind you that covid is airborne and not everyone is protected by the vaccine from serious illness. Scottish wastewater analysis is showing a rise in coronavirus according to the latest figures. What’s wrong with making sure healthcare staff wear a mask?
LikeLiked by 1 person
The WHO did NOT say the pandemic was over. In its statement it said:
“The WHO Director-General concurs with the advice offered by the Committee regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He determines that COVID-19 is now an established and ongoing health issue which no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)”
https://www.who.int/news/item/05-05-2023-statement-on-the-fifteenth-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-pandemic
It is “an established and ongoing health issue” but the emergency phase is over however Covid is still with us and impacting peoples lives Long Covid.
It seems sensible to allow HCWs to wear masks if they wish but like many they have only heard the bit about masks no longer being strongly recommended.
I still wear a mask whenever I go inside a building no matter how long or short the visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry to hear this. When you have an appointment can you phone ahead to request face mask wearing?
LikeLike
This would be quite impractical. Most people who attend for blood testing at the Beatson will have some level of immunocompromise due to chemo or the blood cancer drugs they take.
Even if it could be arranged the staff will have been possibly contaminating the air before putting on the mask.
I wear an ffp3 which I hope protects but staff are not protecting themselves.
What’s wrong with masking? BTW zoe study shoes cases on the rise again.
LikeLike
Many thanks for your post. Having had immuno-therapy during 2020 from February through to September when I worked out what was really causing my facial palsy, no thanks to ignorant NHS doctors, I realised that masks were utterly pointless against COVID 19.
This is because it is and was the ‘flu rebranded to make more money for big pharma. It has also made a lot of money for mask manufacturers etc. It has also added to yet more plasticised rubbish in the environment.
I never wore a mask in hospital undergoing treatment because I knew it was foolish. Any doctors/nurses who promote their unnecessary use are clearly very dim.
People have been pummelled into fear by incessant government propaganda and far too many failed to use common sense.
Kind regards
LikeLike