From the Herald’s ‘Health’ Correspondent: THEY are only 60 miles apart and see roughly the same number of patients every week – but on A&E performance, Ninewells hospital in Dundee and Forth Valley Royal in Larbert are worlds apart. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23101988.tayside-forth-valley-truth-behind-e-stats/ Ninewells has been the best-performing of the larger A&E departments in Scotland for years now but never gets a mention. At last, they think, we can mention it but just to show how bad another A&E department is under the heading ‘startling disparities.’. Here are the facts: In September 2022, NHS Scotland’s A&E departments saw 69& of patients within 4 … Continue reading Scotland’s worst emergency department is 33% better than worst in England

The Herald and STV have been fed this by Scottish Labour. Two deaths at the New Southern General hospital (QEUH) have been ‘linked’ to ‘staffing issues’. Facts, News: In August 2022, 5 835 patients died. The number predicted was 1 679 and so the mortality rate was 4.9%. QEUH has one of the lower mortality rates in Scotland, 27th out of 32 and well below the highest level of 6.04%. https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scotlands-deadliest-hospitals-nhs-mortality-27785917 All of Scotland’s hospitals, regardless of current vacancies, continue to be within the expected range of mortality and one has a significantly lower (better) -than-expected rate (Western General). The … Continue reading One of best hospitals in the UK treated like dirt by New Racist Labour and friendly hacks

85.4% of NHS staff in England are British. 5.8% report an Asian nationality and 5.4% are EU nationals. Africa? There doesn’t seem to be an equivalent breakdown for Scotland. That’s good. It tells you something you want to not hear about Scotland. We’ve seen UK Labour leaders try to get down and dirty with the Cons before. ‘British jobs for British workers!‘ Gordon Brown 2009. It didn’t work then. It won’t work in two years time either. You can’t outflank the Cons on the right. You need to claim the so-called middle. Are Starmer’s comments challenged by an interviewer from … Continue reading ‘Overseas nurses comin’ over eer, treatin’ my mum!’: New Racist Labour leader reveals ignorance of NHS Scotland

With the Express, I wonder where to begin. Mostly, such is the stench, I can’t be bothered correcting them but, now and again, I think someone might believe their garbage. So, ‘50 attacks‘ – Unison carefully do not tell us how many were physical assaults. Click to access 1-11-22-violence-against-NHS-staff-survey-22-FINAL.pdf In 2018, Unison reported 18 720 physical assaults in England: https://www.unison.org.uk/news/press-release/2018/04/steep-rise-reported-assaults-nhs-staff-says-unison/ So, we can estimate around 1 900 physical assaults in Scotland? Among 160 000 staff, 1 900 represents 1.2%?, 1 in 84 staff. 160 000 staff, each working around 230 shifts per year is 37 million days in which a … Continue reading Scottish Daily Express lies about increasingly lawful ‘SNP Scotland’

Unison, a trade union, does not publish its findings in a way that can be properly scrutinised, picking and choosing, with its press allies, to get a shocking headline. So, I have had to scrabble around to get the data trends from their sites and from newspaper reports. First, two key statements from the above Herald story: The last explanation is commonly the best for understanding supposed increases in crime. NHS Scotland has implemented a simpler, online procedure, which any social scientist might be particularly interested in. However, leaving that aside the reporting is wrong-headed. See this: So, 17 557 … Continue reading Assaults on NHS staff are falling

As crime falls in real terms, even halves in Scotland, media maintain or even increase their reporting or dramatizing of it, people remain or get even more anxious. It’s one of the few direct media effects we know of. Primary fires attended by the Scottish Fire Services have plummeted from more than 40 000 in 2009 to less than 28 000 last year, a steady, and 30% overall, fall in just over a decade. In 2021/2022, there were 76 attacks on fire crew, 1 resulted in an injury. The total number of attacks fell from 99 in 2015/16 to 76 … Continue reading Shouting THEATRE in a half-empty fire? Fire and rescue incidents plummet under SNP Government

In November 2021, the cumulative Covid death rate in Scotland was 168 deaths per 100 000 population while in England it was 218, 30% higher. By November the rates were 226 and 302, 34% higher and growing. Only in Scotland, is the rate declining while in England the increase is notable and disturbing. Why is this not being researched? Why is it not happening in Scotland? A better NHS? Continue reading UK Covid death-rate gap widening

Despite all they have done and only weeks after replacing the previous PM, Conservative voters look like coming home and threatening another election victory in two years. Based on data collected on the 3rd November, less than two weeks since Sunak was anointed, we see a convincing majority for him as preferred PM, over Keir Starmer, in a full poll of 1 500. We know that many voters do not vote for the Cons but against Labour so it takes little for them to flop back after a wee protest. Note, that the story in Scotland is different but, as … Continue reading UK Tories return to the fold after only 10 days in doubt

Update: I’ve been corrected. Only 5 of the 6 destroyers are still being repaired. https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2022/march/25/220325-hms-diamond-joins-snmg2 In May 2022, the latest Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin spoke at the Combined Naval Event 2022 in Farnborough. He mentions our destroyers but not the fact that ALL are still in harbour. He said: One need only look at our response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to see how frigates and destroyers are helping to shore up security in the eastern Mediterranean. https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/defence-procurement-minister-speech-at-the-combined-naval-event Someone should tell Mr Quin, that our destroyers cannot be shoring up anything other that the economy of Portsmouth because 5 … Continue reading Update: UK Defence Minister cannot tell a frigate from a destroyer

So, six multibillion pound destroyers are stuck in harbour, billions over price and years late, and a massive aircraft carrier is back in for repairs again, as Russia accuses the UK of covert action against it in the Black Sea? There have been three PMs involved with these MoD contracts – Cameron, May, Johnson. We can excuse the more recent temps. I challenge you! Find me a single news report linking, in any way, any UK PM or minister with any of these contractual catastrophes and I’ll post it. In May 2022, the latest Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin spoke … Continue reading Why does Sturgeon face a Ferry Feeding Frenzy in Scotland but no UK PM has had to face a Destroyer Delirium or a Carrier Craze?