That well-known caring person, Michele Ballantyne (SCAUP) has been worrying about the staffing for the SNP’s expansion of Early Learning and Childcare to 1 140 hours by 2021. She asked on monday, in Holyrood, how many full-time- equivalent staff require to be recruited to deliver the expansion to 1,140 hours of funded childcare, and how this compares to the number in place. The response was Maree Todd: Local authorities estimate that an additional 8,244 full-timeequivalent staff will be required in total to deliver the expansion of Early Learning and Childcare to 1140 hours. The latest Improvement Service data, from September … Continue reading Early Learning and Childcare expansion staffing well underway

Smug alert: This is entirely an attack on Boris Johnson and his callous colleagues. Last night Channel 4 revealed, based on a leaked document, that NHS England does not plan to test staff even if they have symptoms. In a deeply disturbing piece the same day, in the Guardian, one doctor reported his fears of deaths caused by hospital infections of coronavirus: He cannot understand why the NHS will not test him or other healthcare workers who are put at risk by their work and risk infecting other vulnerable patients in turn, as well as their families. “The policy is … Continue reading NHS Scotland staff to be tested NHS England ‘does not have the capacity’

UK, 1 950 cases, 71 deaths, mortality rate 1 in 27 Scotland, 195 cases, 2 deaths, mortality rate 1 in 97 https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/uk/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-51932090 Useful reading: Courting controversy – outsourcing NHS cleaning services: http://www.practical-patient-care.com/features/featurecourting-controversy-outsourcing-nhs-cleaning-services-4264001/ Outsourcing cleaning services increases MRSA incidence: Evidence from 126 English acute trusts: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953616306864 Studies on Nurse staffing and Healthcare Associated Infection: Methodological Challenges and Potential Solutions https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4456687/ Nurse staffing, burnout, and health care–associated infection: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3509207/ Continue reading Coronavirus Update 17.3.20

From stewartb: AN INTENTION TO MISREPORT? Any simple – and simplistic – emphasis on the elapse time between Scotland’s independence and the date on which its EU membership might finally be signed (see later caveat!) is intended to discourage if not scare. It is put out there by the corporate media and the BBC with little or none of the context and qualification that honest reporting to support an informed democracy – and not just support Unionism – would ensure. It can seem designed to leave one lasting ‘impression’, namely that in the period after a successful independence vote Scotland … Continue reading A more encouraging assessment of Scotland’s re-admission to the EU than you’ll see broadcast

In an Opinium poll with fieldwork done on 12-13th March 2020, SNP support was at 53%. Respondents were asked how they had voted in December 2019 and 2017 when only 49% and 44% respectively indicated SNP. https://www.opinium.co.uk/political-polling-13th-march-2020/ The Kantar poll on 5-9th March had support at 4% of the overall poll, with no Scottish sub-poll data, suggesting support in the Scottish sample at 40% or just above that. Readers will be familiar with the many reports suggesting civil war in the SNP, triggered by the Salmond case, such as Iain Macwhirter’s ridiculous: I suppose they have to write something. Anything. Continue reading SNP support up to 53% in poll during week of accusations against Alex Salmond

Ludo Thierry In a non-COVID 19 vein can I alert folks to the highly encouraging data regarding the apparent stabilisation of the native red squirrel population (and the welcome increase in their geographical coverage). Link and snippets below: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/red-squirrel-population-in-scotland-remains-stable-–-report/ar-BB11ixBY?ocid=spartandhp The red squirrel population across Scotland has remained stable in the last year, according to the latest survey report. Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels has published its most recent figures which also indicate a continuing decline in grey squirrel territory in the north east. In the south of Scotland – Dumfries and Galloway, the Scottish Borders and parts of Ayrshire and South … Continue reading SNP [Squirrel Nation Population] stable under Sturgeon

From BBC Scotland this morning: ‘And there’s particular concern for those of us who have underlying health issues especially those who receive care in the home. According to figures published last year by the NHS, 68 000 people received home care in Scotland. Some disabled people are saying it’s not clear what will happen if their support system collapses.’ Then we get an extended anxiety-inducing interview with one person. We do not hear what evidence BBC Scotland has for the ‘particular concern’ they say is ‘out there.’ There are 759 000 adult carers in Scotland, according to the Carers Trust … Continue reading BBC Scotland fail to report honestly on coronavirus risks to care of disabled

Here’s what Misreporting Scotland had to say: ‘Reports claiming joining the EU could take four or five years for an independent Scotland if procedures were carried out at the fastest pace. The Scottish Centre on European Relations said it was hard to argue that an independent Scotland would be unlikely to succeed in rejoining with more than four decades of membership of the EU as part of the UK but Holyrood ministers were warned the country might have to rejoin the Common Fisheries policy.’ It was a popular line: First, there is nowhere in the SCER report the above warning … Continue reading BBC Scotland keeping you anxious with fishy insert on Scotland’s chances of EU re-admission again

Rarely for someone active in social media, I get little criticism, next to no abuse, but in the last few days, I’ve been getting comments suggesting that on this issue, I’ve lowered my standards in some way. Yesterday, I posted this: As the UK death rate climbed to 55 from 35 only yesterday, the MSM seems quiet. With only 1 death in Scotland so far, the [crude] UK mortality rate is 4.5 times higher per capita. Even more concerning, with the rate in Scotland 1 in 171, the UK mortality rate for those hospitalised has worsened from 1 in 39 … Continue reading Why I will report the differing coronavirus death rates in the UK and Scotland just the same way drug deaths were

As the UK death rate climbed to 55 from 35 only yesterday, the MSM seems quiet. With only 1 death in Scotland so far, the UK mortality rate is 4.5 times higher per capita. Even more concerning, with the rate in Scotland 1 in 171, the UK mortality rate for those hospitalised has worsened from 1 in 39 yesterday to 1 in 28 today, 6 times worse. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/uk/ From Muscleguy It seems to me a pity we can’t close the border and deny entry of planes, trains and automobiles from contagion rife England. That might concentrate minds: egad! it might … Continue reading As UK coronavirus death rate soars to 6 times that in Scotland, doubt cast on isolating the over 70’s