Highland Independents have ‘failed children’ after 27 years in control while SNP Government reduces poor condition schools by 77% in only 16 after Labour’s neglect is ended
From BBC Scotland today under the headline: Our children are being failed by the condition of their school: Parents have told of their despair at the state of their children’s special school – and their 20-year battle for a replacement building. St Clement’s in Dingwall provides education for three to 18-year-olds, with pupils receiving additional needs support for physical disabilities and neurological conditions. Part of the school is more than 100 years old, and has corridors and doorways not fit for wheelchairs. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cekp217kmg7o The report also has 5 mentions of the Scottish Government and one of the Education Secretary but … Continue reading Highland Independents have ‘failed children’ after 27 years in control while SNP Government reduces poor condition schools by 77% in only 16 after Labour’s neglect is ended
SNP Government praised for keeping your health data out of hands of Labour sponsor US spy-tech firm Palantir
From the Guardian today: The NHS is to hand a key role in handling patient data and share of a £480m contract to the US spy technology firm Palantir this week, the Guardian can reveal. NHS England is set to confirm that Palantir’s joint bid with professional services company Accenture to operate the NHS’s new “federated data platform” (FDP) has been successful. It is preparing to make an announcement on Tuesday that is likely to spark fierce debate about the safety of patient data, public trust in the NHS and Palantir’s suitability to be involved in the FDP. The construction of the platform is … Continue reading SNP Government praised for keeping your health data out of hands of Labour sponsor US spy-tech firm Palantir
Scots lead race to get a grip on reality
I’m an atheist, thank dog. It’s not often I find myself in a majority so it’s great to be one of the dominant group in Scotland. Is it a ‘Celtic’ thing? Scotland, Wales and Cornwall? Interesting to see we’re right next to the big believers in Northern Ireland. Are they really believers or just members? Continue reading Scots lead race to get a grip on reality
254 English hospitals substandard – Scotland’s media unable to find even one here
In the Guardian today: More than half of all hospitals in England and over two-thirds of those in London offer substandard care, an Observer investigation has found. In one hospital emergency department, inspectors reported patients being treated in corridors and deadly diseases such as sepsis and cancer not being diagnosed. The Observer analysed the ratings by Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors of 254 general hospitals – excluding those that provide single services or specialised care. Seven were rated as “inadequate” and 122 as “requires improvement” – 51% of the total. The situation was significantly worse in London. Of 37 hospitals in the capital, 25 … Continue reading 254 English hospitals substandard – Scotland’s media unable to find even one here
‘Dangerous officers’ – 14 English forces 72% more likely to overturn complaint from member of public than Police Scotland
In the Observer today under the headline – Police ‘enabling dangerous officers’ with high rate of complaint failures in England and Wales: Campaigners are calling for the police to be stopped from “marking their own homework”, after the Observer found 40% of internal investigations by forces into serious complaints were overturned following independent reviews. At 14 police forces, 50% or more of their internal investigations were found “not reasonable and proportionate” after independent reviews. Cumbria constabulary were the worst performing force, with 87% of their reviewed internal investigations being found to be flawed by the IOPC. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/nov/19/police-enabling-dangerous-officers-with-high-rate-of-complaint-failures-in-england-and-wales In Scotland 29.6% were overturned. … Continue reading ‘Dangerous officers’ – 14 English forces 72% more likely to overturn complaint from member of public than Police Scotland
Significant falls in drug deaths among the young after 16 years of SNP rule
Readers will know that despite all the evidence showing that Scotland’s tragic drug death rate has its causal root in Thatcherite policies from the 80s through New Labour neglect in the 90s, opposition parties and their media chums still feel able to blame the SNP ‘after 16 years in power.’ Drug deaths have fallen in Scotland in the last three years but that remains, for critics, not good enough. In only one group, the over 55s who were born and grew up in the industrial and hopeless wasteland that was Scotland under Cons and Labour, drug deaths have soared, from … Continue reading Significant falls in drug deaths among the young after 16 years of SNP rule
CalMac struck a bargain for the taxpayer with the MV Alfred
From the P&J in March 2023: The £9 million cost to hire a ferry to relieve pressure on the CalMac network, has been criticised by Highland MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston. The MV Alfred will be leased on a nine-month contract from Pentland ferries for £1 million a month. It will help alleviate the pressure on the CalMac network with several vessels out of action due to delays to overhauls or technical faults. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands-islands/5529187/expensive-fix-highland-msp-slams-9m-ferry-hire-for-beleaguered-calmac-network/ From Saltwire in Canada, today: Canada spending $38.6M on temporary replacement ferry between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia. MV Fanafjord will sail the crossing until a replacement for the … Continue reading CalMac struck a bargain for the taxpayer with the MV Alfred
Scotland at risk of deadly cross-border measles outbreaks from English regions ‘on a par with Namibia’
In Scotland, there were no cases of measles reported in the first quarter of 2023. In 2022, there was one case of measles reported which was imported from outwith the UK and was the first case reported in Scotland since 2019. In Scotland, 93.9% of children had the first dose of MMR vaccine by 24 months of age. This rose to 95.9% for children who had reached age 5. In England this year every region has reported an infection which does coincide with a record low uptake of the MMR jab The vaccination rate is way below the WHO recommendation … Continue reading Scotland at risk of deadly cross-border measles outbreaks from English regions ‘on a par with Namibia’
‘Beleagured ferries?’ More like A League ferries!
The Herald in the last few hours: The Scottish Government said a direct award to state-owned CalMac is the preferred option for the next contract over the future of lifeline ferry services. Ministers are to carry out further investigations over whether to give CalMac the contract for the beleaguered west coast ferry services and effectively close the door to opening routes up to private operators. Who wrote that? Nope, we’re not giving names anymore. So, beleagured? 98.8% of more than 400 sailings on time yesterday, 97.2% the previous day and 95.4% on average. The most subsidised service in the world. 100% safe. … Continue reading ‘Beleagured ferries?’ More like A League ferries!
Matheson ‘stopped doing his job’ on holiday?
A man with three jobs, all of which he does part-time, argues that a man who used his work iPad to keep in touch with his constituency staff even while on holiday, as any good MSP would, gets thoroughly confused again by the notion. As Gaza burns, tower block residents are evacuated in Tory England and as English maternity units are revealed to be unsafe, the Scottish Tories think this is the big issue. Herman Goering look-a-like, Stephen Kerr MSP Con, is getting right into this too: This is Michael Matheson’s phone bill, revealed by a FOI. The two dates … Continue reading Matheson ‘stopped doing his job’ on holiday?
