Who says Scots are not different? Frailty among older people is less common to GPs in Scotland because of stronger family cohesion and less fragmentation
In the Guardian today: GPs in England are so “overloaded” that they cannot help older people who are at risk of falling in what NHS bosses accept is an unacceptable failure of care, the House of Commons’ public accounts committee has said. Pressure on GPs’ time has intensified as a result of the government’s decision to give patients online access to their services, according to a report by the influential cross-party group of MPs. The committee found that GPs are doing too little to tackle falls even though they are the most common cause of death from injury among over-65s, cause tens … Continue reading Who says Scots are not different? Frailty among older people is less common to GPs in Scotland because of stronger family cohesion and less fragmentation
Murder by stabbing in Scotland has fallen in a steady trend to half of the level of 6 years but has surged in England
BBC UK is focused today on the terrible murder by knife case and subsequent riots in Southampton and BBC Scotland is doing its best to include Scotland in the wider anxiety. Why is it wrong, uninformative? Murder by stabbing in Scotland has fallen in a steady trend to half of the level 6 years ago – From Knife crime statistics: FOI release, published today, we see that there were 49 homicides by knife in Scotland in 2017/2018 and that there has been a steady and significant fall to 25, in 2022/2023, the most recent data. https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202400427434/ With particular regard to larger ‘Zombie’ … Continue reading Murder by stabbing in Scotland has fallen in a steady trend to half of the level of 6 years but has surged in England
Alexander must resign after a career of closeness to Mandelson
What are the full reported instances of Douglas Alexander praising Peter Mandelson AFTER the latter had supported and stayed in the home of the convicted paedophile and child trafficker Geoffrey Epstein? Key Reported Praises by Alexander (Post-2024) These emerged from released documents/WhatsApps in 2026, drawing criticism (e.g., SNP calls for Alexander to resign over “sycophantic” messages): https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/home-news/douglas-alexander-peter-mandelson-kirsty-blackman-scottish-scottish-secretary-b2987923.html Douglas Alexander and Peter Mandelson had a long-standing professional and political relationship within the Labour Party dating back to the 1990s New Labour era. Key Pre-2024 Links Continue reading Alexander must resign after a career of closeness to Mandelson
Major increase in operations, longer waits plummet, commitments surpassed but all ignored by media
From Number of NHS operations increases Published 02 June 2026 09:35 New figures show the number of operations carried out in the 12 months to April 2026 increased by 7.3% compared to the same period the year before. New statistics from Public Health Scotland show a total of 281,115 operations were performed during the last 12 months, while 770 operations were carried out per day – an increase from 718 for year ending April 2025. The increase in activity comes as latest waiting times statistics show new outpatient waits of over a year have decreased for 11 consecutive months and … Continue reading Major increase in operations, longer waits plummet, commitments surpassed but all ignored by media
Child and young people mental health treatment target smashed for 6th time in a row, more and more are treated but media bottom feeders desperately undermine that success
From Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting times Quarter ending March 2026 published today, the above graph showing the 90% target beaten for 6 quarters (3 months) in a row, and: 91.2% of people started treatment within 18 weeks of referral, which is an increase from 90.0% for the previous quarter. 3,858 people started treatment in CAMHS. This is an increase of 2.4% (91) from the 3,767 starting treatment in the previous quarter and an increase of 1.8% (68) from the 3,790 patients who started treatment in the quarter ending March 2025. 50% of those starting treatment started … Continue reading Child and young people mental health treatment target smashed for 6th time in a row, more and more are treated but media bottom feeders desperately undermine that success
NHS Scotland sees significant increase in planned operations, cancellations falling for third month and an exceptional system ready to do 98% on the day
From Cancelled planned operations Month ending 30 April 2026 published today, the above graph and: There were 24,453 operations planned to take place across NHS Scotland. This is 4.7% higher (+1,093) than the number planned in April 2025 (23,360). Over the course of the last 12 months, from May 2025 to April 2026 (308,365), there was a 7.6% increase (+21,716) compared to the previous 12 months (286,649). This is consistent with the trend of generally increasing numbers of planned operations since March 2021. On their own, impressive increases but also (black dotted line) a steady increasing trend as we approach … Continue reading NHS Scotland sees significant increase in planned operations, cancellations falling for third month and an exceptional system ready to do 98% on the day
Despite increased referrals 80% of psychological therapies begin within target 18 weeks, 50% within only 3 weeks
From Psychological therapies waiting times Quarter ending March 2026 published today, the above graph and: 79.4% of people started treatment within 18 weeks of referral, which is an increase from 78.6% for the quarter ending March 2025. 19,285 people started PT treatment. This is an increase of 4.3% (796) from the 18,489 starting treatment in the previous quarter, and also an increase of 0.8% (149) from 19,136 patients who started treatment in the quarter ending March 2025. Half of those starting treatment started within 3 weeks of referral. A total of 31,179 people (of all ages) were referred for PT … Continue reading Despite increased referrals 80% of psychological therapies begin within target 18 weeks, 50% within only 3 weeks
Delayed discharges – steady fall in beds ‘blocked’ for third month in a row, in NHS Scotland, to much fewer proportionally than in Labour Wales
From Delayed discharges in NHS Scotland monthly Figures for April 2026 published today: The average number of beds occupied per day due to people delayed in hospital was 1,902 in April 2026. Compared to the previous three months, this is less than in March 2026 (1,923), February 2026 (1,984) and January 2026 (1,973). Source: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/delayed-discharges-in-nhs-scotland-monthly/delayed-discharges-in-nhs-scotland-monthly-figures-for-april-2026/main-points/ Comparisons are not straightforward but NHS Wales reported ‘cumulative days delayed around 57,500′ in March 2026. https://www.gov.wales/nhs-activity-and-performance-summary-february-and-march-2026-html Almost 2 000 per day so just higher than in Scotland, despite Wales only having around three fifths of the population. Continue reading Delayed discharges – steady fall in beds ‘blocked’ for third month in a row, in NHS Scotland, to much fewer proportionally than in Labour Wales
Scotland’s courts becoming more efficient to clear backlogs
From Journey Times in the Scottish Criminal Justice System 2024-25 published today, major reductions in waiting times: In 2024-25, the percentage of accused whose case was closed by Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) or who got a verdict in court within one year of the date the offence was reported to the police increased (by 5% to 87% for COPFS and 6% to 70% for court) when compared to 2023-24. Overall median journey times decreased compared to 2023-24, by 32 days in High Court, 29 days in Sheriff solemn court and 11 days in Sheriff summary court. Compared … Continue reading Scotland’s courts becoming more efficient to clear backlogs
Only kids in Scotland to get this help with costs of starting school
From Financial help for starting primary school published 01 June 2026, getting press coverage but being ignored by BBC Scotland: Families across Scotland can now apply for over £330 to help with the costs of preparing for primary school, as applications for Best Start Grant School Age Payment open today (1 June 2026). The payment, unique to Scotland, is available to eligible families with children born between 1 March 2021 and 28 February 2022. It is designed to ease the financial pressures that come with a child starting primary one and can be spent on anything families need – from … Continue reading Only kids in Scotland to get this help with costs of starting school
Talking-up Scotland 