Talking-up Scotland

Scotland

KA7

BBC News (TV, Radio and website)

General News

Bias

No

Incitement of complaints against NHS Scotland

On 12th January 2016, BBC Scotland Newsdesk tweeted: ‘Have you been affected by Glasgow’s QEUH maternity unit being closed to new admissions? Let us know your story.’ at: https://twitter.com/BBCScotNewsdesk/status/819846956428226560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw. At 6.30pm on13th Reporting Scotland headlined with ‘A Health board apologises to five pregnant women who were turned away from the maternity unit at Glasgow’s ‘flagship’ hospital because of a shortage of beds.’ Along with commentators under the original tweet I see this as unethical behaviour contrary to your Royal Charter. One wrote: ‘Have you been affected by the death of journalism by lazy social media stalkers? Let us know your story’ while another equally sarcastically wrote: ‘Impressive start in establishing public trust by Donalda’s new BBC Scotland regime.’ This is behaviour worthy only of the gutter press and not the national broadcaster with a commitment to educate and to inform. Further the story is not newsworthy (STV ignored it) Five pregnant women had to travel an extra 7.3 miles for a bed, taking as long as 19 minutes to do so. Those of us not living in an inner city area may well remember much longer journeys from our home to the nearest maternity unit, 30 or more miles away. In the face of the kind of catastrophe affecting NHS England, Wales and NI, you’d think BBC Scotland would either praise NHS Scotland or if they can’t bear to do that, just shut up. The above report is both pathetic and unethical and was the 8th negative NHS Scotland story in 8 days. STV had only 3. Reporting Scotland should be ashamed