Tag: scotland

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Factcheck – Full emergency waiting times are significantly shorter in Scotland unless you fake the figures like the Times

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By Professor John Robertson OBA Many thanks to AR for alerting me to this. Two days ago, the Times had an extended report, widely copied across the media and exciting Unionist voices, to suggest that NHS Scotland is actually lagging behind NHS England, on the overall backlog, cancer waiting times and A&E waiting times. I’ll tackle them one at a time. A&E waiting times The Times claims that in September 2024 65.9% were seen within 4 hours in Scotland and 72.4% were seen in that time in NHS England. They’re confused or dishonest. Looking at the published data, from Public Health Scotland, … Continue reading Factcheck – Full emergency waiting times are significantly shorter in Scotland unless you fake the figures like the Times

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Even with the predicted council tax increase Scots will still pay far less than in other parts of UK as they have done for the last 17 years

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In July 2024, from the Scottish Government: Council Tax rates are regularly quoted as being lower in Scotland than in England. However, does a simple numerical comparison tell you everything you need to know? At face value, the official statistics show that the average Council Tax bill per dwelling in Scotland is over £350 per year lower. 1 The full report does go on to explain why direct comparisons are problematic but you can be sure that were this the other way round, MSM would not hesitate to shout: SNP Council Tax bills £350 higher! In November 2023, from Policy Mogul, … Continue reading Even with the predicted council tax increase Scots will still pay far less than in other parts of UK as they have done for the last 17 years

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Scotsman’s David Bols is either thick or trying to deceive you with suggestion that NHS Scotland is lagging behind NHS England when it’s clearly far ahead

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By Professor John Robertson OBA David Bol of the Scotsman today has this astonishing headline: SNP dealt blow as NHS recovery in Scotland lagging behind England This claim is based on the supposed evidence that performance in NHS Scotland is worsening while in NHS England it’s improving. Yes, but, but, David, what if performance in Scotland is worsening and is improving in England but the English performance is still worse than the Scottish performance, isn’t it England that’s lagging, until, at least it overtakes Scotland? Get me? Objectively, which NHS is lagging? The facts once more: First, THREE times as many wait … Continue reading Scotsman’s David Bols is either thick or trying to deceive you with suggestion that NHS Scotland is lagging behind NHS England when it’s clearly far ahead

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They are not only doing political journalism in BBC Wales differently from BBC Scotland but opponents of the government in Cardiff may behave differently too

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By stewartb Seems they are not only doing political journalism in BBC Wales differently from BBC Scotland but opponents of the government in Cardiff may behave differently too. The BBC News website in its Wales section today (November 26) had this headline about NHS Wales: ‘Ambulance response target may change after failures’. It reports: ‘Ambulance response targets in Wales may change in 2025, after four years of the service failing to meet its key measure.’ ‘A total of 65% of the most life-threatening calls are expected to arrive to a patient within eight minutes, but this has been missed for the past … Continue reading They are not only doing political journalism in BBC Wales differently from BBC Scotland but opponents of the government in Cardiff may behave differently too

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Labour should rethink this one, and give money directly to the devolved Scottish Government for them to allocate to Scottish councils

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Anonymous The National (England) Audit Office stated yesterday that “Just one in 10 local authorities submitted reliable formal accounts of their spending in 2022-23. Of the remaining 90%, half failed to submit any financial data at all and half submitted accounts that had not been audited“ Remember Labour’s big plan for Scotland is to bypass the Scottish government and allow Ian Murray, as Labour’s new SOS for Scotland ,to allocate funds directly to Scottish councils so hopefully they, the Scottish councils, are more diligent and careful with their accounting. This BTW is a carbon copy of what the Tories were going to do … Continue reading Labour should rethink this one, and give money directly to the devolved Scottish Government for them to allocate to Scottish councils

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SHOCK as FIVE TIMES as many, per head, wait for home care in England than in Scotland

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland, today: The number of people estimated to be waiting on a social care assessment to enable them to live independently at home or in the community was 6,027 on 4 November 2024. The estimated number of people assessed and waiting for a care at home package was 3,281 on 4 November 2024. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/people-requiring-a-social-care-assessment-and-care-at-home-services/people-requiring-a-social-care-assessment-and-care-at-home-services-26-november-2024/ So, that’s around 9 300 in total waiting for assessment and/or waiting for a care at home package. So, in England that should be around 93 000? It’s not. It’s nowhere near as few. It’s between 400 000 and 500 … Continue reading SHOCK as FIVE TIMES as many, per head, wait for home care in England than in Scotland

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NHS Scotland seeing far more, per head, within crucial 18 weeks target

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland today: Of all pathways completed, 85.7% (242,384) were fully measurable against the 18-week standard. 68.1% (164,983) of these pathways were completed within 18 weeks of referral, an increase from 65.5% in the previous quarter.1 From the Nuffield Trust in April 2024, the most recent comparable data I can find, the equivalent figure was only 57%.2 Put simply, if NHS Scotland had been led by a Conservative government, 8-9% of the 242 384 referred, around 20 000 patients, would have waited longer than they did in Scotland. Why does the 18 week target matter … Continue reading NHS Scotland seeing far more, per head, within crucial 18 weeks target

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Scottish homicide rate falls 23% to 10% below that in England & Wales and more than 100% solved

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By Professor John Robertson, OBA From Recorded Crime in Scotland published today, we see that there were 48 recorded cases of murder and culpable homicide in Scotland in the year ending September 2024, down 11% on the previous year and down 23% on 2022.1 How is BBC Scotland covering this? They’re not. From the ONS in July 2024, there were 583 homicide offences in England & Wales for the year ending March 2024.2 All things being equal, England & Wales might have been expected to have a homicide rate 11 times that of Scotland, or 528 but had 583, 55 times … Continue reading Scottish homicide rate falls 23% to 10% below that in England & Wales and more than 100% solved

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Scotland to take no lessons from Labour on saving lives by cutting smoking

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By Professor John Robertson, OBA In the Herald, today: The Secretary of State for Scotland has said UK Government proposals to gradually increase the age at which people can buy tobacco “will save lives” in Scotland.  Speaking ahead of the Tobacco and Vapes bill being debated at Westminster tomorrow, Ian Murray said the plans offer a chance to show how a “reset in relationships” between the UK and Scottish Governments can make a difference to peoples lives in Scotland.  https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24746978.tobacco-restriction-plans-will-save-lives-scotland/ Not being mentioned, of course: From The Scottish Health Survey 2023 – volume 1: main report, published today, the above graph reveals a marked … Continue reading Scotland to take no lessons from Labour on saving lives by cutting smoking

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First the Tory Brexit betrayal, now Labour try to push Ayrshire farmers under a tractor with a boycott, surely they know to vote SNP now?

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Today in the Express: Outrage as Labour councillor calls for boycott of Scottish farms amid budget backlash. A Labour councillor has been branded “arrogant” after suggesting Scots farms should be boycotted amid growing anger at Rachel Reeves’ budget within the sector. Brian McGinley, who sits on South Ayrshire Council, made the call in response to suggestions of a farmers’ strike. Only two weeks ago they were using their grizzled media attack dog, John McTernan, to undermine farmers with similar threats. Scottish farmers are known to be Tory voters. Even the Depute First Ministers husband is a keen one. This support is illogical given the … Continue reading First the Tory Brexit betrayal, now Labour try to push Ayrshire farmers under a tractor with a boycott, surely they know to vote SNP now?