‘Is that Ruth’s voice coming from one of our storerooms?’
(c) Ian Rutherford
‘Health Secretary put ‘on notice’ by Tories’
‘Shona Robison under mounting pressure over cancelled operations’
Those are today’s Herald and Scotsman headlines aimed at starting another feeble push against the Health Secretary. We read in the Scotsman:
‘The Scottish Conservatives will use their debating time to put Ms Robison ‘on notice’ as they demand urgent action to sort out NHS finances. Shona Robison was under mounting pressure tonight after new NHS data identified a rise in cancelled operations, missed A and E targets and an increase in bed-blocking. The damaging statistics were released ahead of a Holyrood debate on Wednesday that will see the beleaguered Health Secretary’s performance put further under the microscope.’
I’ll deal with their ill-chosen criteria, cancelled operations, missed A and E targets and an increase in bed-blocking, below but first a wee comment on the source of the pressure. The ‘mounting pressure’ comes from the party which has had to downgrade its flagship annual conference to an internal meeting because of lack of interest? It also comes from the same party currently destroying NHS England. I’ve already had some fun, mixed with nausea, with the ‘Sack Shona campaign’. See:
Why are the Tories’ three criteria, cancelled operations, missed A and E targets and an increase in bed-blocking, such bad choices to attack the SNP with? It’s simple. By comparison with NHS England, NHS Scotland is performing much better on all three measures of performance. See:
NHS Scotland A&E significantly outperforms NHS England A&E in February 2018
Have they finished?
Talking-up Scotland 
They really are putting a huge effort into trying to discredit at least one SNP politician, and they don’t seem to care which one it is. Concerted effort between Tories and BBC – but who protects us from the Tories? It’s astounding the things they are dredging up that they seem to think justifies ‘resign’ – the alleged ‘Scottish’ Tory politicians are a bunch of mince-for-brains thugs that lack any morality or ethical conscience, yet they brass neck-like criticise anything less than squeaky clean perfection from others – HYPOCRITES!
In one way, it’s good that our SNP Scottish government gets so much scrutiny, it means we know that they all must be in fact squeaky clean and doing things right, because we know if it was otherwise, the hounds would be tearing them apart. So, the SNP are doing their best under difficult circumstances, and keeping Scotland’s head above water, and showing a massive improvement on conditions elsewhere in the UK, so I know I don’t want any of the SNP to resign. Just wish the sub-species Tories would resign on mass, they have nothing to offer Scotland.
Think of what Scotland could be with the freedom of independence? I can only envision a successful happy country. (Objectively speaking, of course).
LikeLiked by 1 person
As you say the scrutiny has its benefits.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe it was scrutiny by the Citizens’ Media and scrutiny by rather more hard-headed shareholders (Christen Ager Hanssen) who aren’t prepared to thole huge losses to ‘support’ (for purely britnat political reasons) a drowning britnat media policy that led to Johnston Press CEO Ashley Highfield’s surprise ‘resignation’ yesterday.
On April 28th the Herald reported on (ex-beeb chappie) Ashley’s 2017 remuneration package. He was receiving (according to 2017 Annual Report) a total remuneration package of £808,000. This included a ‘basic salary’ of £430,000 (nice one) plus ‘pension contributions of £115,000 (good to know he won’t be choosing between heating and eating in his dotage). He was awarded a ‘bonus’ of £250,000. (This ‘bonus’ came in a year where JP lost another £95M before tax). The ‘bonus’ was set up in a way that, hopefully, might make it more difficult for Ashers to collect now he has ‘resigned’. (I suspect we can thank Christen for insisting on that particular clause).
I suspect it is all too late for JP – but if Mr. Ager Hanssen’s involvement has achieved nothing else as yet – he has, at least, brought this particular gravy train to an end for old Ashley. The ‘going rate’ for doing down Scotland just fell a tiny fraction. The ‘curse of NO’ strikes again. Come Indyref 2 JP will be carrying far less weight – and – who knows – might be in the hands of someone rather less fixated on earning Britannia’s undying gratitude (whatever the cost).
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aye, the strange situation where 50% (rounded) of the Scottish population do not have any news outlet media to give even neutral reporting – why would anybody think that was a good business plan? Freedom of press ,,, no freedom from their extremist editors.
So, it turns out NHS England has fallen short of its duties and breast screening of thousands has been missed – for years – this is scary and horrific news, and a real scandal. I watched a short clip of Jeremy Hunt in parliament & he had a sober manner, in fact there was a lack of the Neanderthal jeering that usually accompanies any SNP MP question in Parliament as a whole. Whether it is a planned move by the Tories to destroy any confidence in their NHS (and so to bring on popularity of privatisation) or not who knows. No one has called for Mr Hunt’s resignation – how strange, when this is a truly life threatening mistake, surely our media particularly our own BBC would be speculating,,, but no, no mention.
The radio hasn’t even reassured women in Scotland, though it is implicit because their report does actually say ‘NHS England’ explicitly – a rare differentiation. Strangely, the radio has not been banging on about various Scottish ministers being called to resign,,, perhaps they are reluctant to mention the word? This would be radio Scotland’s opportunity to mention how well NHS Scotland is doing & praise our health professionals for their good work despite the austerity cuts imposed on them – but no, the BBC endlessly plays politics and just omits any truth that would bolster morale. That our state broadcaster so obviously plays politics = propaganda.
Aha, they are reporting on Scotland now & interviewing Ms Whiteford of the SNP & mentioning Scotland not affected. Still no praise for NHS Scotland.
LikeLike
And today, the Herald is reporting that the SG has sneaked out – ie published, a report saying that blanket cancer treatment targets may be getting in the way of treating aggresive cancer more quickly, andthere may be more efficient ways of dealing with ailments which are diagnosed as not being cancer. The Herald’s take on this? Of course it is Anas Sarwar’s take – the SNP are scrapping targets for the treatment of cancer patients. Oh, and the Sun are telling us that because the Baby Boxes are made from cardboard, they ‘could’ be a fire risk. This on a newspaper printed on …er…paper. But the answer to this is simple. Dont let 2 month old babies play with matches.
LikeLike