SHOCK as NHS England has to spend more than £10 MILLION on FIVE YEARS of transfers to Scottish hospital beds
In the Guardian today: A shortage of beds for severely unwell eating-disorder patients has forced the NHS to send more than 100 women from England to hospitals in Scotland for treatment since 2017. The cost of relocating patients, which included under-18s, was more than £10m, with one patient staying more than a year in hospital, costing close to £250,000. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jun/03/patients-with-eating-disorders-sent-from-england-to-scotland-due-to-lack-of-beds?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other&s=09 BBC UK, England and Scotland are not covering this story thought it clearly contradicts the latter’s regular bed shortages in Scotland reports. How is this possible? Here’s how: Continue reading SHOCK as NHS England has to spend more than £10 MILLION on FIVE YEARS of transfers to Scottish hospital beds
BBC Scotland pushes the monarchy harder
Four Jubilee stories for Scotland, where the Union is under threat and where support for the monarchy is the lowest in the UK: https://theferret.scot/ffs-explains-how-popular-royal-family-monarchy/ But only one on the BBC UK website. We saw the same thing back in April: Even on the day after the funeral, three out of seven headline stories were about the Duke of Edinburgh. BBC England had only one. BBC Wales and Northern Ireland had none. What’s in the minds of BBC Scotland editors when this happens? Do they feel intuitively that we just need a bit more encouragement to value the monarchy? Do they … Continue reading BBC Scotland pushes the monarchy harder
Homicide at all time low and violent crime up slightly
This journalism game – it’s all about choices and, sometimes ignoring facts that might spoil a ‘good’ headline. From Police Scotland today, there were only 45 homicides, down from 55 in 2020/2021, 65 the year before and 134 in 2004/2005. As for the Herald’s six-year-high, read this: An overall increase in violent crime (11.2%) is measured against a significant reduction during 2020-21 (-10%) due to the restrictions in place at the time. The five year mean (+2.1%) offers more insight into violent crime. https://www.scotland.police.uk/what-s-happening/news/2022/june/homicides-in-scotland-are-at-the-lowest-level-since-the-inception-of-police-scotland-in-2013-a-new-report-shows/ And on detection rates: Whilst the number of detections has risen, these have not kept pace … Continue reading Homicide at all time low and violent crime up slightly
Long Read: Higher Education in Scotland and England –
system differences and scope for misrepresentation By stewartb – a long read It is commonplace for commentators favouring an ‘SNPbad’ story to make negative criticisms of the governance of education in Scotland. This may include highly selective use of statistics on higher education course applications and acceptances. These are exploited to draw (supposedly) unfavourable comparisons with England and by implication, to point to better governance by Westminster. Context is typically absent: what follows is an attempt to fill some of the void. Differences in standards of provision When news relating to higher education in Scotland is reported, it tends to … Continue reading Long Read: Higher Education in Scotland and England –
What does Aslef executive fear? Upsetting their UK bosses and Scottish Labour?
Last week, Aslef’s Kevin Lindsay is quoted as saying: Aslef entered these talks in good faith. We have negotiated a pay offer of 4.2%, a three-year, no compulsory redundancy deal and a number of other improvements. These will now be put to our members for their consideration. https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/train-drivers-scotland-new-pay-24075384 Today, they’ve done a u-turn and won’t let the members decide. Why? They fear the drivers might accept? This? ASLEF delegates have rejected a motion to disaffiliate from Labour by 74 votes to nine after general secretary Mick Whelan told the train drivers’ union that staying in the party is “the only … Continue reading What does Aslef executive fear? Upsetting their UK bosses and Scottish Labour?
8% of the population 60% of the gas production?
Down at the bottom there, a story of how one gas field, Jackdaw, in Scottish waters and unlocked due to the war in Ukraine, can produce 6.5% of all of the UK’s output. I wondered, what is the total percentage now? There must be something more recent than the 50% suggested in this 2015, but still striking, graphic. Nevertheless, putting the 50% together with this new announcement, we might reasonably be looking at 60% or more? On the 8% theme, see more at: Continue reading 8% of the population 60% of the gas production?
Ah but? Ah but 22% better than NHS England?
Additional funding for A&E departments quickly becomes and excuse to repeat the ‘record’ waiting times which, to be accurate, haven’t been record since March and to remind viewers that the target (95%) hasn’t been hit since 2020. Context is important and Reporting Scotland do seem to like the time context for this one. But, they don’t like the geographical context for some reason. Could this be it? In March 2022, NHS Scotland saw 71.6% in 4 hours. NHS England only saw 58.7%. NHS Scotland’s performance was thus 21.9% better (71.6 – 58.7 as a % of 58.7) https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/ae-activity-and-waiting-times/ae-activity-and-waiting-times-month-ending-31-march-2022/ https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2021-22/ Continue reading Ah but? Ah but 22% better than NHS England?
May 2022 Site Traffic
This is a fine pretence!
By stewartb It probably should not come as a surprise that a journalist employed in an organisation with little practice in providing context and perspective when reporting Scotland sometimes reveals a blindspot. Or perhaps engages in unintended irony? Yesterday BBC Scotland’s Business and Economy Editor wrote an article for the BBC News website under the headline: ’Difficult decisions’ for Kate Forbes. Tucked away in the midst of a lengthy piece I spotted something a bit odd which I share for mild amusement. Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-61643444 Bear with me to get the context! The Editor tells us this: ‘A growing gulf between … Continue reading This is a fine pretence!
50% plus 1 is not what democracy is about?
From Brenda Robb I have been reading Fintan O’Toole’s book Three Years in Hell: The Brexit Chronicles. As I am originally from N Ireland I have an interest in the political situation there as well as in Scotland and of course with the focus on Brexit here there are issues discussed that affect us all. However there was one part in particular that caught my attention which I feel might be a useful topic for all of us hoping for an independent Scotland to consider. It is also quite timely now that different factions are either criticising the Scottish Government’s intention to … Continue reading 50% plus 1 is not what democracy is about?
