I’d kind of given up responding to Kevin McKenna’s unconvincing hybrid support for independence, allegedly for it but hating everything the SNP do. Like Michael Fry and Iain Macwhirter, like all those big, worn, white males at the Herald and the Scotsman, who seem unable to cope with younger, more intelligent women in positions of authority, he surfaces angrily on family values, football chants or faith-based education to accuse the SNP of being totalitarian. Has he read anything on the history of the Vatican? Anyhow, today he insists: Douglas Ross is spot on — Nicola Sturgeon is trying to hide … Continue reading McKenna goes too far this time and reveals himself as a Tory at heart

A heart-rending report attributing a cancer death to the effects of the pandemic on treatment. I’m in no position to comment on the case but I’m puzzled by the wider trend apparent in statistics suggesting a fall in cancer deaths and not a rise due to treatment delays. In the Scottish context responding to rumours of a ‘tsunami of cancer deaths‘ being predicted by opposition politicians as early as April 2020, I was struck by the NRS data indicating a fall in cancer deaths throughout 2020. You can read more at: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2021/06/30/where-once-more-is-the-tsunami-of-cancer-deaths/ The above story triggered a quick search for … Continue reading Genuinely confused

In a fascinating piece of ‘thinking’ we read: Analysis by The Scottish Sun suggests just 72% of tracing was completed within the recommended three-day limit, if the unsuccessful efforts to alert infected Scots were counted. But when the 50,485 “failed cases” are stripped out, the rate since August 2020 is boosted to 80.4  per cent — just above the World Health Organisation’s 80 per cent aim. https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/7760491/covid-scotland-contact-tracing/ ACH then concludes: It’s far from the system needed to crush the virus. So when folk refuse to answer the phone or gave a fake number, that’s a Scottish Government failure? Some Liberal … Continue reading Alex Cole Hamilton in his natural home

Scotland does have less hospital beds than it had before. This is the planned result of changes to way patients are treated to reduce the risks of hospitalisation for those who can be treated in the community. From the Kings Fund in 2020 but of course missed by the SUN: Most other advanced health care systems have also reduced bed numbers in recent years. However, the UK has fewer acute beds relative to its population than many comparable health systems. https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/nhs-hospital-bed-numbers The Kings Fund report lumps Scotland in with the UK but that’s deceptive. See this, also from 2020: Scotland has … Continue reading With nearly twice as many beds and nurses as NHS England?

In a report based pretty much on the evidence of two paramedics, named Tom and Richard by Dani Garavelli, a couple of GPs and one other, we’re told the NHS is broken. Leaving aside Garavelli’s track record, gloating with Wark in that Salmond case special, this is a terribly wee sample. Mind you, Unison found 64% saying similar things in May 2021 and they had a sample of ‘more than 500‘ nurses, so maybe NHS Scotland is broken? Wait, there are 60 000 nurses in Scotland, so 500 is 0.83% and only two thirds were demoralised, so that’s less than … Continue reading Tom, Dick and Garavelli: Another NHS scare story

114 soldiers doing non-emergency driving only, among 5 000 regular drivers who can drive on emergencies, and 2 600 volunteers already taking old folk in for non-emergency treatment. English soldiers who don’t know their way around and who struggle to communicate with the locals. An unspecified ‘more’ on the way as infection levels and hospital admissions fall. Tweet me if you see one between now and Christmas and I’ll send a you a prize using SFA guidelines. Continue reading Prize offered for spotting Army drivers

Dr Antonia Ho of Glasgow University does go on to offer an explanation but it’s not one Helen McCardle cares to see headlined: Note the line about vaccine passports ‘driving up vaccination.‘ Professor Linda Bauld then also suggests same. The article does not, typically, bring in the comparative data which might help explain why infection levels in the early weeks of return to university are plummeting in Scotland yet climbing again in England. 76% of 18-29 year-olds in Scotland have had a first dose and 62% have had a second dose. In England, the figures are 74% and 60%. It’s … Continue reading Sturgeon’s courage on vaccine passports paying off

1.8% of the total ambulance driving staff in Scotland, seen by only 2 of our 5 6000 followers and assisting a service which already has a 96% satisfaction rating, Army ambulance drivers seem to have a greater presence in BBC reports than they do on the streets. Two visits for jags to big local authority centres and a trip today for a PCR test to an airport facility of some size – not a sign of the Army. I know, a small sample, like most BBC Scotland ones. And, isn’t that a supply lorry, not an ambulance? If waiting times … Continue reading But not in emergencies so just a PR stunt?

BBC Scotland always has our back when things are getting worse but seem to forget to remind us if they improve only two days later. Some of us would like to know so that we feel less guilty going into A&E. Overall hospital admissions have been falling for five days after levelling off for the previous seven. ICU cases are down more than 20% in the last week. Hospital admissions remain steadily at around half of the January peak. At the same time staff absences have been falling for 2 weeks and are now 30% down on two days ago, … Continue reading LATEST: Crisis receding as admissions and staff absence reduce?

Still feasting with Anas Sarwar, on the same child death, and presumably English, soldiers coming to our rescue, BBC Scotland clings (bottom left) onto Thursday’s big Covid death total of 50. Today, they could have reported 18 deaths, the biggest fall in one day since January 2nd* and a steady fall in serious (ICU) cases over the last 7 days, from 100 to 72, a 28% fall! https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-daily-data-for-scotland/ *There were no deaths recorded on January 2nd. Continue reading Massive falls in ICU cases and death