By Professor John Robertson
Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this.
I wonder what BMA Scotland have to say on this issue?
A BMA Scotland survey in August 2023 does not go so far as to suggest patient care risks but tells us that 28% of Scottish GPs say their workload is unmanageable. Unmanageable is dangerous, no?
Labour have been in power for a hundred years in Wales, either with a UK Labour Government, ‘minding the shop’ for the Tories or since devolution.
In every aspect, NHS Scotland under the SNP has far better results than NHS Wales.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
While on the subject of Wales and especially on the day when Labour in Scotland – the party always in government in Wales – wades into the Scottish Government during the debate on its no confidence motion, this seems relevant. It’s from the Labour-supporting TUC on the extent of the harm caused to Wales and to Welsh government funding by successive Tory governments.
It was published on 15 March 2023 but still relevant, and the irony still evident especially having listened to much of Sarwar’s speech in Holyrood today: ‘Why we need Fair Funding for Wales’ (https://www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/why-we-need-fair-funding-wales )
From the TUC statement with my emphasis: ‘PEOPLE IN WALES ARE ENDURING THE WORST COST OF LIVING CRISIS FOR A GENERATION. Welsh Government has described the context of their latest Budget as “A PERFECT STORM OF FISCAL AND BUDGETARY PRESSURES.” Real pay has been falling steeply, especially in the public sector, DRIVEN BY THE POLICIES OF CONSECUTIVE UK GOVERNMENTS WHICH HAVE FAILED TO DELIVER FOR WORKING FAMILIES.’
Presumably Labour in government in Cardiff has attempted to mitigate or reverse Tory harms and also the cost off living crisis. Unsuccessfully it seems!
‘The UK Government’s Chancellor will deliver his spring budget in the context of very high inflation, rising unemployment and falling household income.
‘ADDED TO THE PRESSURE IN WALES IS THE FACT THAT THE DEVOLVED GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO HAD TO DEAL WITH 12 YEARS OF THE UK GOVERNMENT’S RELENTLESS EFFORTS TO UNDERFUND PUBLIC SERVICES.’
And more on Westminster imposed harms: ‘The failure to mitigate the impact of inflation on departmental budgets has LEFT WELSH GOVERNMENT’S BUDGET SEVERELY UNDER-RESOURCED’
The article goes on: ‘The UK government’s budget is an opportunity to start righting some of the wrongs. …. – Wales TUC wants to see the UK Chancellor announce measure that will ….:
The TUC then gives a long issues that it wants to see introduced by the Westminster government in order to make life better for the people of Wales and also to address the budget issues facing the Welsh government – public sector pay; minimum wage rates; public service funding settlements; fair taxation including reform to capital gains tax; workers’ rights and protections; and various other labour market reforms.
All are demands on Westminster because all are outwith the powers of a devolved government whose ability to deliver for the people of Wales is – according to the TUC – seriously curtailed and harmed by successive Tory governments.
Meanwhile Labour in Holyrood today …
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Yes , Sarwar bumbing his gums about another FM being appointed WITHOUT calling an election – has he not seen what happened in Wales last month ? Hypocrisy is rife in Labour ranks !
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