Tag: scotland

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Unique SNP drug death prevention scheme reduces load on hospitals for 4th quarter in a row and down by one third in only one year

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By Professor John Robertson Why is the above happening? In major part for this reason: After a pilot phase ending in 2018, the Scottish Government began to embed Naloxone opioid overdose reversal kits across NHS Scotland. Shortly after, the kits which can be administered by anyone, were adopted by Police Scotland, ambulances and prisons, and made available to libraries, community centres, taxi drivers and to the friends and relatives of users. Scotland was the first country in the world to introduce a national naloxone programme, empowering individuals, families, friends and communities to reverse an opiate overdose. Anyone in Scotland can … Continue reading Unique SNP drug death prevention scheme reduces load on hospitals for 4th quarter in a row and down by one third in only one year

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STV is 7 times more likely to report on County Lines from English cities terrorising small-town, Scotland in the public interest.

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In response to my follow-up complaint showing objectively that BBC Scotland has only ever mentioned the term ‘County Lines’, in the headline to a story, twice, in 2019 and 2021 and never mentions that the flow of drugs is from English cities into Scotland. A BBC UK report in March 2024, mentions Scottish towns but does not use the term nor does it locate the gangs in English cities, as is the case, exclusively. BBC Complaints wrote to me yesterday: We raised your complaint with senior news editors at BBC Scotland. They have little to add to the response you’ve … Continue reading STV is 7 times more likely to report on County Lines from English cities terrorising small-town, Scotland in the public interest.

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Child poverty: why is BBC hiding its article on poorer families in Scotland being ‘more fortunate’ than those in England due to Scottish Government action?

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No cheap tabloid images of sad wee weans here. And why is a Fraser of Allander economist so grudging? – “So it’s POSSIBLE the rate of child poverty would have been higher in the absence of the Scottish Child Payment”. Only just “possible” that £26.70 per week for each and every child in poorer families reduces poverty – really? By stewartb There is yet another example of strange editorial decisions taken by those that run the BBC News website. An article appeared (at c. 1 am on July 28) on the website entitled: ‘Tale of two nations: Meeting families with … Continue reading Child poverty: why is BBC hiding its article on poorer families in Scotland being ‘more fortunate’ than those in England due to Scottish Government action?

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A decrepit newspaper that has frequently left readers ill-informed and is now high and dry

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The Herald today has: Decrepit? From a September 2022, Ernst and Young LLP survey for the Scottish Government’s Transport Scotland department, CalMac ferries were, on average, newer (22) than those in affluent Norway (26), Australia (24) and Canada/Vancouver (35!). You can add two years to all of those ages but CalMac, funded by the Scottish Government, has still kept its fleet younger than all comparable advanced economy large archipelago fleets. For further example, Washington State Ferries serving affluent Seattle, don’t publish these data but a quick check of their wikipedia page reveals that 12 of their 21 ferries are over 40 years … Continue reading A decrepit newspaper that has frequently left readers ill-informed and is now high and dry

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Criminals from major cities such as London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham are expanding their drug networks into rural and suburban areas throughout Scotland

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Tarves (population 1 080) on 29 June 2024 react with shock to the above in the P&J local newspaper. BBC Scotland NE did not cover the story but STV NE did and mentioned County Lines in the headline. BBC Scotland has only covered County Lines drug gangs 3 times since 2019 with the last, naming them and their origins, in 2021. This plague is big news across Aberdeenshire: Police Scotland, whose activity in investigating supposed SNP fraud has been of endless fascination for BBC Scotland, are heavily involved: BBC Scotland’s clear aversion to covering this plague of violence and related … Continue reading Criminals from major cities such as London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham are expanding their drug networks into rural and suburban areas throughout Scotland

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How many SNP health secretaries have to avert an NHS strike before they get credit for saving many lives?

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There have been no health service strikes by doctors, junior doctors, GPs, consultants, nurses, midwives, ambulance paramedics or radiologists in Scotland. Almost all have taken action in England and some in Wales. Only the radioactive GMB has managed to trick its porter and cleaner members to take action. Millions of appointments and procedures have been cancelled with the inevitable loss of uncounted lives. Through a willingness to keep talking and the adoption of respect for professionals, SNP health secretaries, backed up by the SNP Government, have saved hundreds of thousands of appointments and procedures. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of lives, have … Continue reading How many SNP health secretaries have to avert an NHS strike before they get credit for saving many lives?

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BBC Scotland’s avoidance of English County Lines gang terror complaint – their odd response and my follow-up complaint

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On July 23rd, I wrote to BBC Complaints: County Lines gangs, based in large English cities have been responsible for a spreading plague of extreme violence, more accessible and cheaper illegal drug supplies, child abuse, prostitution, people trafficking and the exploitation (cuckooing) of vulnerable adults in small-town UK, into places previously less affected by crime. Recent data reveal a surge in knife crime in rural and small-town areas in England and a recent surge in violent crime in similar areas in Scotland. Police Scotland estimates more than 50 County Lines gang activities in Scotland using children to carry the drugs … Continue reading BBC Scotland’s avoidance of English County Lines gang terror complaint – their odd response and my follow-up complaint

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Drink drive deaths in England soar to nearly three times those in Scotland halved after Scottish Government lowers limit

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By Professor John Robertson In the Guardian, typically Anglocentric, today: Deaths due to drinking and driving on UK roads have increased to 300 annually, a 13-year high, according to newly published government data. There were an estimated 300 deaths where at least one driver was over the legal blood-alcohol limit in 2022, the latest year for which official figures are available, the Department for Transport said. This is the highest annual figure since 2009, a toll motoring organisations described as “abhorrent” and concerning. The number is 16% higher than in 2021 and means drink-drive fatalities accounted for about 18% of all road deaths, … Continue reading Drink drive deaths in England soar to nearly three times those in Scotland halved after Scottish Government lowers limit

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The knock-on consequences for the size of the Block Grants to devolved administrations and the resourcing of the NHS in Scotland

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By stewartb The recent National Audit Office report entitled ‘NHS Financial Management and Sustainability’ makes substantive comments on the state of NHS England and the challenges it faces due to financial settlements over many years now from Westminster governments. Of course it makes ZERO reference to the knock-on consequences for the size of the Block Grants to devolved administrations and the resourcing of the NHS in NI, Scotland and Wales. See https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/nhs-financial-management-and-sustainability-2024/ Just a few extracts from the NAO report help to reinforce the point for anyone willing to acknowledge how the Barnet Formula operates: The NAO explains that ‘over the decade … Continue reading The knock-on consequences for the size of the Block Grants to devolved administrations and the resourcing of the NHS in Scotland

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What the Scottish Government has achieved with the Scottish NHS is more than mere mitigation

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By Legerwood What the Scottish Government has achieved with the Scottish NHS is more than mere mitigation. Just look at the number of new hospitals that have been built the length and breadth of Scotland and the upgrades to existing hospitals. For example, new Community hospitals in Kirkwall, Aviemore, Broadford, Haddington to name but a few. They provide a better work environment and often increased facilities which mean better outcomes for patients. The new community hospital in Kirkwall won a silver medal in an international competition. Haddington Community Hospital which has only been open for a few years won a … Continue reading What the Scottish Government has achieved with the Scottish NHS is more than mere mitigation