Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Major balanced poll – Information-starved public critical of Scottish Government’s record but are sure Labour would not do a better job

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By Professor John Robertson OBA The first thing I check for in any full poll is the extent to which the initial sample has been adjusted to reflect the make-up of the electorate in the 2021 Holyrood Election (not required) and they 2014 Referendum (good, they have not). In the light of the latter non-adjustment which many feel has distorted previous poll results against the SNP, we can, for the first time, reasonably trust these results. Their own headline – Public critical of Scottish Government’s record but aren’t convinced that Labour would do a better job – is surprising given … Continue reading Major balanced poll – Information-starved public critical of Scottish Government’s record but are sure Labour would not do a better job

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Awesome – NHS Scotland could carry out 97.5% of all operations in January 2025

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland yesterday: During January 2025, there were 23,931 operations planned to take place across NHS Scotland. This is similar to the number planned a year previously in January 2024 (23,937). Overall, the number of planned operations has been steadily increasing since the COVID-19 pandemic impacted service provision. Of all planned operations during January 2025 in NHS Scotland, 786 (3.3%) were cancelled by the hospital for clinical reasons, 788 (3.3%) were cancelled by the patient, 600 (2.5%) were cancelled by the hospital due to capacity or non-clinical reasons, and 195 (0.8%) were cancelled … Continue reading Awesome – NHS Scotland could carry out 97.5% of all operations in January 2025

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Psychological therapies – NHS Scotland beat the Labour Wales target for 4 years but they can NEVER do it themselves

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland, yesterday, the above and: 80.4% of people of all ages started their treatment within 18 weeks of referral, compared to 80.0% of people for the previous quarter, and 80.6% of people for the quarter ending December 2023. 50% of people of all ages starting PT treatment started within 3 weeks of referral, which is the same as the previous quarter and for quarter ending December 2023. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/psychological-therapies-waiting-times/psychological-therapies-waiting-times-quarter-ending-december-2024/ How does this compare? In NHS Wales, under less-ambitious Labour: Welsh Government aims for 80% of people to access specialist psychological therapies within six months … Continue reading Psychological therapies – NHS Scotland beat the Labour Wales target for 4 years but they can NEVER do it themselves

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Despite winter pressures, hospital delayed discharges fall for third month in a row to add to success in increasing care at home figures

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland, yesterday, the above graph and: The average (median) length of delay for people delayed at the January 2025 census was 22 days. This is the less than December and November 2024 (both 29 days) as well as October 2024 (28 days). In January 2025 the average number of beds occupied per day due to people delayed in hospital was 1,964. Compared to the previous three months, this is less than December 2024 (1,991), November 2024 (2,023) and October 2024 (2,029). https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/delayed-discharges-in-nhsscotland-monthly/delayed-discharges-in-nhsscotland-monthly-figures-for-january-2025#section-2 Just as you won’t hear the above in ‘Scotland’s’ media, … Continue reading Despite winter pressures, hospital delayed discharges fall for third month in a row to add to success in increasing care at home figures

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More than twice as many wait more than 12 hours in A&E in England than do in Scotland? Try telling Glenn Campbell that

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By Liz S “More than twice as many, per head, wait more than 12 hours in A&E in England than do in Scotland” Try telling the BBC’s Political Editor in Scotland, Glenn Campbell, that ! MSM Monitor tweeted this: “Glenn Campbell’s ‘analysis’ of key political events this last few months have all been pro-Labour”. MSM Monitor also linked a Video to his tweet showing exactly what Campbell had said on specific topics so then emphatically prove his , MSM Monitor’s, point. Campbell on Reeves budget : “Just think back to the GE campaign, one of the SNP’s core attack line … Continue reading More than twice as many wait more than 12 hours in A&E in England than do in Scotland? Try telling Glenn Campbell that

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Don’t go in the water – Cancer and stroke inducing radioactive air and water emissions from Trident subs more than double in the Clyde as BBC staff look on quietly

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to cuckooshoe for alerting me to this: From CND on 6th November 2024, missed by me at the time and, of course, ignored by the staff at BBC Pacific Quay on those very same winds and waters. Radioactive air emissions have been increasing year-on-year at Coulport one of Britain’s nuclear submarine bases in Scotland. This development is of some concern as it would lead to increased health risks wherever the emissions were inhaled.  According to the Scottish Pollution Release Inventory, tritiated water vapour emissions at Coulport were 1.7 billion becquerels (units of radioactivity) in … Continue reading Don’t go in the water – Cancer and stroke inducing radioactive air and water emissions from Trident subs more than double in the Clyde as BBC staff look on quietly

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Shocking research reveals 23 health trusts in England ‘consistently reporting higher-than-average deaths’ – none reported in Scotland

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Someone shared this link with me but I can’t find them now so apologies to them. From Recurring red flags: a retrospective study of MBRRACE-UK Perinatal Mortality Surveillance (2015–21) to identify maternity services most consistently reporting higher-than-average deaths in Journal of Public Health, February 2025: This study aimed to identify hospital trusts in England most consistently reporting higher-than-average rates of extended perinatal mortality (EPM), including stillbirths and neonatal deaths. We conducted a retrospective study of MBRRACE-UK Perinatal Mortality Surveillance Reports (2015–21) comparing EPM rates for births occurring in 124 hospital trusts in England between 2013 … Continue reading Shocking research reveals 23 health trusts in England ‘consistently reporting higher-than-average deaths’ – none reported in Scotland

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BBC Kent do not ask Labour Government, Health Secretary or local MP why A&E patients sit in their faeces for up to 50 hours – Imagine that in Scotland?

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Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC Kent today: Frail patients ‘told to soil themselves’ at A&E – Frail patients at a Kent hospital emergency department were “told to soil themselves” because there was no one to take them to the toilet, staff have said.Patients at the Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham faced waits of more than 50 hours with no access to wash facilities, with some left “sitting in their own faeces“, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) was told. An inspection by the CQC in February 2024 rated the emergency department as “requires improvement” and issued a warning notice for … Continue reading BBC Kent do not ask Labour Government, Health Secretary or local MP why A&E patients sit in their faeces for up to 50 hours – Imagine that in Scotland?

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More than twice as many, per head, wait more than 12 hours in A&E in England than do in Scotland

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Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland, today for January 2025: 8,814 (7.2%) patients spent more than 12 hours in A&E.1 In NHS England, for the same month, the figure was 15.36%, more than twice as many pro rata.2 Sources: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/healthcare-system/urgent-and-unscheduled-care/accident-and-emergency/main-points/all-ae-sites/ https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ Continue reading More than twice as many, per head, wait more than 12 hours in A&E in England than do in Scotland

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They’re never going to tell you about this – 100% seen within the target for years, 79% waiting less than half the target time and numbers well above pre-pandemic levels – Scotland’s IVF programme creating and saving live

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Professor John Robertson OBA I’ve been reporting this success story, unique to Scotland, for years and BBC Scotland never reports it. From Public Health Scotland today: During the current quarter, 78.7% of patients who attended a screening appointment waited 26 weeks or less, 16.4% waited between 27 and 39 weeks and 4.9% between 40 and 52 weeks. No patients waited more than 52 weeks to be screened. 1 Note in the graph above: The number of cases dealt with, all colours in the bar, well above the pre-pandemic level. Around half only waiting 0-13 weeks and three quarters by 26 … Continue reading They’re never going to tell you about this – 100% seen within the target for years, 79% waiting less than half the target time and numbers well above pre-pandemic levels – Scotland’s IVF programme creating and saving live