This is the one statistic that blows all media and opposition claims out of the water – Despite increased demand and near to pre-pandemic levels, Scotland’s hospitals were ready to complete almost 98% of all 25 644 operations on time

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Professor John Robertson OBA From Cancelled planned operations Month Ending 31 July 2025, published yesterday, the above graph and: There were 25,644 operations planned to take place across NHSScotland. This is 9% higher (+2,108) than the number planned a year previously in July 2024 (23,536). Of all planned operations during July 2025 in NHSScotland, 776 (3%) were cancelled by the hospital for clinical reasons, 744 (2.9%) were cancelled by the patient, 570 (2.2%) were cancelled … Continue reading This is the one statistic that blows all media and opposition claims out of the water – Despite increased demand and near to pre-pandemic levels, Scotland’s hospitals were ready to complete almost 98% of all 25 644 operations on time

In Scotland, twice as many midwives and 33% more nurses

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Professor John Robertson OBA There’s a lot happening today, a lot to rebut, so we’ll do this rubbish from the Scotsman quickly. Too many vacancies is disturbing but more important is how many midwives and nurses do we have per head of population? First, England and midwives: Midwives: Using the NHS England figure of 23,396 midwives in November 2023 (most specific and recent for England). https://www.england.nhs.uk/2024/01/record-number-of-nurses-and-midwives-working-in-nhs/ Population: Approximately 57.1 million (mid-2023 estimate). https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/bulletins/annualmidyearpopulationestimates/mid2023 Ratio: … Continue reading In Scotland, twice as many midwives and 33% more nurses

There might be one elsewhere in the UK but there is no healthcare postcode lottery of any kind in Scotland

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Professor John Robertson OBA The above 100 000 refers of course to the whole of the UK and not just Scotland. I don’t have time to fully investigate another scare story like this, but quickly: First, overall, there is no postcode lottery in Scotland’s hospitals and Glasgow’s super hospital is actually safer than average From Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratios April 2024 to March 2025 published today, the above graph reveals that all of Scotland’s hospitals … Continue reading There might be one elsewhere in the UK but there is no healthcare postcode lottery of any kind in Scotland

European Union Drugs Agency – drug deaths ‘must be understood as underestimations’ (as in England) proving that Scotland is only the ‘Drug Death Accurate Reporting’ capital of Europe

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 By JB We all saw the MSM headlines yesterday: “ although Scotland’s drug deaths fell they still ‘remain’ the highest in Europe”. Based on what comparable statistics? From AI…”Comparable statistics allow for systematic evaluation, hypothesis testing, and data-driven decision-making by identifying similarities and differences between groups or phenomena. To be comparable, data must either be collected with  standardised methods and definitions  or have undergone a thorough assessment of differences in methodology to … Continue reading European Union Drugs Agency – drug deaths ‘must be understood as underestimations’ (as in England) proving that Scotland is only the ‘Drug Death Accurate Reporting’ capital of Europe

BBC Scotland reporter David Wallace Lockhart mis-reports Sir Prof John Curtice to protect Labour

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Professor John Robertson OBA In August 2025, BBC Scotland‘s Phil Sim in Does Reform pose an existential threat to the Scottish Conservatives?, wrote: Polling guru Prof Sir John Curtice has said the party “poses a significant threat to the Conservatives and Labour’s prospects at Holyrood too“. It feels a bit like the way Labour was pulled apart in the aftermath of the 2014 independence referendum, losing support at both ends of the spectrum.That could … Continue reading BBC Scotland reporter David Wallace Lockhart mis-reports Sir Prof John Curtice to protect Labour

NHS Scotland target met – 90% or more of children and young people start treatment for mental health services for 3rd time in a row with 50% treated in only 5 weeks

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland, yesterday, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting times Quarter ending June 2025, the above graph and: This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) provides an update of how long children and young people waited to start treatment with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in NHSScotland for the quarter ending June 2025. 91.8% of people started treatment within 18 weeks of referral, which … Continue reading NHS Scotland target met – 90% or more of children and young people start treatment for mental health services for 3rd time in a row with 50% treated in only 5 weeks

Yorkshire academics fail to read anything about Scotland or to discover that Scotland delivered 20 times as many affordable homes as Yorkshire in 2024 despite an almost identical population size

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Professor John Robertson OBA Shelter (Scotland) on BBC Scotland yesterday with the supposed research finding that Scotland needs 15 693 affordable homes per year compared with the 8 188 funded by the Scottish Government in 2024 is based on: Research carried out by academics at the University of Liverpool, and Sheffield Hallam University, jointly commissioned by SFHA, Shelter Scotland and the Chartered Institute for Housing So, two English universities commissioned by Shelter, HQ in London, … Continue reading Yorkshire academics fail to read anything about Scotland or to discover that Scotland delivered 20 times as many affordable homes as Yorkshire in 2024 despite an almost identical population size

Anas Sarwar is not seeking to “prejudice a police investigation” if it involves Labour but if it’s the SNP…..

Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 By Liz S Sarwar questioned last night on Scotland Tonight by Colin Mackay….and he was asked about Colin Smyth…Sarwar .said “I emphasise this is a ongoing Police investigation, I don’t want to be in any situation to prejudice that Police investigation and that investigation has to run it’s course” Really ? Is that his, Sarwar’s position, on not seeking to “prejudice a police investigation” as it, as an “investigation” , “has to run … Continue reading Anas Sarwar is not seeking to “prejudice a police investigation” if it involves Labour but if it’s the SNP…..

Scotland’s drug deaths fall again to 25% below peak in 2020 and lowest since 2016 to reveal last year’s increase was the blip and to reveal the agenda of James Cook

‘Milk blood to keep from running out’ – James Cook pushes Scotland’s FALLING drug deaths on us day-after-day to try to keep us thinking if we can’t even stop this how can we run a country? Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Professor John Robertson OBA Yesterday and on through this morning, James Cook has been the top story. They’ve just updated: Yesterday, we had: Figures to be published on Tuesday are expected to show that Scotland remains the drugs … Continue reading Scotland’s drug deaths fall again to 25% below peak in 2020 and lowest since 2016 to reveal last year’s increase was the blip and to reveal the agenda of James Cook

Scots police officers not suffering crushed testicles and back pain from ill-fitting uniforms like they do in England & Wales but BBC Scotland can reveal their trousers are not stretchy enough

are often forced to buy their own kit because of the poor quality of items offered…..several items are ill-fitting such as body armour that is too bulky Support Talking-up Scotland’s work to counter the lies and get you the facts, daily, at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/checkout/help-talking-up-scotland-tell-truth-about-scotland/payment/nBQxjVzq/details or by direct bank transfer method – Sort code 08-91-04, Account 12266421 Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Reporting Scotland have the above in their short BBC Breakfast inserts 4 or 5 time this morning. In the fuller online report: A review by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) found trousers worn by officers were insufficiently stretchy and faded … Continue reading Scots police officers not suffering crushed testicles and back pain from ill-fitting uniforms like they do in England & Wales but BBC Scotland can reveal their trousers are not stretchy enough