Tag: health

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NHS England plans further cuts to mental health care for children to further widen the gap with ‘substantially’ better NHS Scotland but no media report it

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From the Guardian today, the above, and: Millions of adults and children in England face being forced to wait longer for mental health care, with more than two-thirds of NHS providers planning to cut services and half expected to axe jobs, the Guardian can reveal. With mental health services already under extraordinary pressure amid soaring demand for support, experts warned the proposed cuts – drawn up by trusts to plug holes in their finances – would also have “significant” consequences for the wider NHS, the economy and public services. Key services such as child and adolescent mental health care, talking therapies, addiction support, … Continue reading NHS England plans further cuts to mental health care for children to further widen the gap with ‘substantially’ better NHS Scotland but no media report it

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English newspaper looked 10 000 miles south to report opioid crisis in Australia but fails to notice a solution launched THIRTEEN years ago just 400 miles to the north

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The Guardian in September 2024 had: Australian demand for overdose drug naloxone more than doubles after spike in synthetic opioid deaths but no mention of Scotland in the report. Why might it have? This: Scotland was the first country in the world [2011] to introduce a national naloxone programme, empowering individuals, families, friends and communities to reverse an opiate overdose. https://www.gov.scot/policies/alcohol-and-drugs/naloxone-provision/#:~:text=Scotland%20was%20the%20first%20country,years%20from%202011%20to%202016. From Public Health Scotland in August 2021: Since the establishment of the National Naloxone Programme in 2011/12:• 74,629 THN kits have been issued by services based in the community.• 8,793 THN kits have been issued by prisons in Scotland.• 10,388 THN kits … Continue reading English newspaper looked 10 000 miles south to report opioid crisis in Australia but fails to notice a solution launched THIRTEEN years ago just 400 miles to the north

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Corridor care is much less common in Scotland but the Glasgow Times exploits one case to mislead and to scare you

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In March 2026, ITV News made it very clear, above, just how rare corridor care in Scotland was, in comparison with other parts of the UK – 4 times as common in Wales, nearly 4 times in Northern Ireland, and nearly 3 times as common across England. Today, the Glasgow Times tries to exploit a single case in an effort to mislead its readers as to the true situation and to damage trust in local hospitals: They are careful not to refer to the ITV report, nor these facts: From ITV News 16 March 2026, based on their own survey: A special … Continue reading Corridor care is much less common in Scotland but the Glasgow Times exploits one case to mislead and to scare you

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Inexperienced patient safety commissioner sides with tabloid’s anecdotal evidence against the reliable factual evidence of NHS Scotland’s superior maternity services

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In the Herald today: Scotland’s patient safety watchdog privately urged ministers to scrap their maternity taskforce over concerns it was failing to act with sufficient urgency, The Herald can reveal. Karen Titchener, the Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland, wrote to Health Secretary Angela Constance in June recommending the Scottish Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce be discontinued and replaced with an independent, nationwide assessment of services. and these unfounded claims: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/26431969.watchdog-urged-ministers-axe-scotland-maternity-taskforce/?ref=ebln&nid=1220&block=article_block_a&u=54f15f1382a35160f5f9fbd9de82faff&date=050826 Kitchener’s previous experience was in the US and in England. Her one peer-reviewed research paper is co-authored with 7 others in Utah and North Carolina, 10 years ago. Her claim that … Continue reading Inexperienced patient safety commissioner sides with tabloid’s anecdotal evidence against the reliable factual evidence of NHS Scotland’s superior maternity services

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BMA Scotland and BBC Scotland accused of barely undergraduate level of criticism of GP walk-in clinic scheme before project is fully underway and worthy only of ‘F – do not resubmit’ result and invitation to seek counselling on course change

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BBC Scotland, Aimee Stanton, yesterday claimed, despite revealing the above graph in their own report: GP walk-in clinics see low attendance leading to accusations of failure – A series of walk-in GP clinics which the Scottish government said would end the “8am rush” for appointments have seen low attendance rates, first figures show. and: Dr Iain Morrison, chairman of the BMA’s Scottish GPs committee, said doctors had expressed reservations about the walk-in clinics when they were first announced – and it now looked like a case of “I told you so”. He told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast (RSB): “In terms … Continue reading BMA Scotland and BBC Scotland accused of barely undergraduate level of criticism of GP walk-in clinic scheme before project is fully underway and worthy only of ‘F – do not resubmit’ result and invitation to seek counselling on course change

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Still challenged but Scotland’s care system is years ahead of any plans Burnham has

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As the new PM is pressed on England’s failing social care system, we sometimes hear, not on BBC Scotland of course, that though still challenged, Scotland system after nearly 20 years of centre-left government by the SNP is well ahead. What’s the evidence? What has the SNP done differently? In Scotland, there is free personal care for all adults assessed as needing it. This was introduced for over-65s in 2002 and extended to working-age adults in 2019. This covers help with personal hygiene, continence, diet, mobility, and simple treatments, whether at home or in a care home. The upper threshold … Continue reading Still challenged but Scotland’s care system is years ahead of any plans Burnham has

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Scottish Government’s more ambitious policies and tighter targets seem to have slashed hospital admissions for respiratory problems to a fraction of those in England

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In the Guardian today: Children living in the poorest areas across England are 40% more likely to be admitted to hospital for respiratory infections, an analysis of NHS England data shows, with experts raising the alarm on the impact of air pollution on young people’s health. The analysis, based on data obtained via freedom of information requests by the charity Impact on Urban Health, revealed 1,941 out of every 100,000 children living in the most deprived fifth of England were admitted to hospital for respiratory illnesses in 2024/25. Does this apply equally in Scotland? No. Respiratory infections from NHS England data: In … Continue reading Scottish Government’s more ambitious policies and tighter targets seem to have slashed hospital admissions for respiratory problems to a fraction of those in England

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‘Loyalist’ Liverpool gangs still exploiting children to push drugs and community violence into Scotland keeping drug deaths high

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From Streamline today: In a massive display of force aimed at dismantling entrenched criminal networks, over 300 Merseyside Police officers executed dozens of synchronized dawn raids across the region on Thursday morning. The sweeping crackdown, codenamed Operation Vanguard, represents the third and largest iteration of Chief Constable Rob Carden’s relentless offensive against serious organised crime, county lines drug trafficking, and endemic community violence. In a massive display of force aimed at dismantling entrenched criminal networks, over 300 Merseyside Police officers executed dozens of synchronized dawn raids across the region on Thursday morning. The sweeping crackdown, codenamed Operation Vanguard, represents the … Continue reading ‘Loyalist’ Liverpool gangs still exploiting children to push drugs and community violence into Scotland keeping drug deaths high

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A tale of two dentists – Anas Sarwar and ‘Odious’ Lord Offord’s Brother

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Three months ago, angered by Lord Offord of Reform’s claim that he had ‘bounced up to him’ seeking to collaborate against the SNP, Anas had some harsh words for Lord Offord. Did he know then that Lord Offord’s wee brother would be inviting him to speak at a a do on dentistry? How will that go? A surprise inclusion in the website of Vermilion, a private dental company owned by Dr David Offord, who I think, both born in Greenock. might be the brother of Baron Malcolm Offord of Garvel (and Reform UK). Vermilion hold a symposium every two years … Continue reading A tale of two dentists – Anas Sarwar and ‘Odious’ Lord Offord’s Brother

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Corridor Care – Another Scottish Labour MP toadies to Westminster with discredited methods and hides far higher level in England and Wales

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In the Ayr Advertiser today: Ayrshire MP Irene Campbell has highlighted concerns about Crosshouse Hospital during a Parliamentary debate on corridor care. The North Ayrshire & Arran Labour MP told the Commons: “I would just like to highlight that the Scottish Government do not record or publish any statistics on the number of patients being treated in corridors. However, we know that it happens. . “Crosshouse Hospital, which serves my constituency, was recorded in January as having one of Scotland’s most under-pressure emergency departments. It exceeded capacity by 50 per cent in December, revealing corridor care conditions in the hospital. Does … Continue reading Corridor Care – Another Scottish Labour MP toadies to Westminster with discredited methods and hides far higher level in England and Wales