By Professor John Robertson Many thanks to Linda Graham of Broadcasting Scotland (support them at https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/) for alerting me to this: In the Telegraph on 24 July 2024: SNP accused of creating ‘poverty trap’ over child payment which discourages work. The Scottish Child Payment, worth £26.70 per week to eligible parents, falls off cliff edge if they earn even £1 more. The Telegraph‘s views were not based on any study of the data, ironically, given these findings published the same day: Analysis of Universal Credit planning for work conditionality clients in Scotland – the vast majority of whom should be receiving Scottish Child … Continue reading Research confirms SNP Child Payment does not discourage work

By stewartb ‘A rise in the number of students studying medicine in Scotland has resulted in a shortage of cadavers, according to a report. Prof Gordon Findlater, who is HM Inspector of Anatomy for Scotland, found that surgical colleges were having to cancel university training courses because the demand for bodies was so high.’ As always one needs to read BBC Scotland’s news reports carefully and to the end in order to get a full – or at best a fuller – picture. Source https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/independent-report/2024/07/hm-inspector-anatomy-scotland-annual-report-2023-2024/documents/hm-inspector-anatomy-scotland-annual-report-scottish-ministers/hm-inspector-anatomy-scotland-annual-report-scottish-ministers/govscot%3Adocument/hm-inspector-anatomy-scotland-annual-report-scottish-ministers.pdf The HM Inspector’s Annual Report in para 124: ‘There is however a potential problem arising from the increasing … Continue reading Deadly serious need to read BBC Scotland’s news reports carefully and to the end

By stewartb The independent health think tank, the Nuffield Trust has been responding to this and other early actions on health taken by the Labour government. (with my emphasis) 1. Commenting on the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s announcement of £82 million in funding for new GPs (July 31, 2024), Nuffield Trust Director of Research and Policy Dr Becks Fisher states: “Routing this funding through groups of GP practices known as Primary Care Networks is a pragmatic move to ensure this action can be taken quickly. But we should be clear that it is ultimately an interim solution and will … Continue reading Significant blow to social care sector [in England] as workforce training fund cancelled

On 31 July 2024, BBC Scotland using the figures fed to it by the Lib Dumb’s Alex Cole Hamilton, headlined: CalMac ferries upkeep costs almost triple in five years and suggested: A freedom of information request from the Scottish Liberal Democrats found the annual cost of fixing CalMac-run ferries in 2018-19 was about £15.5m. Between 2022-23 the cost rose to £26.6m and by 2023-24 further increased to £41.2m. CalMac has faced criticism in recent years over the reliability of its vessels but six new ferries are due to come into service in the coming years. Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex … Continue reading CalMac should be well praised for investing in fleet with increased maintenance programme as comparable fleets in the US, Canada and New Zealand fall into disrepair

From the BMJ, yesterday: The government has set out plans to allow general practices in England to hire 1000 more doctors this year through the additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS). As of June 2024, according to the BMA, there were 27 670 FTE GPs in England. Add the 1 000, a 3.6% increase, and there are 28 670 GPs FTE in England. With one tenth of the population, all things being equal, Scotland might be expected to have 2 867 GPs FTE but had 3 478 FTE, 21% more. Sources: https://www.bmj.com/content/386/bmj.q1714.full https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/nhs-delivery-and-workforce/pressures/pressures-in-general-practice-data-analysis#:~:text=GP%20growth%20has%20stagnated%20for,full%2Dtime%20fully%20qualified%20GPs. https://turasdata.nes.nhs.scot/media/v00by43i/2023_gp_workforce_survey_report.html#:~:text=Information%20from%202012%20to%202023,2023%2C%20equivalent%20to%203%2C478.4%20WTE. Continue reading UK Labour Government to fund 1 000 extra GPs for NHS England leaving Scotland with still 21% more GPs per head of population

The Reporting Scotland team were clearly delighted to tell you this morning that rural crime in Scotland climbed by an estimated 34.9% to a whopping £1.8 million in 2023, according to an NFU Mutual report. It’s not on their website. I suppose they need the space for those possible future bin collector strikes. £1.8 million, eh? Seems a lot. With 12 times the population, that must be around £22 million for the UK as a whole. It isn’t? BBC Scotland, contemptuous of whatabootery, unless it makes us look bad, don’t mention that it was £52.8 million, more than twice as … Continue reading Rural crime up but there’s something we’re not telling you