Tag: news

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As social rent homes in England fall by more than quarter of a million in a decade, Scotland builds 6 times as many

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By Professor John Robertson ‘Affordable’ rent can, be at a rate up to 80% of the market rent for the same property and so, in some places, is far from affordable. ‘Social rent’ is linked to local incomes and thus is truly affordable. In the Guardian, today: More than a quarter of a million social rent homes in England have been lost in the last decade, according to analysis of government statistics. Between April 2013 and April 2023, the number of social housing homes owned by local authorities and housing associations in England fell by 260,464 units, according to the … Continue reading As social rent homes in England fall by more than quarter of a million in a decade, Scotland builds 6 times as many

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Bradford drugs gang ‘recruited an 11 year-old to deal’ in Ayrshire town

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The Metro today is reporting a survey of all UK police forces to find out how many under 16’s have been recruited to deal drugs by the County Lines gangs operating out of large cities in England and, in several cases, in small Scottish towns. They also asked about the age of the youngest child being exploited in this way and identified three 10 year-olds and numerous 11 year-olds – Primary School pupils. 1 Police Scotland did not respond to the Metro survey, but from social media comments by locals in Auchinleck and Cumnock (East Ayrshire) last November, it was … Continue reading Bradford drugs gang ‘recruited an 11 year-old to deal’ in Ayrshire town

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Scottish Government invests to reap benefits of Hospital at Home for older people

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From the Scottish Government, today: The Scottish Government is continuing to invest in Hospital at Home for Older People with £3.6 million allocated for 2024/25, bringing total funding allocation for the initiative to over £15 million since 2020. Recent statistics released by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) show that last year the Hospital at Home service for Older People, which provides a safe, alternative to being admitted to an acute hospital, exceeded targets in several key areas between April 2023 and March 2024, including: total bed numbers have increased by over 57%, ahead of the Scottish Government’s 50% target 14,467 patients … Continue reading Scottish Government invests to reap benefits of Hospital at Home for older people

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Child poverty – Loughborough researchers being used by Scottish media to misinform audiences

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In the Guardian today: Local child poverty rates across the UK correlate very strongly with the percentage of families affected by the two-child benefit cap, research has found, indicating that the controversial policy is a key factor behind children growing up in deprivation. The study, carried out by Loughborough University for the End Child Poverty Coalition, will heap pressure on Labour over the party’s refusal to abolish the cap, which limits universal credit and child tax credit to a family’s first two children, if they come into power. The limit can cost families more than £3,000 a year for each additional child, with … Continue reading Child poverty – Loughborough researchers being used by Scottish media to misinform audiences

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Ferry service – ‘bad as it’s ever been, only going to get worse’ in affluent USA state of Washington

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From the Orcasonian, yesterday: There have been a number of overview stories recently about Washington State Ferries, including Tom Banse’s good one May 31 in Salish Current. They seem to have been occasioned by WSF finally issuing bid documents for the first new hybrid-electric ferries, the first of which may join WSF’s aging and depleted fleet in 2028. For those of us in San Juan County, dependent on ferries to connect us to one another and to the mainland, this announcement did nothing but underscore that the reality that our ferry service — bad as it’s ever been — is only … Continue reading Ferry service – ‘bad as it’s ever been, only going to get worse’ in affluent USA state of Washington

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While only BBC Scotland platform Labour to defend itself on tax plans, the SNP acts to save 329 000 children

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BBC Scotland’s agenda is clear, even on D Day – Labour must be defended. BBC UK? This: One smaller story. BBC Wales? Professional journalism. BBC Northern Ireland? The same. Meanwhile what is really happening in Scotland, to millions of us? This: The Scottish Government is estimated to have invested almost £1.4 billion to benefit children in low income households in the last financial year. The investment is detailed in an annual progress report which highlights key actions to tackle child poverty including: Awarding almost £430 million to families through the Scottish Child Payment, supporting more than 329,000 children as of … Continue reading While only BBC Scotland platform Labour to defend itself on tax plans, the SNP acts to save 329 000 children

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Deadly measles threat averted by ‘robust public health management’ after 17 years of SNP Government but in England?

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From Public Health Scotland, today: There were six laboratory confirmed measles cases reported in the first quarter of 2024. Of these cases, five are thought to have been imported and related to travel outwith the UK. One case was acquired in the UK and may have been related to one of the imported cases. The lack of onward transmission associated with these cases highlights the success of the MMR vaccination programme, the importance of maintaining high vaccine uptake in Scotland, and reflects the robust public health management of these cases.  https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/immunisation-and-vaccine-preventable-diseases-quarterly-report/immunisation-and-vaccine-preventable-diseases-quarterly-report-january-to-march-2024-q1/#section-2-1 Remind me me, which UK Government has treated its … Continue reading Deadly measles threat averted by ‘robust public health management’ after 17 years of SNP Government but in England?

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Scotland’s corridor care scare survey may be based on vanishingly small sample

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By stewartb The RCN is not a small, not a new, inexperienced organisation. Far from it! It has a long track record of advocacy on behalf of the nursing profession. Its continuing use of the name – the Royal College of Nursing – seems like an attempt to raise its status with the public as something other than ‘just’ a trade union. The document that is the subject of the main blog post is loftily described by the RCN as a ‘Policy Report’. It has been relatively well resourced: it has two authors plus no less than 15 other named … Continue reading Scotland’s corridor care scare survey may be based on vanishingly small sample

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England’s Third World NHS puts Scotland at risk of deadly measles surge

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By Professor John Robertson Thanks to Dottie again for alerting me to this. From the Sunday Times, yesterday, the above disturbing report of cuts to vaccine programmes: As of 15th May 2024, there have been 11 cases of measles confirmed in Scotland. 1 When in February there were 5, all were ‘linked to travel’ ie not due to infection within Scotland. 2 According to the ONS, 26 March, 2024: In the UK, 24-month coverage of measles, mumps and rubella first dose vaccination (MMR1) remained at 89.9% 3 In January 2024, from the UK Government: In order for our measles, mumps and … Continue reading England’s Third World NHS puts Scotland at risk of deadly measles surge

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Scotland’s corridor care myth as less than 2% respond to survey

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The Guardian and the Daily Record today have Rise in hospital ‘corridor care’ is national emergency, union warns Scots nurses set to declare ‘national emergency’ due to hospital corridor deaths Tellingly, the Daily Record uses an ITV rather than STV image. Both the Anglocentric Guardian piece and the patched up Record piece are based on: Corridor care: unsafe, undignified, unacceptable published today by the RCN. In it we see: Statement: clinical care took place in an inappropriate environment e.g. an additional bed in a bay, waiting room, a corridor or a location not designed for patients. to which 38% of … Continue reading Scotland’s corridor care myth as less than 2% respond to survey