Surgeon too busy with private work lies about operation cancellations for BBC Disclosure

In the Herald and to feature on BBC Disclosure, Mr Chris Adams (above) a part-time consultant with Lothian Health Board claims: Yet, according to Public Health Scotland: In NHS Lothian, in December 2022, 493 out of 17 269, 2.85% and lower than the average of 2.9% for Scotland, scheduled elective operations were cancelled due to capacity or non-clinical reasons by the hospital. Capacity includes staff availability such as that of theatre nurses and surgeons. 493 out of 17 269 is 1 in 35, somewhat far from Mr Adam’s 1 in 4. As for staffing shortages, Scotland, in 2019 had 101 … Continue reading Surgeon too busy with private work lies about operation cancellations for BBC Disclosure

Concern as three and a half times as many Covid cases in England’s IC units

The number of Covid cases serious enough to require intensive care continues to be far higher, per head of population, in England than in Scotland However, in the most recent data for week ending 1 March 2023, however, as overall admissions rise, the contrast is marked with three and a half times as many in English hospitals. Something in the English system is failing to catch the cases at threat of becoming life-threatening quickly enough. I’ve reported this many times and the obvious factors are more doctors and more nurses in cleaner hospitals, more GPs referring cases quickly and free … Continue reading Concern as three and a half times as many Covid cases in England’s IC units

Never mind 2 year waits, a shocking 14 times as many waiting more than 18 weeks in England than in Scotland

On 25 February, the Herald’s Helen McCardle rejoiced in this NHS England has has already has fewer people waiting over two-years for hospital treatment, and the number of planned operations being performed is closer to pre-pandemic levels than it is in Scotland https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23344871.nhs-recovery-drive-england-outperforming-scotland/ The UK Government and NHS England have been sneaky again, as they did when they began restarting the clock for A&E patients, after they had been triaged. They knew how the media feasted on stories of patients waiting more than two years and regardless of the seriousness of the cases, threw money at them, rushing them through … Continue reading Never mind 2 year waits, a shocking 14 times as many waiting more than 18 weeks in England than in Scotland

BBC Scotland spends more than £50 000* taxpayer money to find but not tell you NHS England’s waiting lists are 14% longer than NHS Scotland

It’s not easy to find out how much pollsters charge but from a US Strategic Communications Executive, $25 -$30 per respondent is suggested. This Quora response is not dated so the estimate may be higher today.* Anyhow, BBC commissioned Savanta to carry out a poll of 2 043, making the cost around £50 000. You may remember Savanta is the pollster unable in their last 17 polls to ever find a lead for Yes. The BBC report today opens with: There are 625,000 people on a hospital waiting list in Scotland. That figure is the highest on record and equivalent … Continue reading BBC Scotland spends more than £50 000* taxpayer money to find but not tell you NHS England’s waiting lists are 14% longer than NHS Scotland

Social care in Scotland praised by real researchers who know their stuff.

There are some dodgy so-called research and ‘thinktanks’ out there feeding the media, especially BBC Scotland with unreliable findings to undermine the Scottish Government, the SNP or the wider case for independence. You know who they are, tied to Cons or Labour or the oil, gas, alcohol and tobacco manufacturers – the Adam Smith Institute, the Centre for Policy Studies and of course the unions such as the BMA or the RCN, the Fabian Society, the NEF, the IFS, These Islands and Reform Scotland But, there are some you can trust, agenda-free, fair, evidence-based – the Nuffield Trust, the JRF … Continue reading Social care in Scotland praised by real researchers who know their stuff.

No ‘panic’ with half the crime and half as many more officers

Crime: In the year ending June 2022, the police in Scotland recorded 285,974 crimes. This was 5% lower than the 300,747 crimes recorded in the year ending June 2021, and 5% lower than the 301,376 crimes recorded in the year ending June 2018.https://www.gov.scot/news/recorded-crime-in-scotland-year-ending-june-2022/#:~:text=In%20the%20year%20ending%20June,the%20year%20ending%20June%202018. In England & Wales in the year ending March 2022 overall crime returned to and exceeded pre-coronavirus pandemic levels. The 6.3 million crimes recorded was 4% higher compared with the year ending March 2020. https://www.gov.scot/news/crime-almost-halved-over-the-decade/ All things being equal, with roughly 11 times the population, England and Wales might have been expected to record around 3 million crimes … Continue reading No ‘panic’ with half the crime and half as many more officers

Ferry Fears 200?

In the Herald today, in the long-running ‘Hell hat no Ferries’ series, we see: NEW fears have surfaced over whether two vessels at the centre of Scotland’s ferry fiasco will ever set sail as it emerged an agreement over the publicly funded budget for the nationalised shipyard firm at the centre of the row has stalled for months. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/23363699.fears-new-ferries-may-never-sail-ferguson-marine-budget-stalls/ On 11 December 2022, under an image of the MV Glen Sannox, Martin Williams had: Workforce fears Scots fiasco ferries won’t ever sail In July 2022, The Glen Sannox had sailed Final delivery will be in May 2023. Back to today, … Continue reading Ferry Fears 200?

Fighting a pandemic with trust or fear?

From BBC UK today: Matt Hancock suggested to an aide that they “frighten the pants off everyone”, messages published by the Sunday Telegraph show. It appears the former health secretary discussed when to reveal the existence of the Kent variant of Covid, to ensure people comply with lockdown rules. In another exchange, the head of the Civil Service, Simon Case, suggested the “fear/guilt factor” was vital to the government’s messaging. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64848106 Why has that message become necessary? Because the Conservative UK Government had delayed measures and, particularly in the comments by PM Johnson, had been inconsistent in that messaging. Scaring … Continue reading Fighting a pandemic with trust or fear?

Have Tory bullies scared Prof Sridhar away from praising Scotland’s pandemic efforts?

For some time now, I’ve noticed Edinburgh Prof Sridhar’s absence from UK MSM where she often angered the Scottish Tories by telling the truth. There’s no mention of Scotland in the above Guardian piece despite the evidence being all about England. She used to be more specific and prepared to praise NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government. In July 2020 we saw this: Even as recently as 2022, we saw this: Why are there now no comparisons when Scotland did markedly better. For example, from stewartb: Of all the UK nations, England and Northern Ireland experienced the highest Covid-19 mortality … Continue reading Have Tory bullies scared Prof Sridhar away from praising Scotland’s pandemic efforts?

Keeping Scotland free of risk of nuclear incidents

In the wake of the above only a few days ago and as the Guardian today reveals serious security breaches at Sellafield, only a few miles south of the border (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/05/ministers-pressed-by-labour-over-cyber-attack-at-sellafield-by-foreign-groups), I’m reminded of these: On 4 March, the Herald had: The police force that guards the UK’s nuclear plants reported 37 security breaches last year, including the thefts of a uniform, confidential documents, an officer’s day book and three “classified” Microsoft tablets. 19 cases where staff lost their warrant or ID cards. The 37 incidents reported last year was the highest number for 8 years. https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23362809.civil-nuclear-constabulary-reports-37-security-breaches-one-year/?ref=ebbn Theft of a … Continue reading Keeping Scotland free of risk of nuclear incidents