In January 2021 NHS England saw 70.1% of A&E admissions within 4 hours, down from 89.3% in August 2020, In January 2021, NHS Scotland saw 86% 0f A&E admissions within 4 hours, down from 92.9% in August 2020. So, NHS Scotland A&E is 15.9% better in crude terms or really 22.7% better (15.9% of 70.1)? Note the gap was smaller in the Summer. Scottish A&Es cope with cold weather better? More ‘resilient’, Boris? Sources: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2020-21/ https://beta.isdscotland.org/find-publications-and-data/health-services/hospital-care/ae-activity-and-waiting-times/ Continue reading Scotland’s Accident and Emergency services massively better

Am I the only one interested in this really important news on catching Covid in a hospital? In November BBC Scotland’s Lisa Summers was sunnily enthusing about it: Even in February, the Herald’s Caitlin Hutchison (16) was big on it: Where are they now? I know, they’ve realised that, in Scotland, the level goes up and down, between zero and 4% depending on just how many cases are admitted to or discharged from hospitals, and they’re feeling a bit embarrassed with their earlier reports. Maybe, even, they’re discovered that the rate in NHS England tended to be up to 10 … Continue reading Not Reporting Scotland as Hospital infections plummet for third week

ITV Tonight, last night, on Scotland, offered a trail of well-worn distortion of the factual evidence. I suppose there is still the danger that some will believe it. Disinformation 1 Scotland had its big chance with a referendum and said a resounding NO. It was supposed to be a ‘once in a generation vote’ but six years on its back on the agenda. The inverted commas tell us that they know it’s not a fact but an opinion, yet the myth is nevertheless presented without explanation, as if is is a fact. Disinformation 2 If she gets the big majority … Continue reading Can ITV disinform us any more?

A poll from Tipsy Moron for Talking-up Scotland suggests the First Minister’s performance yesterday has been good for the SNP. A poll of my 5 382 ‘followers’ attracted a pathetic 139 responses. I’d do a poll asking if I’m doing too many polls but I’m afraid no one would respond. I had 5 400 followers until I commented on the trans issue. Anyhow a whopping 65% said that after Nicola Sturgeon’s performance on the committee they had heard of someone joining the party compared to only 8% who had heard of someone leaving. Similarly, 20% had heard of someone deciding … Continue reading The Sturgeon Effect is good!

YouGov with fieldwork on the 3rd and 4th March, as the First Minister and the former First Minister were grilled at length on the TV, has reported a shocking collapse in SNP support, from 51% to 50% based on a cute but insignificant sample of 147 over-18 year-olds. I blame her bare-faced integrity. Support for the Scottish Conservatives also fell by 1% but but support for Labour plummeted by 4% in the wake of the appointment of new leader, Anas Sarwar. Sarwar must be relieved as his boss also lost support to give Boris a 13 point lead, up from … Continue reading Has Sturgeon caused SNP support to plummet insignificantly?

The hacks at the Mail know they’re writing mince. They have to be. Otherwise they have serious mental health issues. There is not a chance in hell of the First Minister being toppled after this but one or two senior civil servants and one chief executive need to be gone pronto. In the Times, Magnus Linklater, no friend of independence nor of the SNP, could see what had happened and wrote: Nicola Sturgeon has survived. Perhaps more than that, she will emerge from about six hours of interrogation with her reputation largely intact. There were weaknesses in her evidence, some … Continue reading Sturgeon on the brink of success

First posted on Reddit by HandeHoche (not real name): The SNP introduced the “CfE” exams in 2015, and – as someone who’s studied papers going back to 1997 – they’re undeniably the best in terms of layout, wording, reasonable difficulty levels, accuracy of results to ability, and marking structures. Of my five classes I’m currently sitting, two have class sizes of <15, and the others are around 20-25. Remember when that was a big issue? My teachers are extremely supportive and I’m honestly stunned by how dedicated they are, even giving their lunch time to talk small groups or even … Continue reading Teachers say Scottish education is ‘a triumph!’

Being reported widely: Nine out of 10 deaths from coronavirus have occurred in countries with high obesity levels, according to World Health Organization-backed research that sets out the stark correlation between excessive weight and lives lost to the disease. The scattergraph above shows how countries, even those with weak health infrastructure and mass poverty, like most in Africa or Bangladesh, have had fewer Covid deaths, due to low levels of obesity. The original graphic only featured the UK but when you take into account Scotland’s slightly higher obesity level, greater prevalence of limiting long-term conditions including cardiovascular disease and higher … Continue reading Against all the odds, NHS Scotland saves lives

The Herald headline today reads: How does Nicola Sturgeon’s evidence relate to the ministerial code? Legal expert shares analysis. How’s that for hiding the story? Anyhow, first, the author Doctor Nick McKerrell makes clear that the problems with the Scottish Government’s ‘catastrophic’ handling of the complaints against Alex Salmond was down to the involvement of the civil servant whom the First Minister, as is proper, did not instruct. Second, the legal advice did not suggest a ‘doomed case‘ at any point and was followed by the First Minister. McKerrell notes the First Minister correctly making the point that the Scottish … Continue reading Podcast: Charges under ministerial code difficult to stick

How’s that for hiding light under a bushel? Then we read: Salmond inquiry: Nicola Sturgeon’s evidence explained The writer, Dr Nick McKerrell had no part in the headlines, I feel sure. I wonder what he thinks as he reads them this morning? Before going on, some context on Dr McKerrell is useful: Scots law lecturer named in secret ‘do not employ’ dossier: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14464136.scots-law-lecturer-named-in-secret-do-not-employ-dossier/ Legal expert warns of barriers to indyref2 without Section 30: https://www.thenational.scot/news/19034593.legal-expert-warns-barriers-indyref2-without-section-30/ So neither an establishment figure nor an uncritical friend? Anyhow, first, McKerrell makes clear that the problems with the Scottish Government’s ‘catastrophic’ handling of the complaints … Continue reading Legal expert defends Sturgeon and says charges under ministerial code ‘difficult to stick!’