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“Scotland is the place to be for para-gymnastics so here we are” 

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Professor John Robertson OBA Scotland is the place to be for para-gymnastics, so here we are,” says Kathryn Sinnott of Hertfordshire. Why? From STV last night: It is one of the most popular Olympic sports, but surprisingly, gymnastics is not part of the Paralympic programme. It wasn’t until last year that the gymnastics governing body, the FIG (Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) ), recognised para-gymnastics as an official discipline within the sport. They have now set out ambitious plans for it to be included in time for the Brisbane Paralympic Games in 2032. One disability gymnastics team in Glasgow is … Continue reading “Scotland is the place to be for para-gymnastics so here we are” 

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No major flu deaths surge expected in Scotland after 80% vaccine uptake and in cleaner hospitals

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Professor John Robertson OBA The above is from the Over 5 million under 65s with a long-term health condition could miss out flu vaccine reported in the Mirror yesterday. From: Less than a third (28.9%) of people with one or more long-term health conditions (LTHCs) have had a flu vaccine. 9 million aged under 65’s in clinical risk groups are eligible but just 40% vaccinated last year (2024 to 25) – leaving over 5 million missing out and unprotected. Uptake of the flu vaccine in older adults, aged 65 and over, is higher – 61.5% this year to date; and … Continue reading No major flu deaths surge expected in Scotland after 80% vaccine uptake and in cleaner hospitals

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Only tiny 2% of terror referrals are in Scotland because….

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Professor John Robertson OBA Children being referred to Prevent, the anti-terror scheme, naturally interests journalists. The National headlines responsibly and informatively but the SDM (Short for SaDoMasichism?) finds something titillating for its readers. Here’s something informative, to help the vulnerable and anxious elderly (older than me of course): So, quickly, 11 times the population, if Scotland was just as troubled by this as England & Wales, and they’d have 1 782 referrals but they had 8 778, MORE THAN FOUR times as many, 98% of the total. Sources: Why so few in Scotland? Some ideas I posted tentatively in 2019: … Continue reading Only tiny 2% of terror referrals are in Scotland because….

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Prisoners released in error this year, nearly THREE times more frequent per capita and surging in England and Wales than in Scotland because….

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to Dorothy for suggesting this. According to the Herald yesterday, there were 9 releases in error of prisoners in Scotland, with 3 more in 2025 so far.1 The Herald, of course, has added up the figures, 8, 7 and 9 over the last 3 year to make a worryingly, for them, flat trend. All things being equal, pro rata, you’d expect the figure for England and Wales to be 11 times higher, 99 but, in the same period, it was 262, nearly THREE times more common and increasing by 128% from 115 the previous year.2 … Continue reading Prisoners released in error this year, nearly THREE times more frequent per capita and surging in England and Wales than in Scotland because….

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NHS England health trusts have more than TWICE as much debt as Scottish health boards and it’s to ‘sharks!’

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Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to France McKie for presenting me with this opportunity. From Every Doctor, the above and: The NHS is haemorrhaging billions to private companies through Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts at a time when the health service desperately needs investment in staff and infrastructure. An EveryDoctor investigation has uncovered that 69 NHS trusts in England are locked into paying more than £21.1bn to private companies over the next two decades – money that could be spent on doctors, healthcare staff, patients, and critical repairs. The total spent on PFI debt and interest payments (£3.1bn) would have … Continue reading NHS England health trusts have more than TWICE as much debt as Scottish health boards and it’s to ‘sharks!’

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NHS Ayrshire & Arran Health Board may be in considerable debt but is performing well above the 90% targets and above the national average on four important targets

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BBC Scotland, other Scottish media and opposition politicians have been making hay with NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s level of debt, revealed in a recent Audit Scotland report. They’ve had nothing to say about the above record of achievement on page 11 of the document. Makes you wonder why? Source: https://audit.scot/publications/the-202425-audit-of-nhs-ayrshire-and-arran More on this health board: Continue reading NHS Ayrshire & Arran Health Board may be in considerable debt but is performing well above the 90% targets and above the national average on four important targets

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Casual dishonesty about lower violent crime for all and lower taxation for most in Scotland goes uncorrected

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Professor John Robertson OBA I don’t think I’ve commented on BBC Scotland’s Debate Night before. I’m guessing it is not much watched. However, last night I was taken by the astonishing lies by the two Unionists, Pauline McNeill (Labour), Justice Committee Convenor (Remember that) and Brian Whittle (Con). First the Justice Committee Convenor’s simple comment in passing above – surely she has seen the figures? From Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2024-251 published in June 2025: There is, in these figures, a sharp decrease in non-sexual extreme violence and an apparent increase in sex offences but there is a great deal … Continue reading Casual dishonesty about lower violent crime for all and lower taxation for most in Scotland goes uncorrected