Tag: politics

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Despite far more patients assessed and cared for at home, NHS Scotland still maintains more hospital beds than NHS England

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks once again to AR for alerting to me to this. The Sunday Times today has a report on the state of an imaginary NHS UK and the declining provision of hospital beds is presented as a major problem, which it is, if you have not done so in response to a major shift toward properly assessed and supported care at home. From People requiring a social care assessment and care at home services, published on December 17th 2024, by the Scottish Government: The number of people estimated to be waiting on a social care assessment to enable them … Continue reading Despite far more patients assessed and cared for at home, NHS Scotland still maintains more hospital beds than NHS England

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The Herald asks ‘Was NHS Scotland right not to prioritise longest waiters?’ What, instead of those who are on the 18-week list because they might die? Is that a tough one?

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By Professor John Robertson OBA The Herald’s Helen McCardle asks that first question above then proceeds to circle around it with a mass of information and comment, ending up by claiming: The above needs the addition – ‘but at what cost in lives?’ So, after the pandemic, NHS England’s two-year waiting list for those with life-diminishing but not life-threatening conditions, such as arthritis, was cleared but Scotland’s was not. How did they do that? The NHS has spent a record £12.3billion outsourcing patients to private hospitals to try to clear waiting lists, figures show. Official data reveals a 12 per cent increase over the past … Continue reading The Herald asks ‘Was NHS Scotland right not to prioritise longest waiters?’ What, instead of those who are on the 18-week list because they might die? Is that a tough one?

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The pup sellers of North Britain – musings on promises of Union reform.

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By stewartb – a long read As 2024 ends, we also leave behind the ‘honeymoon period’ (sic) of the new Westminster Labour government.  A time for casting minds back to past promises and for musing on prospects for ‘change’. In Westminster, the Labour government recently announced appointments to the House of Lords. These were well trailed. From Labour List (June 21, 2023): ‘New peer plan raises questions about Labour’s Lords abolition intentions’ – ‘comments by a source close to the leadership in the Times calling Lords reform “hardly mission critical” to the first three years of a Labour government will … Continue reading The pup sellers of North Britain – musings on promises of Union reform.

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Talking-up Scotland 10 Year Anniversary

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Professor John Robertson OBA Just about 11 years ago, I published this research report, revealing clear media bias against the Yes campaign in the run-up to the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum. It went viral in the following days and weeks. See: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/bbc-bias-and-scots-referendum-new-report/ BBC Scotland challenged the findings and reported me for ‘professional misconduct‘ to my employer – the University of the West of Scotland. After a nervous month or so, no action against me was taken. In March 2014, I was called by the Scottish Parliament to defend my work. See: I was followed by four of the BBC Scotland … Continue reading Talking-up Scotland 10 Year Anniversary

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Lib Dems find nothing useful on part-time unpaid police officers who make up 2% of the best staffed force in the UK

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From STV yesterday: Numbers of special constables within Police Scotland have fallen by 73% since the national police service was formed, the Scottish Lib Dems say. Figures obtained by the party through freedom of information show there were 383 special constables in 2023/24. This is a decrease from 1,394 in 2013. The special constabulary is trained to the same standard as the rest of the police service, however, it operates on a volunteer basis. Lib Dem justice spokesman Liam McArthur said: “Special constables are an important link between communities and the police service because they can provide valuable local knowledge. … Continue reading Lib Dems find nothing useful on part-time unpaid police officers who make up 2% of the best staffed force in the UK

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“Scotland is now a dysfunctional example of failed devolution funded by English taxpayers”

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Anonymous Reform UK party ? Here are some actual snippets from Rupert Lowe’s speech at their 2024 Reform UK party conference , he is one of their new MP’s, from 2024 GE, for the constituency of Great Yarmouth, England. (Currently all 5 of their MP’s are elected in ENGLAND , one being a Tory defector, as in 30p Lee). So one or two snippets that Rupert said in his conference speech: “Defund the monopolistic malign BBC” (That’s the same BBC that Nigel Farage has frequently appeared in , on BBC QT as a member of the BBC QT panel, many many times actually, as has Richard Tice , but Richard Tice has also appeared on BBC ‘Politics Live’ as has … Continue reading “Scotland is now a dysfunctional example of failed devolution funded by English taxpayers”

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Rt Hon Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale’s ‘doublethinktank’ reveals high failure rate amongst pupils not actually sitting exams

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I had to pinch myself when I read today from BBC Scotland: Pass rates for Scottish pupils in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) subjects are “very worrying”, according to a report by education experts. The Commission on School Reform analysed exam pass rates for secondary pupils taking National 5 subjects with data going back to 2015. Only 40.1% of fourth year pupils – typically aged 14-16 years old – achieved a pass rate for National 5 mathematics in 2024, while 75.2% passed English. Just over 25% passed the most popular science subject, biology. The Scottish government said that not … Continue reading Rt Hon Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale’s ‘doublethinktank’ reveals high failure rate amongst pupils not actually sitting exams

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Scottish rep for global group responsible for wage theft from low-paid and the erosion of public services is in Scotsman to suggest Scotland has ‘poor public services’

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The above is in the Scotsman today to tell us: How Scotland can escape vicious circle of ill-health, unemployment and poor public services Newcastle is not far away but, typically, he knows nothing about public services in Scotland. He clearly is ignorant of the facts on public services in Scotland, as opposed to in Newcastle. How about? More GPs, doctors, nurses, midwives, beds, home health visitors, fewer strikes, shortest NHS waiting lists, with consequent lowest stillbirth in UK, lowest Covid deaths in UK, lowest Covid care home deaths in UK, fewest (zero) hospitals in special measures…… More police officers per … Continue reading Scottish rep for global group responsible for wage theft from low-paid and the erosion of public services is in Scotsman to suggest Scotland has ‘poor public services’

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New £34m SNP Gov-funded multi-disciplinary GP and health centre opening in Glasgow, ignored by BBC Scotland and credited by STV to Conservative pressure on SNP council yet they have only 2 out of 85 councillors

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Image LDRS From STV yesterday: A huge GP surgery and health centre, which will combine services located at nine different sites, is due to open within weeks in Glasgow’s East End. There will be three GP practices based at the new building in Duke Street – Forge Medical Practice, Drs McKenzie and Burns and Meadowpark Surgery – as well as other services. The health and social care building is one of the largest of its kind in the UK, and it is hoped that patients will be able to access treatment by the end of January. When open, the Hub … Continue reading New £34m SNP Gov-funded multi-disciplinary GP and health centre opening in Glasgow, ignored by BBC Scotland and credited by STV to Conservative pressure on SNP council yet they have only 2 out of 85 councillors

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Leading European expert says Scotland is ‘at the very top pillar with regards to patient safety’ since 2007, but on Boxing Day, BBC Scotland tries to compare us unfavourably with England

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By By Professor John Robertson OBA From BBC Scotland, this morning, after their ignorant and tasteless Christmas Eve attack, with the Scottish Cons and Labour’s Jackie Baillie, on the reputation of the staff at the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank, they’re back at it again today with more inaccurate reporting, this time on patient safety, with: A recruitment drive for Scotland’s first ever Patient Safety Commissioner has failed for a second time. MSPs passed a law creating the new independent public advocate for NHS patients in September last year. The first round of interviews for the £89,685-a-year role in April failed to produce … Continue reading Leading European expert says Scotland is ‘at the very top pillar with regards to patient safety’ since 2007, but on Boxing Day, BBC Scotland tries to compare us unfavourably with England