Scotland has the highest drug death toll in the UK, indeed in Europe but something dramatic is happening. First, the NRS figure based on the presence of drugs in the bloodstream fell, by 1%, for the first time in nearly a decade while the Police Scotland figure, based of scene of death forensic evidence fell by 27%. See: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2022/06/16/massive-fall-as-predicted-here-in-scotlands-drug-deaths/ This has been largely explained by a natural consequence of the many older drug abusers who became addicted during the Conservative Government’s brutal de-industrialisation in the 1980s and the subsequent neglect of the New Labour period, coming together, to the end … Continue reading SNP Government reducing drug deaths among its Generation Hope

You have to read down in the above Scottish Sun article to see: Farmers will be banned from extracting water from the River Eden in Fife, though special dispensation may be made for soft fruit growers in the kingdom. https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/9294307/scots-first-water-ban-midnight/ You see what they’re trying to do with that headline? Scare Scots out of any feeling that water supplies are secure here when, obviously, they are. Note, it’s not a hosepipe ban and it’s not even a total ban on all farmers. Should we be scared? The Eden is one of 200 major water courses in Scotland and: Loch Ness…contains more water … Continue reading Sun news dries up as 1 in more than 200 Scottish rivers is affected by drought

Direct comparisons are slightly problematic as the NRS in Scotland and the ONS in England, use different categories. Scotland has 15-24, 25-34 and 35-44 age groups while England and Wales has Under 20, 20-29 and 30-39, so comparisons cannot be precise but we can still see that deaths among those up to 34 years in Scotland are almost certainly lower by some way. However, first, the trends are clear. In Scotland, the graph above from the NRS shows a clear fall in 2021 among the 15-24 and 25-34 age groups with what may be a Covid-related blip for the 35-44 … Continue reading Drug deaths among the young now falling and significantly lower in Scotland than in England& Wales

This happens often. A recent disaster is quickly labelled the worst in history and I twitch. Surely, anyone might think, wait a minute, what about those clearance things, Mr MacDonald was always going on about? I would contend however, that per head of population, the Highland Potato Famine caused as much misery, if not actual deaths [only 250 000 deaths], than an Gorta Mór. The effects on the Highlands and several islands, such as Skye, were devastating in that people emigrated in their droves after potato and other crop failures in 1836-37, which was the last major crop failure before … Continue reading Journalists should have to study at least some history?

FRI 12 AUGUST13:30 FOR THE MANY LIVE WITH DOUGLAS ROSS AND ANAS SARWAR Join LBC legend Iain Dale and his partner in crime, former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith for one of five unique live versions of their smash-hit political podcast For The Many.Expect the usual cocktail of political analysis, unfiltered opinion and outrageous smut. Different guests will feature daily, and all will be open to audience questions. Today’s guests: Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross MSP and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar MSP.“Lots of political banter and questions answered with gossipy insight. Far more fun than you might expect!” Observer. https://www.eicc.co.uk/whats-on/for-the-many-live-with-douglas-ross-and-anas-sarwar/ Only those with a strong stomach should tune in. Commenting SNP … Continue reading The not-so odd couple?

By stewartb ‘Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP claims today that only 62% of Glasgow hospital patients were seen in 4 hours, in the first half of July’ – fortunate they were not attending A&E in Wales! Forget that last remark – it’s all too easy to get snarky nowadays when seeing what Labour politicians in Scotland spout without any sense of context or perspective! (I’ll be genuinely disappointed if Ms Duncan-Glancy becomes an adherent of the Jackie Baillie style of politics.) There is a SERIOUS problem with resourcing the present model of publicly funded health and social care across the UK. Arguably, … Continue reading Shock as even NHS Wales beats NHS England on emergency waiting times

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has an ‘observation paper’ ie no actual research, just opinion, arguing that the Scottish Government’s plans to standardise care across the country will only make things worse. They argue: Does anyone think that NHS health boards should be broken up and shared amongst local councils? Does anyone think that a national care system should spend extra in some areas and less in others, based on ‘discretion?’ I don’t know who funded this report but it suits the corporate care sector who make billions in the UK, who pay the lowest wages and who avoid tax … Continue reading Is freemarket ‘thinktank’ just a front for the corporate care home sector whose neglect allowed Covid to kill?

Thanks to stewartb for alerting me to this. Just released today from Public Health England: 57.0% of patients were seen within 4 hours in type 1 A&E departments compared to 58.8% in June 2022, 67.6% in July 2021 and 78.9% in July 2019. This is the lowest reported performance since the collection began. https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2022-23/ BBC UK and BBC Health have ignored this: None of the major UK newspapers have the story on the front page. We all know how the Scottish media would respond to this in Scotland: BBC Scotland 29 March: Scottish A&E waiting times worst on record again … Continue reading BBC UK ignores worst emergency performance since records began

Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP claims today that only 62% of Glasgow hospital patients were seen in 4 hours, in the first half of July. Why has she chosen to report today on the early July data and not those more recently? Because on week-ending 3 July, it was just 62%. Is her researcher just catching up? Remember, 1 week of data is not necessarily a trend, especially when the performance then improved over the next 4 weeks – 67.8, 70.1, 66.3, 68.3. So the real news is that the 62% was a statistically insignificant blip. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-performs-weekly-update-of-emergency-department-activity-and-waiting-time-statistics/nhs-performs-weekly-update-of-emergency-department-activity-and-waiting-time-statistics-week-ending-31-july-2022/ So, if the above is … Continue reading Labour MSP deceives on Glasgow emergency waiting times which are far better than in Labour Wales

By Alasdair Galloway Today’s news is dominated by a forecast by Cornwelll Insight that the “price cap” to be announced come January will be £4200 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62475171), which is roughly twice what we were paying at the beginning of this year – 100% in 12 months. What I want to consider here are some of the consequences that might follow, for the media has been excessively slow in considering this. The most obvious implication is that the price of energy has increased and will increase some more in the near future. Obviously, this is going to blow a hole in a … Continue reading The Dark Night Part 2