Professor John Robertson OBA You’ve seen the media reports of Scottish doctors and nurses fleeing Scotland for New Zealand and Australia (both of the above, one from Mull). It’s being going on for a few years now with no significant statistics suggesting an ‘exodus’ but, I’m still wondering now how good are the health services down under? How about A&E? According to The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) in January 2025, 31% are waiting more than 8 hours.1 and only 55% were treated within 4 hours.2 In New Zealand, the use a 6 hour wait as the target and … Continue reading Despite a supposed ‘exodus’ of Scottish doctors to Australia and New Zealand we still have have far better (20%) Emergency departments than them or, of course, England and Wales

Professor John Robertson OBA, Fact-based Ferry Correspondent of the Year The Herald’s Martin Williams today has the latest in his Fiasco Journalism Series: A new “fiasco” caused by a ferry breakdown has sparked a row over the delivery of vital supplies on an island on the eve of its world famous whisky festival. The key ferry for Islay, MV Finlaggan has been sidelined as problems have emerged during routine planned maintenance of main engines during an annual overhaul period. Under a picture of the MV Finlaggan (My daughter bought me a model of it for my shelves!) it’s described as ‘stricken!’ You … Continue reading Stricken!! The Herald and local haulier conspire to hide the deep satisfaction of Islay folk with their ferry service

Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland today with a drug gang killing in Scotland included. It would better read: Despite their ongoing refusal to headline these County Lines gangs, all based in English cities, causing devastation across Scotland and impeding the fall in drug deaths, with new, more powerful, cheaper, drugs backed up by extreme violence, as in this case, this is a breakthrough if you read the full text: A drug dealer and two accomplices who killed a woman and endangered the life of her boyfriend in a car attack in Falkirk have each been jailed for 11 years. … Continue reading A first as BBC Scotland tell us where the drug gangs terrorising Scotland and keeping deaths high come from – not in the headline mind you

The Daily Record in March Professor John Robertson OBA What’s wrong with these front pages, factually? First, Murder by stabbing in Scotland has fallen in a steady trend to half of the level 6 years ago – From Knife crime statistics: FOI release, published today, we see that there were 49 homicides by knife in Scotland in 2017/2018 and that there has been a steady and significant fall to 25, in 2022/2023, the most recent data.1 Second, ‘teens’ are dying in ever fewer numbers. The above victim was 15 years old. There are no data for 13-19 year-olds but there is typically only 1 homicide victim … Continue reading Daily Record’s sickening and repeated exploitation of tragedy and failure to inform their readers as murder by knife and possession of knives plummet in Scotland, only

Professor John Robertson OBA From a survey of 2 826 in October 2024, quite contrary to MSM reports, we see a stunning 88.3% satisfaction level with CalMac’s ‘Argyll’ ferry services – Oban/Craignure, Oban/Lismore, Oban/Coll/Tiree, Tobermory/Kilchoan, Fionnphort/Iona, Fishnish/Lochaline and Gallanach/Kerrera. This survey is in the public domain and CalMac can be approached by any doubting ‘journalist.’ They must respond. I note that none ever do. While we’re at it – car deck utilisation? Generous provision? Source: https://assets.calmac.co.uk/media/bx1cnvug/argyll-oct-24.pdf Continue reading 88% customer satisfaction with CalMac’s Oban to Mull and other Argyll ferry services to suggest media coverage of ‘local representatives’ is unrepresentative of the mass of islanders and tourists