Author: johnrobertson834

Retired Professor of Media Politics Not-for-profit independent political analysis
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“Washington state ferry cancellations cripple service before the busy Labor Day weekend”

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From KOMO News today: Over the past few years, WSF has experienced crew shortages which have caused delays and cancellations. A few weeks ago, KOMO News reported that WSF had 21 boats in its fleet, but only 15 were currently in service. Oftentimes, when a crew shortage happens ferry riders may assume that a deckhand or other position they would normally see on board working, couldn’t make it to work. KOMO News learned from one of the unions that represents ferry workers, that many times the missing link in the crew is someone who works below deck, in the engine room. Crew … Continue reading “Washington state ferry cancellations cripple service before the busy Labor Day weekend”

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Now Norwegian ferries join the list of failing ferry services

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For the first time, the super-affluent state of Norway is experiencing a ferry fiasco of the sort we have seen reported here, in New Zealand, Greece, the Channel Islands, Isle of Wight, British Columbia, Toronto and Washington State USA, with this from SINTEF: Major problem for coastal ferry services. There are many examples, and they all tell the same story. Shortfalls in crew numbers and regulations governing rest periods make non-scheduled extra crossings problematic. This results in many cancelled crossings, causing major irritation to travellers along the Norwegian coast. At present, the evacuation of car ferries and other vessels carrying … Continue reading Now Norwegian ferries join the list of failing ferry services

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Scottish prisons have 14 times, per head, the spare capacity of those in England and Wales

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From BBC UK today: There are fewer than 100 available spaces left across the male prison estate in England and Wales, the BBC understands.1 There are currently 8 348 prisoners in Scotland’s prisons.2 From Audit Scotland in December 2023: SPS has advised that as at November 2023 the extended operating capacity that the prison estate can accommodate is 8,475.3 So, 127 places still available for a population only one eleventh of the population of England and Wales. They should have at least 1 400 but have ‘less than 100’, only a fourteenth! Sources: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0rw48nj282o https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-prison-population-justice-secretary-statement/#:~:text=However%2C%20with%20the%20population%20having,populations%20ever%20recorded%20in%20Scotland. https://audit.scot/uploads/docs/report/2023/s22_231212_scottish_prison_service.pdf (14) Continue reading Scottish prisons have 14 times, per head, the spare capacity of those in England and Wales

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“Progress cannot be made by focusing on teachers alone” in a system with the best pupil/teacher ratio in the UK

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Today, BBC Scotland’s Lucy Adams reports: Lee-Anne King has three sons at schools in Glasgow. They all have additional support needs – and, as a result, are among those most likely to be affected by cuts to teacher numbers across the city. Lee-Anne, 41, volunteers at a primary school in the Knightswood area and is also the chair of the parent council. She says the impact of the teacher cuts is already visible in the classroom at the school, which her 10-year-old son JJ attends. “Last week our deputy headteacher ended up teaching a class all … Continue reading “Progress cannot be made by focusing on teachers alone” in a system with the best pupil/teacher ratio in the UK

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Cancer treatment – massive fall in waiting times for radiology tests

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland today: Waits over 26 weeks for a radiology test decreased by 27% (-1,557) compared to 31 March 2024; in addition, radiology waits longer than 52 weeks decreased by almost a fifth (-19%, -69).1  Source: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-waiting-times-diagnostics/diagnostic-waiting-times-waits-for-key-diagnostic-tests-27-august-2024/ The OBA – https://scotsindependent.scot/?page_id=116 Continue reading Cancer treatment – massive fall in waiting times for radiology tests

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95% of Scots registered with NHS dentist

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland today: 5,176,332 people were registered with an NHS dentist as at 30 June 2024 (94.5% of the Scottish population). 621,767 extensive clinical examinations were paid in the quarter ending 30 June 2024 under the new pay arrangements. In total, over 1.7million have been undertaken since the NHS dental payment reform was introduced.1 In England: Since the current dental contract was introduced in 2006, there has been no system of registration for dentistry in England. This means that, unlike with GPs, patients can attend any dentist that provides NHS services for a course … Continue reading 95% of Scots registered with NHS dentist

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I thought that Keir Starmer declared that Scotland was to be the  main  focus  for  UK  renewable energy?

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By Anonymous Keir Starmer tweeted a video on the 20 August with him and the (new) Welsh FM. In it he said: “I’m here looking at what a very important renewable project to discuss with the FM (of Wales as he was in Carmarthenshire) how we can work more closely together on the renewable projects of the Future to turbo charge the work we need to do on that energy transition”. “For the first time here in Wales, we’ve got a WM government that wants to work with the Wales government to deliver for everybody across Wales. So a very important initiative on energy, but more broadly a very important political initiative to show that we … Continue reading I thought that Keir Starmer declared that Scotland was to be the  main  focus  for  UK  renewable energy?

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Scotland’s unique free 100% target-busting IVF service, saving lives and the NHS millions, year after year but to absolutely no media recognition

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland, today, the above trend evidence and: During the quarter ending 30 June 2024, 372 patients attended a screening appointment. The 90% standard was met, with all patients screened within 52 weeks of referral.1 And from Fertility Scotland: Scotland is proud to be the only UK nation to provide up to three full IVF/ICSI cycles on the NHS for eligible couples with some of the highest pregnancy rates and lowest multiple births across all UK nations.2 In England: IVF: ‘People are being priced out of becoming parents’3 How free IVF saves lives and reduces NHS … Continue reading Scotland’s unique free 100% target-busting IVF service, saving lives and the NHS millions, year after year but to absolutely no media recognition

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Hospital waiting lists in Scotland – significant increase in those seen within 18 weeks to remain 14% better than NHS England and far better than NHS Wales

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland, today, we see that 68.1% of patients waiting for treatment, in the quarter ending 30 June 2024, were seen within 18 weeks, up from 65.1% in the previous quarter.1 From the BBC in May 2024 (most recent data), we see reported a figure of 57% for NHS England.2 NHS Scotland is thus performing 14.2% on the 18 week waiting list target. NHS Wales uses the easier 26 week target but still returns a figure of 57% seen within that time.3 Why does this target matter and matter more perhaps than the one-year … Continue reading Hospital waiting lists in Scotland – significant increase in those seen within 18 weeks to remain 14% better than NHS England and far better than NHS Wales