Professor John Robertson OBA
The Guardian today prompted me to check the media reporting of waiting lists for heart operations in Scotland.
In February 2025, STV had:
Waiting times for heart appointments in Scotland are at their highest level on record, figures have shown. Data from Public Health Scotland showed more than 24,000 people were waiting for a cardiology appointment as of September 2024. The number represents a 252% increase since 2019 and an increase of 1,000 in just one year.
More Primary Schools maths to get a big percentage there and, of course, no context such as the aging population statistics or, definitely not, this from February 2025:
Today’s figures [NHS England] show that there are now 423,245 people waiting for ‘routine’ cardiac care, up from 420,589 in November.
You could teach 10 year-olds to do this next bit.
All things being equal you might expect NHS England, with 10 times the population to have 10 times Scotland’s waiting list of 28 000, or 280 000, but it’s 423 245, around 140 000 more, to create a waiting list 50% longer!
NHS Wales? I dare not look.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Good to see the Nursing Times acknowledging Scotland Govs role in negotiating NHS pay rises here http://www.nursingtimes.net/workforce/nhs-pay-deal-in-scotland-to-be-implemented-19-05-2025/
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WHY IS THIS NOT HEADLINED AN ENGLISH PROBLEM ONLY
DON’T TRY PUT THE BLAME ON SCOTLAND. AGAIN
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