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

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

By Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland, today: 90.6% of children and young people started treatment within 18 weeks of referral, which is an increase from 89.1% for the previous quarter and from 83.8% for the same quarter ending December 2023. The Scottish Government standard which states that 90% of children and young people should start treatment within 18 weeks of referral to CAMHS was achieved. 4,362 children and young people were waiting to start treatment at quarter ending December 2024 which is an increase of 3.1% (131) compared to 4,231 in the previous quarter1 How did BBC … Continue reading Children’s mental health target met in Scotland and performance now outstrips latest NHS England figures by 18%

By JB Notice the differences in reporting by Shelter in Scotland and in England. For Scotland, they use “ national scandal” and “children trapped” but frame it differently for England. Notice the numbers too, in Scotland 10,360 children living in temporary accommodation, which is I agree way way too high. In England 151,000 children living in temporary accommodation. With England having ten times the population of Scotland the figure should be roughly 103,600 but there are 47,400 [almost 50%] more children in England living in temporary accommodation. All of these figures are a disgrace. No child in either country should … Continue reading How Shelter Scotland politicises homelessness even though it is 50% more common in England

Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland today: At the January 2025 census, there were 1,969 people delayed. Compared to the previous three census points, this is higher than December 2024 (1,890) and lower than November 2024 (2,020) and October 2024 (2,030). 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). That’s a 24% reduction in bed-blocking. and In January 2025 the average number of beds occupied per day due to … Continue reading 24% reduction in ‘bed-blocking’ to disappoint Jackie Baillie

Yes, I know, they’ve been a bit sneaky. He didn’t actually say he backed the idea but the damage is done if you don’t take the opportunity to oppose it. It’s what they do all the time and we lose votes. By Professor John Robertson OBA, former Research Ethics Chair, UWS I know, they’re only two wee ‘twitterpolls‘, self-selecting and so not proper polls. However, they’re still bigger and better than the teacher union one, used this morning by BBC Reporting Scotland Down, to suggest our classrooms are war zones too. Whatever, in the absence of a proper poll, these … Continue reading Snap poll – only 20% of Scots and 28% of SNP members support sending Scots ‘peacekeepers’ to Ukraine/Russian border – 55% of SNP members ‘strongly disagree’