Professor John Robertson OBA The media in Scotland are headlining the increase in recorded cases of rape and attempted rape in Scotland. Though the increase may in part be a consequence of a greater confidence by victims to come forward and report these crimes, the figures remain disturbing. They have been disturbing for years before and represent a dark shadow on the reputation of a supposedly civilised nation. However, if like drug deaths, these statistics could be presented to suggest Scotland is the ‘rape capital’ of the UK or Europe, I feel sure we’d see that endlessly repeated. Let’s look … Continue reading If drug deaths can be compared then why not rape offences? Is it because they are more than TWICE as common in England & Wales?

Professor John Robertson OBA The ‘Scottish’ media are positively frothing with delight at the above one-quarter dip in the the number of patients treated for cancer within 62 days: What’s wrong with the above reporting? First, they are, of course, not mentioning the bits in bold below reporting increased demand: There were 4,373 eligible referrals for the 62-day standard, an increase of 1.5% from the previous quarter, 1.8% from the quarter ending 31 March 2024, and 17.5% from the quarter ending 31 December 2019, the last full quarter pre-pandemic. 68.9% of patients started treatment within 62 days, compared with 73.5% … Continue reading Cancer waiting times fact-check – all of ‘our’ health correspondents are too thick or too sneaky to be able to report accurately a tiny 4% increase in winter waiting times

Professor John Robertson OBA From National drug and alcohol treatment waiting times 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025 published today, the above table, and: Nationally, the Standard [90% within 3 weeks]was met for referrals to community-based services across all substances: drugs (96.1%), co-dependency (93.9%) and alcohol (90.5%). https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/national-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-waiting-times/national-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-waiting-times-1-january-2025-to-31-march-2025/ Note the 3 843 treated within a week or less. I searched for ‘Scotland drug treatment’ news but got only the supposedly bad cancer treatment times. On that soon. Continue reading Drug treatment bursts 90% target with 96% treated in 3 weeks and 60% in only 1 week or less but you won’t hear this news anywhere

Professor John Robertson OBA From Alcohol Consumption and Harms Dashboard published today, the above graph and: In 2024, 9.0 litres of pure alcohol were sold per adult in Scotland, equivalent to 17.3 units per adult per week. [‘Safe level’ is 14 units] Throughout the period from 2017 to 2024 the volume of pure alcohol sold per adult per year in Scotland has fallen steadily from 10.6 litres in 2017 to 9.0 litres in 2024. The majority (76%) of alcohol sold in 2024 in Scotland was sold in off-trade premises such as supermarkets and other off-licenses. While total off-trade sales have … Continue reading Scots now drinking only just over the recommended safe level and less than the English and Welsh did four years ago

Professor John Robertson OBA From Childhood immunisation statistics Scotland Quarter and year ending 31 March 2025 published today: The first dose of MMR vaccine is offered between 12 and 13 months old and the second dose at 3 years 4 months old. 92.4% of children had the first dose of MMR vaccine by 24 months of age. This rose to 95.7% for children who had reached age 5. Uptake of the second dose of MMR vaccine by 5 years was 90.0%, rising to 90.7% by age 6 years. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/childhood-immunisation-statistics-scotland/childhood-immunisation-statistics-scotland-quarter-and-year-ending-31-march-2025/ The World Health Organisation suggests that 95% gives herd immunity. https://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d5703 … Continue reading Measles jag – latest figures reveal Scotland hits 95% herd immunity target but England is dangerously low at 88.7% and 80% of cases in Scotland come from outside

Professor John Robertson OBA From People requiring a social care assessment and care at home services published today, the above graph, and: The estimated number of people assessed and waiting for a care at home package was 2,923 on 2 June 2025. This is a decrease of 6% from the estimated number of people waiting for a care at home package this time last year. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/people-requiring-a-social-care-assessment-and-care-at-home-services/people-requiring-a-social-care-assessment-and-care-at-home-services-24-june-2025/ You’ll see from the graph that the level of those assessed but still waiting has been relatively static at around 3 000 for months now which enables comparison with the data for England. At … Continue reading Assessed but still waiting for care at home services – 50% more common in England than in Scotland

Professor John Robertson OBA From Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2024-25, published today, the above graph, and: There was little change in crimes recorded by the police in Scotland, decreasing by <1%, from 299,790 to 299,111. The recording of crime remains below the position immediately prior to the pandemic (2019-20) and down 51% from its peak in 1991. https://www.gov.scot/publications/recorded-crime-scotland-2024-25/ I know not all crime is recorded by police but research by Edinburgh University asking around 5 000 people if they have experienced crime shows a similar 46% fall from 2007, as the SNP came to power. https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-crime-and-justice-survey-2023-24-main-findings/pages/overview-of-crime-in-scotland/ page 79 Also, to … Continue reading LATEST – SNP maintain crime level steady at 40% below that of last Labour government but need the full powers of independence to push it further down again