Listeners to BBC radio and TV will know that ‘Brexit’ is the word that must not be said by our Loyalist state journalists. The Herald do let the FM mention it but seem to have forgotten it in the headline, so I’ve sorted if for them. No charge. Is there any evidence the Herald might have used to inform its readers? Just a very large number of reports such as: UK recovery slows due to staff shortages and supply chain issues: https://www.ft.com/content/1f650e41-f318-4d2a-afa9-70dd88536359 Employer, employee, and consumer research shows scale and scope of Brexit’s damage to hospitality jobs: https://www.hospitalityandcateringnews.com/2021/08/employer-employee-and-consumer-research-shows-scale-and-scope-of-brexits-damage-to-hospitality-jobs/ Blood tubes … Continue reading Just one word

The Scotsman does have a grip but it’s a sweaty, nasty one, by ex Labour or Tory apparatchiks posing as journalists. Here are the facts again. In Scotland, as of 30 June 2021, 115 253 patients were waiting to be seen for the key diagnostic tests and 396 771 were waiting to be seen for treatment. In England, as of 30 June 2021, 1 367 706 patients were waiting to be seen for diagnostic tests and 5 609 000 were waiting to be seen for treatment. England has 10 times the population so Scotland might be expected to have 136 … Continue reading Yet Scotland’s hospital waiting list is 40% shorter than England’s

In Scotland, as of 30 June 2021, 115 253 patients were waiting to be seen for the key diagnostic tests and 396 771 were waiting to be seen for treatment. In England, as of 30 June 2021, 1 367 706 patients were waiting to be seen for diagnostic tests and 5 609 000 were waiting to be seen for treatment. England has 10 times the population so might be expected to have 1 152 530 waiting for diagnostic tests but has 215 000 more and thus is around 18% worse. England has 10 times the population so might be expected … Continue reading A humiliation for Anas – how Labour can’t add and how NHS Scotland’s waiting lists are much shorter

After mostly similar trends over the pandemic, but with periods, in May and June 2020 and from November 2020 to March 2021, when rates were higher among women, the rate for them has plummeted to around 80% of that for men, in the last few days. The higher rate among women is largely explained by their higher exposure to risk, working in the caring professions and on their greater reliance on public transport when in low-paid work. The continued surge amongst men seems at least in part due to mass attendance at sporting events in the last week or so. … Continue reading Covid in Scotland: Infection rates among women plummet

Zo, pretty dramatic eh? 17 deaths in last 24 hours, in one day? More deaths than in any one day since April 2, 6 months ago, when there were only 4? How about July 22nd, six weeks ago, when there were 22? Or, how about numerous days over most of the last 17 months when there were many more deaths, up to nearly 100 in January? Were the last 24 hours that special? Nope. How about comparison with other parts of the UK just in case we’re the Covid Capital again? We have had the highest death rate but only … Continue reading Herald just cannae get the staff to scare us

Anas, as bright as ever, forgets: These Scottish Labour Lords: Or the inflated council contracts for cousins and pals, from people like this guy: Over to you, reader. Continue reading Jobs for pals?

The Herald has often written campaigning pieces on behalf of teachers, pushing for early vaccination, school closures and other special measures for them in the pandemic in an effort to undermine Scottish Government strategies. Some time ago, I pointed to research showing they were at relatively low risk of infection or harm compared to bus drivers and security guards. Today, even BBC Scotland opens its report on recent research, accurately: Scotland’s teachers were not at greater risk of admission to hospital from Covid compared to the general population, a study has found. Research by Public Health Scotland and the University … Continue reading Teachers’ favourite?

As often before, Reporting Scotland staff don’t do the math as our American neighbours might say. Even looking at the graph, you can see we’ve had three days with lower rates than the peak on the 29th August: When you look at the 7 Day Averages to get a more reliable indicator of the trend, you find it peaked at 5 831 on the 29th and today, four days later, it’s ……………………… 5 831. Tempting fate perhaps but now some time after the school return, this looks like the plateau before the fall. Continue reading Infection rate trend flattening

By stewartb This is yet another example of the mess that is BBC News coverage where we are. The story of this new drug featured heavily on Radio Four this morning: all and only however about its availability in England and Wales, and about the good deal on price achieved by NHS England. But on the BBC News website’s Health section we have this today: ‘Life-saving cholesterol jab recommended on NHS’ by Michelle Roberts. On the introduction of this drug it acknowledges: “It will bring England and Wales in line with guidance for Scotland.” No such perspective – and no … Continue reading ‘BBC Scotland’s relentless negativity on matters in Scotland’

The new staff at Reporting Scotland having a laugh at old Douglas Fraser as he prepares for retirement. I bet one of them shouted ‘nice helmet’ at the image below: Readers are invited to enter their suggestions in the comments below. I might prick the best one. Continue reading Yes, yes, ferry funny