…to refuse to return to work if they’re exposed to coronavirus. It’s after the Scottish Government announced that critical workers who are double-jabbed (sic) can apply for an exemption from self-isolation. The GMB union is urging its members to turn it down. The Scottish Government say the rules already say that exemption will only be granted to staff who voluntarily agree. So, the GMB leaders knew it was voluntary and that their members would not have to turn anything down but felt the public needed to know this nothing and so contacted their pals at BBC Scotland? And, double-jabbed? Are … Continue reading Even if you’re not offered it, TURN IT DOWN!

Responsibility for drug treatment is devolved to the Scottish Parliament but control over the policies which determine what can legally be done to save lives is wholly reserved to Westminster. So, for example, NHS Scotland’s drug treatment service beats its target for treating 90% of patients within 3 weeks or less, year after year, hitting 95.6% in the year to March 2021: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/national-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-waiting-times/national-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-waiting-times-1-january-to-31-march-2021/ But, the one strategy which has been proven to work, is denied by the UK Government: The largest review ever undertaken, of 349 research studies, from across the globe though mostly in Europe, carried out by the Centre … Continue reading Johnson faces calls for devolution of reserved drug policies to let Sturgeon tackle drug deaths

Likely new leader of that other Gang of 4, the Scottish Lib Dems, ACH tries to show us what a big tough guy he is but, up here, we know that stance is just asking for it. That unconvincing manly stance is popular with winkers like the above but they should have learned a long time ago that it’s a mistake: Yes, 1976, Scotland’s Kenny Dalglish nutmegs the England keeper Ray Clemence, sliding the ball between his too spread legs. Scotland’s First Minister knows better and is, of course, the most popular politician in the UK. ‘If I’d been Clemence, … Continue reading Sturgeon demonstrates how to avoid own goals?

According to BBC Scotland earlier today: Residents of a multi-storey block of flats in Glasgow had to be evacuated after a fire broke out on the 17th floor. Fire crews were called to the block on Lincoln Avenue in the Knightswood area of the city at 04:08. Residents were safely removed from the building by the fire service and there were no casualties. A total of nine fire appliances attended the incident which took about five hours to bring under full control. A spokeswoman for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “Operations control mobilised nine appliances to Lincoln Avenue where … Continue reading Hundreds saved in Glasgow tower block fire after tougher regulations prevent another Grenfell

Dr Lewis Morrison is media regular. He’s paid to be one. He may style himself ‘chair of the BMA’ as if he is a prof leading a research institute but, really he’s a trade union convenor looking after his members’ interests. NHS staff are not ‘very worried’. That’s just his pitch. You’d need a professionally administered survey of thousands in a random sample to say that kind of thing. He has no such evidence. On his claim of cancelled operations: Look at the solid grey line. That’s operations cancelled due to the unavailability of a surgeon or of a theatre. … Continue reading Trade union rumours masquerading as news

There’s a long stain behind Scotland’s corporate and state journalists struggling to blame the ‘SNP Scottish Government’ or its associated services, especially in health and policing, for something, anything. Only we a few days ago we had the Scotsman’s Connor Matchett using the comments of one religious fundamentalist councillor from Skye to attempt to transfer blame, from the corporate care home owners, for Covid deaths, onto the Scottish Government’s inspectors. Bizarrely, the inspectors who have carried out fewer inspections during the pandemic, for obvious reasons, are to blame for not catching out the neglect of the owners! https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2021/07/30/another-attempt-to-shift-the-care-home-deaths-blame/ Last night … Continue reading Corporate journalist seeks to protect hospital-building Bermuda-based corporation from public scrutiny

Regular readers will remember how Andrew Marr gloated about Scotland’s Covid death rate when it was, for a few days in November 2020, higher than in England: Marr berated the First Minister over these highly selective figures but then lost interest when they fell well below those for England, for the following months. After another short period, in July 2021, when the Scottish figures have been higher again, following in the wake of an earlier surge in cases, Marr seemed not to notice. Now they have again fallen below the English rate and this seems likely to continue: Should I … Continue reading Does Andrew Marr need help again?

100% of Scotland’s care home residents have been fully vaccinated for some time now. NHS Lanarkshire completed the task in March 2021. 97.6% of staff have had the first vaccination and 94.4% have had the second dose. Two doses do not of course confer full immunity so it is important that staff are also 100% vaccinated. In England, the situation is less reassuring, despite the PM’s claims of a ‘world-beating’ rollout. 98.5% of residents have had both jags in English care homes for the elderly but only 78.4% of staff are fully vaccinated. This is a very disturbing figure. https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-vaccinations/ Continue reading Residents still at great risk in English care homes for the elderly

Drug deaths rose on Thatcher’s watch but she did not admit the toll was unacceptable TuS can reveal that within a few years of the Thatcher government’s ‘restructuring’ of Scotland’s economy with sudden heavy industry shut-downs leading to mass unemployment, drug deaths, primarily in those communities where the young had no prospects, began to soar: These data show a doubling between 1992 and 1993 and a near ten-fold increase toward the end of the decade. The Conservative Government response was further criminalising of drug abuse victims. By 2002 after 5 years of New Labour, deaths had doubled to 280 per … Continue reading THATCHER’S DRUG DEATH SHAME AND TORIES ARE TO BLAME

BBC Scotland will be dwelling on Scotland’s drug deaths for some time and the press such as the Herald below will be digging up multiple attack lines. None will be exploring the roots of the spike in Thatcherite policies from the 80s but will that matter anyway? I’ve mentioned before, that after a very difficult time coming off opioid painkillers myself, my empathy for drug addicts has been much intensified. I genuinely want to see increased efforts to save lives even if it means tholing the hypocrisy of the Tories but how widely shared are my views? Will the accusations … Continue reading Will blaming the SNP for drug deaths be even slightly damaging?