On 21 December 2022, there were only 8 Covid patients in ICU in Scotland but 174 in England, nearly twice as many per head of population. Even in Wales with a smaller population, there were more, 10. Throughout November and December as Covid hospitalisations began to climb again, there had been 2 to 3 times as many, pro rata, in English Hospitals than in Scotland. What was going on? Scotland has an older population with historically worse health outcomes and life expectancy, yet fewer in ICU. Could it be the effects of vaccine hesitancy amongst some ethnic groups? I can’t … Continue reading Covid Inquiry returns today to look at impact on NHS – How Scotland’s stronger primary care kept intensive care numbers down to prevent overload

From the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2024/25: Main findings published yesterday, see the above striking images. From the first year of SNP-rule until their 18th in 2023/2024, worry about all forms of violent crime, based on what people say themselves and not the often under-reported police figures, has fallen, in the case of physical violence of a personal nature, by around just under half. Imagine the media coverage if these trends went the opposite way. The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) is a large scale social survey which asks people about their experiences and perceptions of crime and … Continue reading Major ‘gold standard’ research reveals Scots are significantly less worried about all forms of violent crime, especially personal attacks, in the SNP era

From the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2024/25: Main findings published yesterday, see the above striking figures. From the first year of SNP-rule until their 18th in 2023/2024, violent crime, based on what people say themselves and not the often under-reported police figures – a 37% fall and 118 000 fewer victims per year! Imagine the media coverage if these trends went the opposite way. The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) is a large scale social survey which asks people about their experiences and perceptions of crime and the justice system. The survey is conducted in person, within respondents’ … Continue reading Violent crime as experienced by people, beyond police reporting, reveals huge 37% fall and more than 100 000 fewer affected per year, in SNP era, revealed by ‘gold standard’ research

Suspected (left) and official drug deaths (right) in Scotland From Suspected drug deaths in Scotland: October to December 2025, published today, the above, and: There were 248 suspected drug deaths recorded during the period October to December 2025. This was 15% (43) fewer than the previous quarter (July to September 2025, 291 deaths), and 7% (16) more than the same calendar quarter in the previous year (October to December 2024, 232 deaths). This is the lowest quarterly total of suspected drug deaths recorded in 2025. https://www.gov.scot/publications/suspected-drug-deaths-scotland-october-december-2025/pages/3/ The data in this report is operational information from Police Scotland who compile figures … Continue reading Suspected drug deaths static but official figures point to greater optimism