From cuckooshoe A BBC Scotland article this morning ignores obvious reasons, and then speculates on several worst case scenarios.. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-59145685 “Covid-19 in Scotland: Why are confirmed cases flatlining?” The obvious reasons? I can think of five, (three of which were introduced in September) that could be responsible.. 1. The decision to vaccinate 12-15 year olds from the 20th September. 2. The wearing of face masks in secondary schools. 3. It is still the law for everyone over the age of 12, unless exempt, (unlike in England) still has to wear a face covering in indoor public spaces such as shops, … Continue reading Why are confirmed cases flatlining? BBC expert misses the human/political factors

…recruited across Scotland. In a survey by the British Medical Association, more than80% of GP practices said demand was exceeding supply. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/live/bbcone There was a time when trade union leaders’ claims were reported more critically but hey BBC Scotland can just get Sturgeon or Yousaf to respond to this. Better still they can get get Sarwar, Ross or ACH to froth unconvincingly about it. I’m not saying they’re not busy. I’d need evidence for that but, equally, I’d like to see evidence for their claim and some professional reporting. First, the BMA are not ‘Doctors’ leaders.’ They’re a trade union … Continue reading Only 6% of Scottish GPs report overload?

In the Herald today: NICOLA Sturgeon has been urged to intervene on “heavy-handed and highly disproportionate” policing at COP26.  Environmental groups hit out at “an atmosphere of fear and intimidation”, with a “disproportionately high” number of officers deployed and “intrusive police surveillance”. https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19695554.sturgeon-urged-intervene-heavy-handed-cop26-policing/ I’m sure there has been some. Among the 10 000 bussed in from all over the UK, there will have been those ‘trained’ to deal with riots but Scotland’s police chief made it clear that upholding human rights was central to their values and that the heavy-handed form favoured by Douglas Ross in his ‘zero tolerance’ call … Continue reading There’s ‘heavy-handed’ and there’s heavy-handed policing

With ten times the population, England should, pro rata, have done 660 000 doses today but only did 268 000, less than half. Scotland has been doing more than England for weeks now. Wales and Northern Ireland were even further behind. BBC Scotland, of course, is no longer interested in our booster rollout. They liked us as a loser but now they’re scared that we just might win. Who sang that? At the bottom. BBC Wales, by contrast, say loyally today: Booster jab rates in Wales are currently the highest in the UK https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-59164532 Well not really: Leonard Cohen, First … Continue reading Scotland’s booster rollout today more than twice that in England and far ahead of that in Wales and N Ireland

What’s this report above about? Bruce Reid hoped to go out clubbing for Halloween last weekend but a problem with his vaccine passport that he has been trying to fix for two months means nightclubs are off limits. The 26-year-old clinical database designer insists he had both his jabs (sic) at Edinburgh’s EICC mass vaccination centre earlier this year. But his Covid vaccination status says he has only had one. He therefore can’t get a full vaccine certification, commonly known as a “vaccine passport”, which is a requirement for nightclubs and large events. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-59158018 The report is by David Wallace … Continue reading Why is only 1 in 42 000 approaching BBC Scotland to complain?

Shooting fish in a barrel? See my previous post on this. This is the second of three BBC Scotland reports today going for NHS Scotland in a vain attempt to undermine it and, of course, the SNP Government. Missing among other factors, too many to mention, is the usual lack of context to help you understand what the data actually mean for anyone going into hospital, with relatives in hospital or for all of us, justifiably as citizens, deserving the full picture. First, 99% of those in hospital in October 2021, caught it before admission, in the community or perhaps … Continue reading Shooting Fish in a Barrel 2, as 99% catch Covid outside hospitals

They’ve got it tough, BBC Scotland. The Scottish Government is, on their performance and their integrity, way ahead, almost impossible to land one on. The First Minister is an international figure highlighting the venality of the UK leaders. The SNP is dominant in election after election and in polls. BBC Scotland reporters are struggling to stay afloat. What are they gonna do? What propagandists have done for centuries, fight a proxy war. Find an area of responsibility, such as health, education or policing, which is infinitely improvable, where you hide the context and just say it’s not good enough. Fresh … Continue reading Reporting against the odds as nurses vacancies in England surge to 30% higher than in Scotland

From stewartb One thing is evident, the RCEM has opted for a different ‘tone’ in its press statements on A&E waiting times in Scotland from England. And of course this difference has proved to be a gift to agenda-driven reporting in what might have been regarded once as a ‘newspaper of record’. The RCEM issued a statement on 14 October 2021 regarding the latest A&E waiting time statistics for NHS England: ‘Growing concern about the looming winter as Emergency Department performance sinks to new low’ It is notable that it makes no mention here of ‘excess deaths’ in England even … Continue reading A different ‘tone’ on A&E waiting times in Scotland and England.

The Herald’s Health Correspondent (?) tells us: A NURSERY ordered to introduce “consistent and robust” systems to manage admissions requests after a complaint brought by Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has accused Scotland’s watchdog of “partisan spin”. Mr Yousaf and his wife accused Little Scholars Day Nursery in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, of racially discriminating against his daughter when it refused her a place. https://www.heraldscotland.com/business_hq/19691273.little-scholars-nursery-accuses-care-inspectorate-partisan-spin/ The BBC Scotland report is clear: A formal complaint made by Health Secretary Humza Yousaf about a nursery he accused of discriminating against his daughter has been upheld. The Care Inspectorate found that Little Scholars in Broughty Ferry “did not … Continue reading Sleekit and sneaky: the Herald sides with ‘racist’ nursery owners

In Scotland during September 2021, 76.1% of attendances at A&E services were seen and resulted in a subsequent admission, transfer or discharge within 4 hours. In September 2021, NHS England A&E departments saw 64% within 4 hours In September 2021, NHS Wales A&E departments saw 66.8% within 4 hours The Northern Ireland figures have been delayed to 12 November but in June, only 59.7% were seen within 4 hours. Sources: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/ae-activity-and-waiting-times/ae-activity-and-waiting-times-month-ending-30-september-2021/ https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ https://gov.wales/nhs-activity-and-performance-summary-august-and-september-2021-html https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/hs-niwts-ecwt-interactive-q1-21-22.html Continue reading Scotland’s emergency services fastest in UK by some way