Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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Remaining in some corner of a foreign field that is ‘forever Scotland’, our army war dead, a greater sacrifice, 63% higher than the rest of the UK

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By Professor John Robertson In May 2020, after reading new research on Scotland’s share of UK war dead, I was able to write this: ‘Yet while the war dead of some countries were too numerous to count, we should be mindful that ‘Scotland is small enough to know all her sons by heart’ My headline comes from the conclusions to a thorough examination of the facts published in May 2019. I missed it at the time and, I suspect out media did too. Correct me if I’m wrong on that and anything else in this piece, of course. With the … Continue reading Remaining in some corner of a foreign field that is ‘forever Scotland’, our army war dead, a greater sacrifice, 63% higher than the rest of the UK

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While only BBC Scotland platform Labour to defend itself on tax plans, the SNP acts to save 329 000 children

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BBC Scotland’s agenda is clear, even on D Day – Labour must be defended. BBC UK? This: One smaller story. BBC Wales? Professional journalism. BBC Northern Ireland? The same. Meanwhile what is really happening in Scotland, to millions of us? This: The Scottish Government is estimated to have invested almost £1.4 billion to benefit children in low income households in the last financial year. The investment is detailed in an annual progress report which highlights key actions to tackle child poverty including: Kind of newsworthy but I see that it might increase support for the SNP and they can’t have … Continue reading While only BBC Scotland platform Labour to defend itself on tax plans, the SNP acts to save 329 000 children

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Scotland’s full emergency departments (ED) 12% faster to save 15 000 from waiting much longer than they would have in NHS England

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In April 2024, NHS Scotland’s full, consultant-led Emergency Departments saw 67.4% within 4 hours. The equivalent figure for NHS England, if they’re not fiddling the figures again, was 60.4% NHS Scotland is thus 11.58% (7% of 60.4%) faster. So, of its 129 000 attendees, more than 15 000 would have had to wait more than 4 hours in England. Sources: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/our-areas-of-work/acute-and-emergency-services/urgent-and-unscheduled-care/accident-and-emergency/#section-3-2 https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ Continue reading Scotland’s full emergency departments (ED) 12% faster to save 15 000 from waiting much longer than they would have in NHS England

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Deadly measles threat averted by ‘robust public health management’ after 17 years of SNP Government but in England?

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From Public Health Scotland, today: There were six laboratory confirmed measles cases reported in the first quarter of 2024. Of these cases, five are thought to have been imported and related to travel outwith the UK. One case was acquired in the UK and may have been related to one of the imported cases. The lack of onward transmission associated with these cases highlights the success of the MMR vaccination programme, the importance of maintaining high vaccine uptake in Scotland, and reflects the robust public health management of these cases.  https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/immunisation-and-vaccine-preventable-diseases-quarterly-report/immunisation-and-vaccine-preventable-diseases-quarterly-report-january-to-march-2024-q1/#section-2-1 Remind me me, which UK Government has treated its … Continue reading Deadly measles threat averted by ‘robust public health management’ after 17 years of SNP Government but in England?

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NHS Scotland staffed and equipped to complete more than 98% of planned operations on time

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From Public Health Scotland today: During April 2024, there were 23,482 operations planned to take place across NHSScotland. This is 18.4% higher than the number planned a year previously in April 2023 (19,840)…(only) 426 (1.8%) were cancelled by the hospital due to capacity or non-clinical reasons. This is frankly astonishing performance in a institution carrying out around one-quarter of a million ops, with 182 000 staff across 35 hospital https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/cancelled-planned-operations/cancelled-planned-operations-month-ending-30-april-2024 Does the SNP get the credit after 17 years? If the news was bad, they would. Continue reading NHS Scotland staffed and equipped to complete more than 98% of planned operations on time

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86% of young mental health patients seen within 18 week target as performance nears 90% target – NHS England? Don’t ask!

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From Public Health Scotland, today: 86.0% of children and young people were seen within 18 weeks of referral, which is an increase from 83.8% for the previous quarter and from the 74.2% for the same quarter ending March 2023. The Scottish Government standard states that 90% of children and young people should start treatment within 18 weeks of referral to CAMHS. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/child-and-adolescent-mental-health-services-camhs-waiting-times/child-and-adolescent-mental-health-services-camhs-waiting-times-quarter-ending-march-2024/ In NHS England? 18 weeks? 86%? Only 72% were seen within 52 weeks! https://assets.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/wpuploads/2024/03/Childrens-mental-health-services-22-23_CCo-final-report.pdf Continue reading 86% of young mental health patients seen within 18 week target as performance nears 90% target – NHS England? Don’t ask!

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Psychological treatment – NHS Scotland regularly beats the NHS Wales target they cannot ever meet under Labour

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From Public Health Scotland, today: 79.3% of people of all ages started their treatment within 18 weeks of referral, compared to 80.6% of people for the previous quarter, and 80.0% of people for the quarter ending March 2023. The Scottish Government standard states that 90% of people should start their treatment within 18 weeks of referral to psychological therapies. 50% of the people of all ages starting treatment started within 4 weeks of referral. 18,776 people of all ages started psychological therapies treatment in NHS Boards in the quarter ending March 2024. This is an increase of 1.7% (319) from … Continue reading Psychological treatment – NHS Scotland regularly beats the NHS Wales target they cannot ever meet under Labour

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Starmer’s Labour Party has been captured by a small, highly determined right-wing clique

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By NMRN Here is the reality and truth of Labour under Keir Starmer: Journalist Peter Osborne tweeted: “Starmer’s Labour Party has been captured by a small, highly determined right-wing clique, one that is as insouciant of Labour’s magnificent history and democratic tradition as it is contemptuous of ethnic minorities” Journalist Michael Crick interviewed: “Thinks it is disgraceful what has been going on with Labour. He said that as a self confessed Blairite and traditionally Labour right winger. I won’t be voting for Labour at this GE. The Stamerites have purged virtually everybody on the left. They purge them from being … Continue reading Starmer’s Labour Party has been captured by a small, highly determined right-wing clique

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Latest poll has SNP retaining 35 seats

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We’ve had a run of very negative polls recently, including YouGov, Savanta and Survation, based on weighting of their sample in line with the 2014 data to a ratio of 45/55 Y/N. I can’t see the weighting for this. It may have adopted the more updated 2024 data to a ratio of 49/51 Y/N weighting used by Ipsos. Today, More in Common‘s MRP poll predicts ‘only’ 13 losses for the SNP: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/general-election-2024/mrp/ More in Common‘s founders/owners, as with Ipsos, are international and non-partisan with regard to Scotland, as far as I can see. Continue reading Latest poll has SNP retaining 35 seats

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Scotland’s corridor care scare survey may be based on vanishingly small sample

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By stewartb The RCN is not a small, not a new, inexperienced organisation. Far from it! It has a long track record of advocacy on behalf of the nursing profession. Its continuing use of the name – the Royal College of Nursing – seems like an attempt to raise its status with the public as something other than ‘just’ a trade union. The document that is the subject of the main blog post is loftily described by the RCN as a ‘Policy Report’. It has been relatively well resourced: it has two authors plus no less than 15 other named … Continue reading Scotland’s corridor care scare survey may be based on vanishingly small sample