For the last four days, the hospitalisation level in Scotland has been, pro-rata, around 12% higher in England. The infection rate in England is also on average around 100% higher than in Scotland, over the last 7 days, although the data did converge in the last 24 hours. The death rate, again converging in the last 24 hours, has been consistently around 25% higher in England for several months. Over the whole pandemic, 28.9% more have died, pro rata, in England. On vaccination, Scotland continues to lead on all three, has done since November 2021 and is only approached by … Continue reading Updated: Everything consistently lower than in England except jags

From Leon Thompson, executive director at UK Hospitality Scotland above, today: He suggested lowering the visa threshold, along with some “creative thinking” around areas like the youth mobility scheme, which could be extended to more countries, perhaps during peak season. Thompson argued that there was no “quick fix” to the issue and that the government would have to use all the available options at hand to sort it. https://www.insider.co.uk/news/scottish-hospitality-leaders-call-new-26117249 There is not a chance in hell that Tory MPs would allow any tinkering with the immigration system to let more in. Most of them are still pressing for stricter controls, … Continue reading There is a quick fix!

Even in the winter period, when they spread most, Norovirus levels have plummeted to only 43 cases in the week-ending 30 January 2022. You can see that this is even below the 2020 level at the peak of the pandemic measures and only a fraction of levels in period up to 2019. News, I’d say and very definitely in the public interest to reduce avoidable fear of attending hospitals. The kind of thing a real public service broadcaster would cover, in the public interest? For context: Continue reading New Norovirus figures reveal Scotland’s hospitals cleanest and safest in the UK

From SNP Media:  Scotland will continue to have the fairest tax system anywhere in the UK as the Scottish Parliament passed a resolution agreeing income tax bands for 2022/23. As a result, a majority of people in Scotland will continue to pay less in income tax than if they lived elsewhere in the UK, whilst those who earn more will pay proportionately more. In line with the SNP’s manifesto commitment in the election in May, income tax rates will be frozen for the 2022/23 financial year. According to the Scottish Fiscal Commission, freezing rates will raise an additional £106m. Commenting, SNP MSP Michelle Thomson said: “In … Continue reading Scotland continues to have the fairest tax system anywhere in the UK

In 2020/21 the rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions to general acute hospitals was 614 per 100,000 populations and was 10% lower than the rate recorded during 2019/20 (681 per 100,000). Continue reading Sharp fall in alcohol-related hospital statistics

A Reporting Scotland editor told the above is in the public interest. You’ll not find what follows below is, apparently. For the week-ending 23 January, A&E departments in Scotland saw 77.7% within 4 hours, up from 74.9 and 67.4 in the previous two weeks. Scotland’s media are not reporting this trend but were keen to draw attention the fall in week-ending 9 January from 71.7 and 80.2 at the end of December 2021. 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-23-january-2022/ Continue reading Scotland’s emergency services improve for second week in a row but are not news

I’m able to compare the full December 2021 figures today. During December 2021, NHS Scotland A&E services saw 75.7% within 4 hours. In the same period, NHS England saw only 61.2%*. That’s a crude 14.5% difference but, in effect, NHS Scotland is 23.7% faster. That means hundreds seen on time in Scotland and thousands not seen on time in England. Why has Labour nothing to say? The PM’s local Hillingdon Trust managed only 54.1%. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/ae-activity-and-waiting-times/ae-activity-and-waiting-times-month-ending-31-december-2021/ https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2021-22/ The NHS England data are almost certainly even worse as they restart the count after a patient is admitted. In Scotland, the count begins … Continue reading Monstrous 24% December gap between emergency services in Scotland and England is a scandal

From ever-alert reader, Robert Martin, the above praise. Only two weeks ago, we read: In Westminster’s Health Committee, Dr Pelle Gustafson, CMO at Swedish Patient Insurer, responded with “Scotland”, when he was asked which country he would hold at the very top pillar with regards to patient safety.  Dr Gustfason said: “If you take all preventative work in regard to patient safety, I would say Scotland, I am personally very impressed with Scotland. I think in Scotland you have a long tradition of working, you have a development in the right direction and you also have a system which is fairly … Continue reading NHS Scotland ‘so good because the Scottish Government enables excellence’

Wheeled out to stand-in for the leader-in-hiding of the Scottish Conservatives and to hopefully soften the Boris-hard image and vote-losing, effects of Alister Jack, the unelected former leader, Baroness Davidson. I’m not saying she is or she isn’t but those tears didn’t convince. Here’s some research from the Australian National University in 2018: “We found people with high levels of psychopathic traits don’t feel any worse for someone who is genuinely upset than someone who is faking it. They also seem to have problems telling if the upset is real or fake. As a result, they are not nearly as … Continue reading When ‘psychopaths’ cry

Health officials are warning that more than one in ten children starting school in England are at risk of measles, because they have not been vaccinated. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/live/bbcone The above is a major story today across BBC 1 broadcasts. The website reveals the ‘more than one in ten’ to be euphemistic. Only 85.5% have had the recommended two doses. The BBC Health website report goes on: In 2017 the World Health Organization declared that the UK had eliminated measles – meaning that although some cases could still occur, the disease was not widely circulating and spreading. Measles remains more common in … Continue reading Scotland faces risk of deadly measles infections spreading from South