THE SNP has claimed the top job at the umbrella organisation representing councils locked in a funding row with the Scottish Government. Opponents have warned that the move is “another hammer blow to Scotland’s savagely underfunded councils”. https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/20217672.snp-takes-top-cosla-job-despite-fear-party-allies-leading-scottish-government-talks/ Now, the SNP run 15 of the 32 councils, Labour 10, Conservatives 5 and Lib Dems 5 so does an SNP convenor seem fair? What happened back in the day when Labour ran more than 20 councils and the Scottish Government? Was that a problem? Did they let the Tories or the Lib Dems take the top job? Continue reading Did Labour let the Tories have the top Cosla job back in the day?

Research by the BMA published this week, reveals that 76% of doctors across the UK experienced racism in their workplace. The research published has no regional (sic) breakdown and is presented by the MSM as a UK-wide problem. However, a contact at the BMA has shared this with me: Experienced racism within the past two years Scotland – 66% Wales – 70% Northern Ireland – 85% The figure for England is not available but, given the size of their sample, can be safely assumed to be around the UK figure of 76%, significantly higher than in Scotland. I agree that … Continue reading Doctors in Scotland significantly less likely to face racism at their workplace

Within an otherwise devastating exposure of the crisis in NHS England, BBC News at 10pm last night, presented the above figures implying that NHS England remains better than the others in the UK. stewartb in a comment last night demolishes this presentation: BBC News at 22.25 on BBC 1 has just had Hugh Pym, its health editor, tell a UK audience that both NHS England and NHS Scotland had a similar, c. 70-73% performance against the 4 hour A&E waiting time target. This is just so blatantly misleading! The latest report today from NHS England has stated clearly: ‘60.2% OF … Continue reading BBC uses wrong data again to suggest NHS England has best emergency services

In the PM’s Hillingdon hospital, in May 2022, a staggering only 49.8% were seen within 4 hours. The figure for NHS England was only 60.2%. The figure for the First Minister’s local Glasgow hospitals was 69% and for NHS Scotland, it was 70%. Sources: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2022-23/ 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-5-june-2022/ Continue reading PM’s local A&E department like ‘third world’

As in March 2021, BBC Scotland Correspondent for Bad News Only about Health, Lisa Summers, has been unavailable to tell us about the steady fall in nosocomial (hospital acquired) Covid infections. Sources tell us she ‘can’t be arsed.’ In November 2020, when cases went up for one week she was all over the story: Public Health Scotland data released today for week-ending 22 May 2022, show only 67 definite or probable cases down for the 8th week in a row. The infection rate in Scotland is currently 1 in 40, up from 1 in 50 only last week. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/hospital-onset-covid-19-cases-in-scotland/hospital-onset-covid-19-cases-in-scotland-week-ending-01-march-2020-to-week-ending-22-may-2022/ Public … Continue reading Scotland’s hospitals have tiny numbers of hospital acquired Covid infections despite recent increase in cases

Key points from the above: There were 285 suspected drug deaths recorded between January and March 2022.There were 27% (108) fewer suspected drug deaths than during the same period of 2021 (January to March 2021: 393). Two-thirds (66%) of suspected drug deaths were of people aged between 35 and 54. This was broadly in line with previous quarters. There were 15 suspected drug deaths in the under 25 age group, 25% (5) fewer than during January and March 2021. There were 1,187 suspected drug deaths over the 12 months to March 2022, 20% (299)fewer than the 12 months to March … Continue reading Massive fall, as predicted here, in Scotland’s drug deaths.

In the above: Another report from Edinburgh University said 50% of all Covid-related deaths in Scotland between March and June 2020 had involved care home residents. It said Scotland had the highest rate among care home residents in the UK during the first wave of the pandemic. And it said a lack of testing before hospital patients were discharged to care homes contributed to Covid outbreaks. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-61814662 The Edinburgh report is deliberately misleading. A higher percentage of Scotland’s deaths were in care homes in the first wave but there were pro rata with England, far fewer deaths overall on both … Continue reading Covid care home restrictions in Scotland caused fewer deaths says evidence

By stewartb ‘… the Tories are Scotland’s DUP …..’ So what does that make the Labour Party? Just heard David Lammy ‘CATEGORICALLY’ rule out a referendum on Scotland’s independence for at least the next TEN YEARS. He also stated that the branch office in Scotland held the same view. And why? Because ‘Labour is a Unionist party’. Now Labour is perfectly entitled to be a ‘Unionist party’ till the cows come home. That is of course NOT the (expletive) point! Who the hell is David Lammy or any political party to RULE OUT ANYTHING ABOUT democracy in Scotland? He can … Continue reading If the Tories are Scotland’s DUP, what does that make Labour?

The above in the Herald today, another desperate attempt to deny Scots their democratic rights by suggesting that a boycott might weaken the legitimacy of a referendum. From a Southeast Asia survey of politicians carried out by the Electoral Knowledge Network in 2006: Election boycotts have no place in a functioning democracy; participation being at the heart of the democratic process. However, boycotts could have a role to play in a democracy that is not functioning as it should be and where fair competition is impossible. The problem lies in determining at what point conditions for a fair election are … Continue reading ‘Election boycotts have no place in a functioning democracy’

of flexibility from Scotland’s health boards. That’s the warning from the Royal College of Nursing Scotland. Headlining across BBC Scotland but not anywhere in BBC UK, England, Wales or Northern Ireland: What is BBC Scotland’s evidence? One nurse, Johanna Black (55) didn’t want to retire. Why is only BBC Scotland with the nurses trade union’s Scottish branch onto this story based on so little hard evidence? It’s a proxy war against the SNP. See this for a reminder: All of the other BBC areas could report that Scotland has around 50% more nurses than their boards do and that its … Continue reading One nurse does not a reliable survey make!