…like a shipyard-owner scuttled by Pacific Quay? These damned ferries are a gift that never stops giving to the opposition parties and their accomplices in BBC Scotland. Headline story again and another petulant outburst by the man ultimately responsible for all that happened, is uncritically embraced by the goons at Pacific Quay: Former Ferguson boss Jim McColl has claimed ministers wasted £200m by rejecting an offer to end the impasse over two CalMac ferries. Mr McColl revealed details of a proposal he made in 2019 to split the cost of finishing the ships, and limit the government’s contribution to £50m. … Continue reading Hell hath no ferry…

From Public Health Scotland today: The 90% standard was met during the quarter ending 30 September 2022, with 100% of patients attending a screening appointment within 52 weeks of referral. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/ivf-waiting-times-in-scotland/ivf-waiting-times-in-scotland-quarter-ending-30-september-2022/ Other than in the pandemic period in 2020, the 90% target has been met consistently since records began in January 2018. For comparison, I have been unable to find the most recent data because Public Health England do not seem to be recording it. However, this from 2019: The updated NICE Clinical Fertility Guideline published on the 20th February 2013 recommends that women aged up to and including 39 should access three full … Continue reading Scotland’s secret success reducing mental health problems – IVF

From the Scottish Government today: Waiting times of more than two years have been reduced by 20% for both outpatients and inpatients, according to latest Public Health Scotland statistics. The number of outpatients waiting over two years decreased from 2,633 in the quarter to the end of June to 2,114 (20%) for the period 1 July-30 September, and there was a 22% reduction in the number of patients waiting over two years for inpatient and daycase procedures (9,787 to 7,612). Since the introduction of new targets in early July, progress on tackling the long waits continues, with almost 53,500 patients … Continue reading Health Secretary welcomes massive reduction in long NHS waiting times

From the ONS, for England & Wales The police flagged 912,181 recorded offences as domestic abuse-related in the year ending June 2022. This represented a 14% increase from 798,607 offences in the year ending March 2020. This included 723,164 violence against the person offences flagged as domestic abuse-related, a 15% increase compared with the year ending March 2020. Some of this continued increase may reflect improvements seen in recording and reporting over the last few years. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/crimeinenglandandwales/yearendingjune2022#domestic-abuse-and-sexual-offences That represents 1 incident for every 65 people in England and Wales. Tragically, some will feature in repeated incidents. From the Police Service … Continue reading Domestic abuse incidents in Scotland fall for first time to significantly lower level than elsewhere in UK

At 06:30am, BBC Scotland announces: The cost of living crisis has left many unpaid carers feeling invisible, undervalued and under pressure. Cut to the Director of the Carers Trust Scotland, Louise Morgan, who opens with a fact (alarm bells): In Scotland we are slightly better off because there’s a carers allowance supplement. By the 07:30 report, she’s gone, never to return after that. I look forward with interest to see if and how she is reported later in the day. Continue reading BBC Scotland quickly drops care expert who says ‘In Scotland we are slightly better off!’

From BBC N Ireland today: A review of the clinical records of 44 patients who died under the care of former neurologist Michael Watt has found “significant failures in their treatment” and “poor communication with families”. While this review looked at a sample of 44 deceased cases potentially thousands more could be affected. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-63784995 Living in Scotland and familiar with our media coverage of health matters, you’d be forgiven for thinking: ’44 deaths, thousands affected, the Health Secretary must go?’ Read on and you find that BBC News NI have only spoken to the chair of the board. No politician … Continue reading That’s three: BBC N Ireland too does NOT politicise a health problem

NHS Northern Ireland has an appalling record in its A&E departments with less than 50% seen in 4 hours, since September 2021. NHS Scotland at the above four points saw 76.1%, 69.9%, 69.6% and 69% within 4 hours. The gap in performance for September 2022, is a shocking 52.6% https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/ae-activity-and-waiting-times/ae-activity-and-waiting-times-month-ending-30-september-2022 Continue reading NHS Scotland’s emergency services a shocking 53% better than NHS Northern Ireland

NHS Forth Valley has just been put into special measures over failures in leadership. There are currently (since 2021) 22 NHS England health trusts and integrated care boards in special measures. Taking into account population, NHS England trusts are thus more than twice as likely to need to be put into special measures. Source: https://www.england.nhs.uk/system-and-organisational-oversight/national-recovery-support-programme/ Continue reading Scottish hospitals far less likely to require to be put into special measures

In October 2022, NHS England A&E departments saw only 54.8% of those attending within 4 hours. Barking, Havering And Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust saw only 33.6% within 4 hours. NHS Wales data is presented so as to conceal the performance of the major departments comparable with those elsewhere in the UK, but after some adding up and dividing, I get 56.7%, slightly better than NHS England. For Northern Ireland, the figure is a shocking 45.2% and has been under 50% for more than a year now. The equivalent for NHS Scotland, based on the weekly returns, was 64.4% seen … Continue reading Scotland’s emergency services still outperforming all other UK nations

In the above report today, the Lib Dem’s Alex Cole-Hamilton and Labour’s Sarah Boyack get 5 paragraphs to condemn the Scottish Government. When the UK Government might be criticised in the above report from May 2022, no opposition politicians is asked to comment. The problem is not politicised. We see this contrast all to often within the 4 branches of the BBC. A few days ago, we saw the most recent example: Regulars will remember the regular contrasts between BBC Scotland and BBC Wales: Continue reading The Guardian too platforms only the Scottish opposition’s politicising of health