From: stewartb  Headlined by BBC UK: ‘Figures released in the last hour in Scotland suggest more people have died after contracting … Reading more from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) about death statistics. Source:  https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files/statistics/vital-events/bases-on-which-figures-for-cod-can-be-produced.pdf “… figures for a particular cause of death can be produced on THREE BASES: • ‘UNDERLYING CAUSE’ – cases where it was the disease or injury which initiated the chain of morbid events leading directly to death, or was the accident/act which produced the fatal injury; • ‘CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR’’ – cases where it was not the underlying cause of death, but it did contribute … Continue reading When every death has just one ‘underlying cause’ code why is NRS currently reporting the number of deaths where Coronavirus has only been ‘MENTIONED?’

From stewartb: It’s interesting to compare and contrast the BBC News website’s coverage of this story and that of many other online media outlets. The quotes attributed to Dr Hanif are especially notable. The is from the BBC (Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52204685 ): ‘The open letter from health workers, which was co-ordinated by Dr Shahzad Hanif, acknowledged that “some PPE has now been provided”.’ But then there is quote from Dr Hanif used by the news agency, PA: “There are certainly signs that the quantity of protective equipment is certainly coming through now, certainly into primary care where I work and messages I have … Continue reading BBC Scotland selective with the evidence on protective kit

Headlined by BBC UK: ‘Figures released in the last hour in Scotland suggest more people have died after contracting coronavirus than previously announced There’s been a BIG jump in the deaths linked to covid-19 here in Scotland. These new statistics from the National Records of Scotland show that 354 have died after testing positive for covid-19 and also include the deaths where the virus was a probable contributing factor….It is broader it is more accurate. You can see the appeal of this for the UK media on the day when research reported in the Guardian, but ignored elsewhere, predicted the … Continue reading These new figures are not ‘more accurate’ or a ‘truer picture’ they’re less so

From the Royal Bank of Scotland Report on Jobs, for March 2020, today: Demand for permanent staff in Scotland fell for the first time since September 2010 during March. That said, the rate of decline was only mild overall, and softer than that recorded at the UK level. https://www.markiteconomics.com/Public/Home/PressRelease/08911608d8e94ef7a406fadc415db9c1 Though the Scottish MSM have been doing their best to hide it, might the much lower infection and death rate in Scotland, still be playing a part in this? Continue reading After one month of virus, decline in demand for staff mild and ‘softer’ than across UK

In a FoI request published today, but not yet answered by the Scottish Government The request: Dear Scottish Government, The following press release by The SNP : “The figures show Scotland’s revenue is enough to cover all devolved spending as well as all spending on pensions and other social protection.” https://www.snp.org/gers-figures-explain… AIs it the opinion of The Scottish Government (currently under SNP control), that the quote is factually correct? BWhere is the data to substantiate the quote above? Stobartson’s prediction: My own conclusion and examination of GERS 2019 has what I think is source and supporting evidence for above statement … Continue reading Independent expert confirms Scotland’s revenue is enough to cover all spending

The GP behind BBC Scotland’s unreliable headline story today on alleged shortages of protective equipment based on a letter from one GP and anonymous others: Is he and a ‘friend’ in this one two weeks ago? Three weeks ago, in both the Herald and Reporting Scotland, based on one GP and his Facebook ‘chatroom’: This one medic, not an infection specialist, evidenced only by her walking around, but allegedly a pal of folk at Pacific Quay: Two weeks later, how is the Spain analogy going? I could go on and search through the archives but is it necessary? Continue reading UPDATE: Can we trust BBC Scotland’s single source when he’s Anas Sarwar’s brother-in-law?

Looking at the data yesterday, I wondered which ‘health correspondent’ would spot the potential here to try to accuse NHS Scotland of something, regardless of the important facts of its performance, now saving more lives per capita, than any other NHS in the UK with a death rate around 50% of the UK or Welsh averages. In the Scotsman this morning: ‘Hospitals had record-high levels of unavailable beds due to delayed discharges in the month before the coronavirus outbreak hit, NHS Scotland figures show.’ It’s true but it doesn’t matter unless you are sneaky wee jackal journalist. Listen to this. … Continue reading Scotsman blames NHS for keeping vulnerable elderly in hospitals and ‘hogging’ beds NOT needed for coronavirus patients as pandemic spreads in their communities

The same story in first and second place on the website and, no doubt, headlining the TV and radio broadcasts to come during the day. As hard, real, evidence of NHS Scotland with the Scottish Government, containing the spread and the death rate, supposed journalists turn to other sources – care homes and protective ‘kit.’ First, a reminder of the real facts: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2020/04/07/the-trend-is-down/ https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2020/04/07/scotland-coronavirus-death-rate-in-hospitals-falls-significantly/ https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2020/04/07/care-homes-deaths-are-now-the-chosen-tactic-by-bbc-scotland-so-what-about-some-statistics-from-bbc-uk/ As for these ‘worries’, like an earlier report based on a Facebook ‘chatroom’ run by one GP and his friends: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2020/03/28/reporting-scotland-ignores-its-own-editorial-guidelines-to-cobble-together-an-infection-control-crisis-based-on-a-single-unreliable-social-media-source/ the above report is based on the work of one GP who has collected … Continue reading Worries over BBC Scotland’s colonialvirus increase

From BBC Scotland this morning: Medical professionals have written to the Scottish government to express “grave concerns” about the protective equipment they have been given. The letter claims some front line staff are risking their lives in the Covid-19 epidemic because they do not have suitable aprons, masks and eyewear. The open letter has been signed by more than 100 medical professionals. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52204685 This is just another unreliable source given uncritical prominence by BBC Scotland in contravention of their own editorial guidelines. How many of these ‘more than 100 medical professionals’ are GPs out of the 5 000 in Scotland? … Continue reading Another unconvincing BBC Scotland attack on NHS Scotland based on tiny obscure sample ‘co-ordinated’ by one GP