Tag: health

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SHOCK LATEST – Scotland’s flu deaths among over 65’s at HALF the level in England – why?

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By Professor John Robertson In the Guardian today: At least 18,000 deaths in England were associated with flu over the past two winters, figures have revealed, as health experts urge those eligible to take up a free vaccination on the NHS. 1 There’s no breakdown of the two years so, roughly, 9 000 per year, on average. The Daily Record today, repeated the above shocking headline figures for England, then without any sign of surprise, had: In Scotland in 2023, 447 people died from flu and so far this year another 345 have succumbed to the illness.2 Regulars and those stats lovers … Continue reading SHOCK LATEST – Scotland’s flu deaths among over 65’s at HALF the level in England – why?

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Historic achievement after Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon’s HPV vaccine programme in 2008 results in Scotland having now completely eradicated cervical cancer in women born 1988 to 1996 who were vaccinated by age 13

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From STAT in January 2024 but trending in social media today: An historic new study out of Scotland shows the real-world impact of vaccines against the human papillomavirus: The country has detected no cases of cervical cancer in women born between 1988-1996 who were fully vaccinated against HPV between the ages of 12 and 13. Many previous studies have shown that HPV vaccines are extremely effective in preventing cervical cancer. But the study, published on Monday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, is the first to monitor a national cohort of women over such a long time period and find no … Continue reading Historic achievement after Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon’s HPV vaccine programme in 2008 results in Scotland having now completely eradicated cervical cancer in women born 1988 to 1996 who were vaccinated by age 13

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Pharmacists in England look to Scotland

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By Professor John Robertson OBA The Guardian today: Pharmacy closures in England threaten plan to use them instead of GPs for some care There’s no mention of Scotland, of course. The Herald and the Glasgow Times are just repeating the the same story with no mention of Scotland. From May 2023, here’s why: Scotland scheme ‘more patient-focused’ Pharmacists in England look to Scotland, where a scheme called Pharmacy First includes a contract between the sector and the Scottish government setting out what services are expected, with payment for every consultation. These cover minor ailments and illnesses, some of which might once have … Continue reading Pharmacists in England look to Scotland

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Despite major increase in referrals, 95% of cancer patients start treatment within 31 days to lead the rest of the UK by some way

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From Public Health Scotland, today: There were 4,450 eligible referrals for the 62-day standard, an increase of 3.6% from the previous quarter, but an increase of 19.5% from the quarter ending 31 December 2019. 73.2% of patients started treatment within the 62-day standard, compared with 70.5% in the previous quarter. There were 6,981 eligible referrals for the 31-day standard, an increase of 3.5% from the previous quarter, and an increase of 9.3% from the quarter ending 31 December 2019. 95.5% of patients started treatment within the 31-day standard, compared with 94.1% in the previous quarter.1 The situation in other parts … Continue reading Despite major increase in referrals, 95% of cancer patients start treatment within 31 days to lead the rest of the UK by some way

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Health authorities in England carefully hid MMR vaccine levels as deadly measles cases surged across country and into Scotland

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Today, from Public Health Scotland: 92.8% of children had the first dose of MMR vaccine by 24 months of age. This rose to 95.8% for children who had reached age five. Uptake of the second dose of MMR vaccine by 5 years was 89.4%, rising to 91.1% by age 6 years.1 There are several authorities, GOV.UK, NHS England, even the BMJ, reporting a ‘successful boost’ in the number of MMR vaccines administered to young children in 2024, (but not in London!) after the Measles surge earlier in the year. None seem prepared to tell what the … Continue reading Health authorities in England carefully hid MMR vaccine levels as deadly measles cases surged across country and into Scotland

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SNP Minister’s second letter to Liz Kendall ignored by media

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Two days ago, the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville wrote again to the UK Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall: Dear Liz, I am writing to you to express further concerns, following the publication of the UK Government’s equality analysis on the impact of the introduction of a means-tested Winter Fuel Payments, which shows that across all assessed characteristics those affected by this change in policy will greatly outnumber those unaffected. The Scottish Government continues to support vulnerable households from fuel poverty through a range of actions within our limited devolved powers. This year alone, we are spending £134 … Continue reading SNP Minister’s second letter to Liz Kendall ignored by media

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More than 100 000 Scots pensioners to lose winter fuel allowance and Scottish Labour MPs all knew this BEFORE they voted to end it

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From Factchecker, The Canary, today: The new Labour Party government is stripping winter fuel payments from 1.6 million pensioners living in poverty this winter. This is according to a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) minister – showing that Labour knew this – but are ploughing ahead anyway. DWP minister Emma Reynolds disclosed the information in response to two written questions from MPs. The first was from Labour MP for Lowestoft Jess Asato. She tabled the question on 30 August. Of course, this was a little under two weeks before she voted with the government to strip pensioners of it. https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2024/09/20/winter-fuel-payments-cut-poverty-dwp/?__s=kkn8su7rxte9tzdcocwy With 8% of the population, that means more than … Continue reading More than 100 000 Scots pensioners to lose winter fuel allowance and Scottish Labour MPs all knew this BEFORE they voted to end it

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Scotland’s drug and alcohol services both hitting 90% seen with 3 weeks target, year after year, but that’s not relevant because we’ve one group to criticise the Scottish Government on them

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that’s according to ‘Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems’. The organisation says both that both issues are important but that recent political focus has been on trying to reduce drug deaths without the same attention to alcohol. A ministerial statement will be made later on how to improve the lives of people impacted by drugs and alcohol. The Scottish Government continues to do all it can on the issue. By Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Reporting Scotland staff with another report linking the SNP Government with problems which are the direct responsibility of health boards. What is the actual evidence of … Continue reading Scotland’s drug and alcohol services both hitting 90% seen with 3 weeks target, year after year, but that’s not relevant because we’ve one group to criticise the Scottish Government on them

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The two-child benefit cap:  will it prove an ethical dilemma for Kirsty McNeill MP, Labour’s new Under Secretary of State for Scotland and former Director of Save the Children?

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By stewartb One of the most conspicuous examples of a Labour MP shifting their stance on the urgency of reducing child poverty – specifically on the urgency of abolishing the two-child benefit cap – must surely be that of Kirsty McNeill, the new member of parliament for Midlothian and significantly, the Under Secretary of State for Scotland. Prior to being elected, Ms McNeill was Executive Director of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns at Save the Children. In reading what follows, bear in mind Ms McNeill’s job title with this major charity operating in the UK and internationally – note ‘policy’, note … Continue reading The two-child benefit cap:  will it prove an ethical dilemma for Kirsty McNeill MP, Labour’s new Under Secretary of State for Scotland and former Director of Save the Children?

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Wheesht –  don’t report this! Proportion of IVF cycles funded by NHS:  Scotland (53%), Wales (34%), England (24%)

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By stewartb The Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA), the UK’s independent regulator of fertility treatment and research using human embryos, has just (July 18) published this report: ‘Fertility treatment 2022: preliminary trends and figures – preliminary UK statistics for IVF and DI treatment, storage, and donation.’ (https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/publications/research-and-data/fertility-treatment-2022-preliminary-trends-and-figures/ ) The findings were the subject of a BBC Radio 4 Today programme item and they are covered in an article on the BBC News website under the headline ‘Fall in proportion of IVF cycles funded by NHS’. Both the Today programme and the BBC News website focus on the UK statistics … Continue reading Wheesht –  don’t report this! Proportion of IVF cycles funded by NHS:  Scotland (53%), Wales (34%), England (24%)