Author: johnrobertson834
Retired Professor of Media Politics
Not-for-profit independent political analysis
BMA Scotland and BBC Scotland accused of barely undergraduate level of criticism of GP walk-in clinic scheme before project is fully underway and worthy only of ‘F – do not resubmit’ result and invitation to seek counselling on course change
BBC Scotland, Aimee Stanton, yesterday claimed, despite revealing the above graph in their own report: GP walk-in clinics see low attendance leading to accusations of failure – A series of walk-in GP clinics which the Scottish government said would end the “8am rush” for appointments have seen low attendance rates, first figures show. and: Dr Iain Morrison, chairman of the BMA’s Scottish GPs committee, said doctors had expressed reservations about the walk-in clinics when they were first announced – and it now looked like a case of “I told you so”. He told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast (RSB): “In terms … Continue reading BMA Scotland and BBC Scotland accused of barely undergraduate level of criticism of GP walk-in clinic scheme before project is fully underway and worthy only of ‘F – do not resubmit’ result and invitation to seek counselling on course change
Fantastic but hidden news as drug-related hospital admissions plummet to lowest level since records began after treatment service meets 90% target for last 15 years and world-first opioid overdose reversal programme enters 8th year
From Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly report July 2026 published today, the above revealing that Drug-related hospital admissions have dropped to around 75 in the last quarter. This is down from the previous lows of just over 100 and barely half of the March figures in 2024 and 2025. What has caused this very objective measure of Scotland’s drug problems, more reliable as a measure of the problem than either set of drug deaths? Continue reading Fantastic but hidden news as drug-related hospital admissions plummet to lowest level since records began after treatment service meets 90% target for last 15 years and world-first opioid overdose reversal programme enters 8th year
Why there are four hundred thousand more waiting unnecessarily on NHS England waiting list – short video
Facts – https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/07/28/two-years-of-labour-zero-strikes-in-scotland-and-nhs-england-waiting-list-is-now-7-longer-with-400-000-still-waiting-who-would-not-be-if-government-oversight-was-as-good-as-in-scotland/ Facts 2 – https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/07/07/for-the-fiftieth-time-snp-government-works-respectfully-with-a-health-union-to-avert-strike-action-and-loss-of-life-setting-it-apart-from-other-uk-nations/ Continue reading Why there are four hundred thousand more waiting unnecessarily on NHS England waiting list – short video
Two years of Labour, zero strikes in Scotland and NHS England waiting list is now 7% longer with 400 000 still waiting who would not be if government oversight was as good as in Scotland
From Public Health Scotland – Stage of treatment waiting times New outpatients, inpatients and day cases published 28 July 2026 (Latest release), the above showing dramatic improvement in the last year, and: At 30 June 2026, there were an estimated 580,545 individuals on at least one new outpatient, inpatient or day case waiting list. This is equivalent to around 1 in 10 of Scotland’s population (mid-2024 estimates). Within this total, 450,998 individuals were estimated to be waiting for a new outpatient appointment, and 151,548 for an inpatient or day case admission. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/stage-of-treatment-waiting-times/stage-of-treatment-waiting-times-new-outpatients-inpatients-and-day-cases-28-july-2026 NHS England seem only to have an estimate of … Continue reading Two years of Labour, zero strikes in Scotland and NHS England waiting list is now 7% longer with 400 000 still waiting who would not be if government oversight was as good as in Scotland
The Canary in the Coalmine warning – Teenage pregnancies in Scotland significantly lower than in England
From Teenage pregnancies Year of conception, ending 31 December 2024 Published 28 July 2026 (Latest release), the above and: The teenage pregnancy rate in Scotland decreased slightly from 25.8 per 1,000 women in 2023 to 25.6 in 2024. This is equivalent to 3,833 teenage pregnancies in 2024. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/teenage-pregnancies/teenage-pregnancies-year-of-conception-ending-31-december-2024/ The equivalent figure for England, in 2023 (2024 not yet posted) is 28 per 1 000. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/conceptionandfertilityrates/bulletins/conceptionstatistics/2023 This 2.2 per 1000 difference refers to around 40 000 teenage pregnancies in England. Why is this statistic important? In short, the statistic is not just a number—it serves as a proxy for how well society … Continue reading The Canary in the Coalmine warning – Teenage pregnancies in Scotland significantly lower than in England
Shocking 4 times as many waiting for care in England
Public Health Scotland today has: The number of people in Scotland (All Areas Submitted) waiting on a social care assessment for a package of care was 6,600 on 6 July 2026. The number of people in Scotland (All Areas Submitted) assessed and waiting for a care at home package was 3,001 on 6 July 2026. This is a decrease of just over 3% compared to the number of people waiting for a care at home package this time last year (3,096 on 7 July 2025). https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/people-requiring-a-social-care-assessment-and-care-at-home-services/people-requiring-a-social-care-assessment-and-care-at-home-services-28-july-2026/ This gives a total waiting of 9 601. All things being equal, you’d expect … Continue reading Shocking 4 times as many waiting for care in England
Scotland’s fairer system means they have less reason to ‘tussle over inheritance’
In The Economist, this week, the above, and: When there’s a will, there’s a war. Or so they say in the courts of England and Wales, which are growing busier with fights over the dead’s estates. The number of probate claims listed at the High Court has grown by over 400% over the past decade, according to Solomonic, a legal-analytics company. https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/07/23/britons-are-increasingly-tussling-over-inheritance If you’re a regular here, you will have spotted the problem above with ‘Britons’ and ‘England and Wales.’ Not for the first time, Scotland has been disappeared. Reader Derek Scott alerted us yesterday to this and noted: An article … Continue reading Scotland’s fairer system means they have less reason to ‘tussle over inheritance’
UK Government is now dishonestly claiming a ‘central’ and ‘instrumental’ role in bringing the Commonwealth Games to Glasgow.
By stewartb The UK government and especially the Secretary of State for Scotland, Douglas Alexander have been commenting on their role in having the Commonwealth Games come to Glasgow: ‘a central role’; ‘instrumental’; ‘huge supporters of the Games’ etc. From the UK government in a press release dated July 24, 2026: ‘Commonwealth Games return to Glasgow with UK Government backing’: ‘The UK Government is proud to have played a central role in bringing the 2026 Commonwealth Games to Glasgow and securing the future of the competition.’ (my emphasis) Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander is quoted in the press statement: “I am … Continue reading UK Government is now dishonestly claiming a ‘central’ and ‘instrumental’ role in bringing the Commonwealth Games to Glasgow.
As Cairngorm burned and Ireland’s two helicopters ‘pounded’ a wildfire, the RAF’s only two firefighting helicopters were in Cyprus ‘In defence of the UK’s strategic interests’
Thanks to rtpscott for alerting us to this. From RAF Odiham News on 21 May 2026, the above image and: Across the training period, crews have been practising the full firefighting cycle – dipping the suspended bucket into open water before delivering controlled drops over designated areas. This essential training ensures crews are prepared to support wildfire response efforts as the season begins, protecting lives, infrastructure, and the environment. In July 2025, the Flight played a vital role in supporting Cypriot authorities during the island’s largest wildfires since 1974, operating intensively over two days to help contain the fires. As … Continue reading As Cairngorm burned and Ireland’s two helicopters ‘pounded’ a wildfire, the RAF’s only two firefighting helicopters were in Cyprus ‘In defence of the UK’s strategic interests’
