From the Scottish Government today: More than 250 paid NHS placements will be made available to parents across Scotland as part of Scottish Government efforts to eradicate child poverty. The paid placements, covering roles such as porters, caterers, healthcare support workers, administration assistants, and assistant technical officers, will be available across 18 health boards. With paid placements typically lasting between 6-18 months, the project is targeted at those facing the greatest risk of poverty – helping more parents to access employment in Scotland’s NHS. Full text at: https://www.gov.scot/news/250-nhs-jobs-for-parents/ There is no equivalent to this programme planned in other parts of … Continue reading More than 250 paid NHS placements will be made available to parents across Scotland as part of Scottish Government efforts to eradicate child poverty but only STV have mentioned it

From Cancelled planned operations Month ending 31 August 2026 published today, the above graph and: There were 25,253 operations planned to take place across NHS Scotland. This is 1% more (+247) than the number planned in August 2025 (25,006). Over the course of the last 12 months, from September 2025 to August 2026 (308,558), there was a 5.9% increase (+17,320) compared to the previous 12 months (291,238). This is consistent with the trend of generally increasing numbers of planned operations since March 2021. In NHS Scotland, 8.4% (2,112) of planned operations were cancelled the day before or on the day … Continue reading Once more NHS Scotland is resourced to carry out 98% of planned operations in a 5 year trend of ‘generally increasing numbers since March 2021’

From Percentage of end of life spent at home or in a community setting Financial years ending 31 March 2017 to 2026 published yesterday, the above graph and: In 2025/26, there were 57,913 deaths in Scotland. This includes people who died after a fall but excludes deaths from other external causes such as accidents (see excel tables for more information on the exclusions). These individuals spent on average 89.8% of their last six months of life at home or in a community setting, with the remaining 10.2% spent in hospital. This is equivalent to an average of 19 days in hospital … Continue reading Scots spend 90% of last six months of life at home or in a community setting, longer than during pandemic

In the Guardian today, the above and: Police forces are routinely failing to investigate complaints about the circulation of image-based abuse, previously known as “revenge pornography”, according to research that has triggered a super-complaint over the way such crimes are handled. Lawyers have gathered evidence from 100 people who reported intimate images being shared online without their consent. Their research suggests that image-based abuse is still frequently dismissed or not recognised as criminal offending, despite being described by the former prime minister Keir Starmer as a national emergency. Referrals to the Revenge Porn helpline, the charity that helps victims get … Continue reading Police Scotland clear-up rate for ‘revenge porn’ is TEN times that in England & Wales

This was a shameful abuse of statistics by STV yesterday: Nearly 70% of Police Scotland officers currently suspended while under criminal investigation are accused of offences relating to violence against women, according to figures obtained by STV News. The allegations include domestic abuse, sexual offences and stalking. The figures show that, out of 53 suspended officers facing criminal investigation, 26 officers are accused of domestic abuse-related offences, nine are accused of sexual offences and two are accused of stalking. https://news.stv.tv/scotland/nearly-70-of-suspended-police-scotland-officers-facing-criminal-investigation-accused-of-offences-linked-to-violence-against-women There are currently 16 402 FTE police officers in Scotland, 11 036 male. 26 of them, 0.2% are suspended facing … Continue reading Is 70% big when it’s only 26 and really should be 0.2%? Shameful abuse of statistics by STV to demonise police officers

From UK research – Children in relative poverty before housing costs This indicator shows the percentage of children aged under 16 living in relative low income families Before Housing Costs (BHC), in the UK, for financial years ending 2022 to 2025. Data source: Department for Work and Pensions published 26 March 2026: https://www.ons.gov.uk/explore-local-statistics/indicators/children-in-relative-poverty-before-housing#map It also reveals the shocking contrast between Scotland after nearly two decades of determined efforts by the SNP in government in Scotland to resist Tory and Labour austerity policies, despite limited powers, and to Work as if you live in the early days of a better world. … Continue reading Child poverty – One picture that dramatically reveals how very different Scotland already is on the path to ‘Work as if you live in the early days of a better world’