Reposted after getting mixed up with the types of A&E.
Corrected by Anonymous.
From the Herald two hours ago:
‘Utterly appalling’: Scottish A&E performance hits three-month low. Waiting time performances in Scotland’s A&E units have slumped to a three-month low, with more than a third of patients waiting too long for treatment last week.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23723574.utterly-appalling-scottish-e-performance-hits-three-month-low/
Tom and his pals just love the weekly A&E stats despite the fact that their statistician Kevin (14) has told them weekly fluctuations are meaningless and that the monthly data are better.
I do wonder why Scot Gov, alone in the UK, publish them. NUJ demands?
Anyhoo, some journalism as back in the day:
The 66.5% seen within 4 hours is the lowest since 17 May’s 64.3%, so give or take a day, it is the lowest weekly figure ‘for three months.’
But, it’s higher than 16 April’s 63.1% and way up on 1 January’s 55.5% which might generate this actually meaningful headline, in the public interest:
Steady improvement in A&E waiting times in 2023
So, there’s one bit of good journalism – temporal context.
What about spatial context? Say, England? They’re second best in the UK.
England only does monthly A&E data.
In June 2023, NHS Scotland EDs treated 69% within 4 hours.
NHS England Type 1 only managed 60.2%.
NHS Scotland thus 14.6% (8.8% of 60.2) better.
Source:
https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/data-and-intelligence/ae-activity/#section-3-2
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Stop sharing misleading data.
Given this is now the 4th time I’ve informed you that you are sharing non-comparable data I have to believe you are doing so deliberately.
Maybe you should rename this blog “2OldCranksCannotReadData”
As before, the NHS England data you cite is ONLY for the most serious class of A&E admittance. Whereas the NHS Scotland is for all A&E admittances.
The reason it’s obvious that you’re trying to mislead is the actual correct data is in the source you’ve linked, AND 1 CELL TO THE LEFT TITLED ‘ALL’.
For the actual truth, NHS England say 74.7% of patients within 4 hours in June. Beating NHS Scotlands 72.6%.
If you actually want to help Scotland stop trying to mislead people about the problems we face.
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Wow!!
I do, working too quickly, make mistakes on the ED/Type 1 comparison.
Have a wee rest now.
Nobody knows who you are.
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Scotland does weekly data because during their 1st term in office Labour, and to a certain extent the Tories, nagged and badgered the SNP led SGov into doing so. That was the same Labour party which during most of it’s time in office gathered the A&E data ONCE per year over a 4-7 day period in APRIL each year. I don’t think I need to labour the all too obvious shortcomings of that system. It was not until June 2006 that the Lab/LibDem coalition started to publish quarterly data & that was the system the SGov inherited. But it was not long before Labour started agitating for weekly stats.
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Further to my post above here is a link to an April 2006 survey of A&E attendances. You will also see a heading ‘Limitations’ which is worth a read. It is a masterpiece of understatement
https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Emergency-Care/Emergency-Department-Activity/Statistics/Survey-2006.asp
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😲
Aye, and Jackie Baillie kept shtum back in 2006…
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Of course she did but she was to the fore agitating for weekly reports. There is not enough Brasso for her neck
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Very interesting breakdown. Pity they don’t do that these days.
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“If you actually want to help Scotland stop trying to mislead people about the problems we face”.
We all have problems, but the Heralds appalling circulation and Tom’s dire analysis skills is not one of mine.
If I understand the issue correctly, it seems that a figure was lifted from an adjacent spreadsheet cell by Prof John Robertson by mistake. It does seem to have been an honest mistake rather then the endless skewing of figures and stats to project a “Bad SNP” narrative by Tom Gordon, BBC Scotland et al. I think I will stick to TuS for accurate reporting.
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Even Scotland 2% lower, for a limited period, is not the hysterical massive outrageous different as ‘reported’ constantly in MSM. Relatively the same for a limited period. Still recovering from COVID. The Westminster unionists have been underfunding the NHS for years. Cut the NHS funding £20Billion from 2015 to 2020. Instead of increasing the funding. A growing elderly population need more health attention. Even with new techniques and improvement.
Q Scotland has to mitigate the Westminster cuts. £16Billion cut from welfare. Education cut £6Billion a year. £30Billion. Fees raised in the south. Loans raises to accommodate. Saddling people with debt. Half of which will never be paid back. An £87Billion loan book. Sold on. The interest rate being increased. A never ending circle of debt. Austerity increasing deaths.
The Westminster unionist are spending £1000Billion a year. Yet cannot provide a properly funded healthcare system. Spending on nonsense. Grotesque projects of little or no value. £125Billion on the NHS. A paltry amount. They have borrowed money to spend on COVID. £270Billion over two years. Much of it was wasted because of bad pandemic planning. £370Billion to be spent overall.
Westminster wasting £Billions of Scottish revenues. That could be spent on the SNHS and essential services. Scotland have to pay £Billions on the £300Billion debt not borrowed or spent in Scotland but in the rest of the UK. While losing £3Billions on tax evasion.
£Billions lost on Brexit. Scotland did not vote for Brexit. Lose £1Billion on Trident and redundant weaponry. It’s enough to make folk sick. Mucking up the NHS and overspending £Billions on rubbish of no value. The Westminster sycophants ruining the UK and the world economy.
UK Gov whole accounts 2021/22. July 2023. There for all to see on the internet.
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@ UK Gov whole accounts 2020/21. Published July 2023. On the internet.
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