Wheesht – don’t report this! Proportion of IVF cycles funded by NHS: Scotland (53%), Wales (34%), England (24%)
By stewartb The Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA), the UK’s independent regulator of fertility treatment and research using human embryos, has just (July 18) published this report: ‘Fertility treatment 2022: preliminary trends and figures – preliminary UK statistics for IVF and DI treatment, storage, and donation.’ (https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/publications/research-and-data/fertility-treatment-2022-preliminary-trends-and-figures/ ) The findings were the subject of a BBC Radio 4 Today programme item and they are covered in an article on the BBC News website under the headline ‘Fall in proportion of IVF cycles funded by NHS’. Both the Today programme and the BBC News website focus on the UK statistics … Continue reading Wheesht – don’t report this! Proportion of IVF cycles funded by NHS: Scotland (53%), Wales (34%), England (24%)
Pandemic management in the 4 nations – only Scotland’s is weaponized by BBC
Thanks to Brenda Robb for alerting me to this. In Scotland, where pandemic strategy was only devolved to the Scottish Government on 31 March 2020, two months after the WHO alert followed by weeks of neglect by Boris Johnson, BBC Scotland make it the headline story in an effort to harm their reputation with misinformation. BBC England? Not relevant it seems. Wales? Minor interest? Northern Ireland? The official report has much to say about the three devolved governments and the UK government but only BBC Scotland weaponize it. Not in the report, this after more than a year of varying … Continue reading Pandemic management in the 4 nations – only Scotland’s is weaponized by BBC
Second independent fact checker (not TuS) confirms NHS Scotland has far shorter A&E and cancer waiting times and better GP access
I’ve been comparing the performance of the NHS in Scotland, England and Wales for years now to illustrate the superior performance across many targets, of the former. From FULLFACT on 15 July 2024, corroboration of some of the above but reservations about the comparability of some where data collection methods differ. I agree with that reservation and often point to such but where the gaps are large, perhaps that matters less and, in terms of media coverage, the MSM will gaily compare the incomparable in, say, drug deaths. So, first on cancer care, this: Between October and December 2023, Scotland … Continue reading Second independent fact checker (not TuS) confirms NHS Scotland has far shorter A&E and cancer waiting times and better GP access
Scots not at risk as Scottish building regulations have made a Grenfell impossible here
By Professor John Robertson In the Herald today, revealing as much grasp of towering infernos as he does of ferry services, the Herald’s Martin Williams suggest: Ministers have come under fire for spending just 9% of a special fund set up to deal with ‘dangerous’ cladding across Scotland seven years after the Grenfell tragedy. A total of 72 people lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017. Its cladding is believed to have contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze. Where’s the fire coming from? Miles Briggs! Why is Briggs wrong? Regular readers here know why. These … Continue reading Scots not at risk as Scottish building regulations have made a Grenfell impossible here
It may seem like we in North Britain live in a backwater but Starmer has jumped on the ideas of Mariana Mazzucato
By stewartb It may be hard for many – perhaps the majority(?) – of folk in Scotland who are not glued to the weekly goings on in politics and the constant implementation of economic, social and environmental policies by the Scottish Government to resist the feeling that Scotland is crap. So often that’s the message relentlessly pushed. And on days like today in Westminster with the ‘King’s Speech’, it may seem like we in North Britain live in a backwater. It takes determination and effort to fill the ‘positivity void’ created and sustained by the BBC and most of the … Continue reading It may seem like we in North Britain live in a backwater but Starmer has jumped on the ideas of Mariana Mazzucato
Asked repeatedly if he agreed that the two child benefit cap caused harm, Mr McFadden said it was “open to debate!”
By stewartb The BBC News website has this headline on its Scotland and Scotland Politics pages: ‘Labour rules out GB Energy HQ announcement in King’s Speech’. We get insights into Labour’s current plans or absence of plans – from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden. He shares a few things with us via the BBC article and it’s notable which one BBC Scotland chooses to amplify in a headline! We’re told that further details about GB Energy, including the location of its HQ would be confirmed in “due course”. The BBC journalist gives us this: ‘Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer … Continue reading Asked repeatedly if he agreed that the two child benefit cap caused harm, Mr McFadden said it was “open to debate!”
BBC Scotland and ‘County Lines’ drug gangs – now 5 years of silence to protect the Union
I have an alert for ‘County Lines’ and every day I see reports from BBC UK, BBC England and from BBC regions across the country – BBC Devon (today), BBC Cumbria (last week). I never, ever, see anything from BBC Scotland despite regular reports in the ‘Scottish’ tabloids and on regional news media websites. In October 2019, pushing 5 years ago, BBC Scotland’s Connor Gillies reported under the explicit headline ‘County lines’: Aberdeenshire, Perthshire and Highlands targeted by drugs gangs, this: Rural communities in the Highlands, Aberdeenshire and Perthshire are being targeted by gangs using school children to sell class … Continue reading BBC Scotland and ‘County Lines’ drug gangs – now 5 years of silence to protect the Union
BBC Scotland announce UK Labour to re-nationalise the railways….even though they’re already re-nationalised here
the railways is expected. BBC Scotland this morning, tell us that around half of the draft bills in the King’s Speech will apply ‘here in some shape or form’ including re-nationalising the railways (mibbe). What, again, like you told us more than two years ago? They remember that all too well but are hoping you don’t so that they can suggest UK Labour will be doing this good thing for you. How’s that earlier re-nationalisation going in Scotland? Not so strangely, BBC Scotland don’t seem to have this: SCOTRAIL is one of the UK’s most reliable train operators, a new … Continue reading BBC Scotland announce UK Labour to re-nationalise the railways….even though they’re already re-nationalised here
Every water firm in England and Wales, one Scottish caravan site and one guy in Muir of Ord under investigation over sewage spills
Thanks once more to Dottie’s Phone for alerting me to this. From the Guardian today: The water regulator is taking action against four more water companies, including Severn Trent and United Utilities, meaning every wastewater company in England and Wales is under investigation over sewage spills. Ofwat said it had served formal notices on Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Hafren Dyfrdwy, Severn Trent and United Utilities, asking them to provide evidence for its investigation into companies’ wastewater management in England and Wales. The regulator has looked at the companies’ environmental performance and data about how often they spill from storm overflows. It said this had … Continue reading Every water firm in England and Wales, one Scottish caravan site and one guy in Muir of Ord under investigation over sewage spills
Less than 1 in 4 Scots want to reduce tax and oppose redistribution of wealth
From the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey core module 2023, published today: Almost half (47%) of respondents thought the government should increase taxes and spend more on health, education, and social benefits. Half of people (50%) agreed that Government should redistribute income from the better-off to those who are less well-off, while just under a quarter (23%) disagreed. https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-social-attitudes-survey-2023-attitudes-government-economy-health-service/ Continue reading Less than 1 in 4 Scots want to reduce tax and oppose redistribution of wealth
