Talking-up Scotland

Note: Found this in my drafts folder, forgotten

I know it’s not a necessary condition for the Scots to be really different from their neighbours to then deserve independence but, if it’s there, it can help in articulating a rationale which helps. Yesterday, in the Guardian/Observer, we read:

‘Three-quarters of NHS hospital trusts in England are using private debt firms to chase treatment costs from overseas patients and refused asylum seekers in a practice branded “inhumane” by critics, the Observer can reveal. Data released under the Freedom of Information Act shows that 77 of 102 hospital trusts have used private debt firms to pursue ineligible patients. Of 60 trusts that provided patient numbers, 8,468 patient debts were referred to private debt collectors between 2016 and 2018. However, of the 48 trusts that provided full financial details, only about £1.5m of the £21m of debt referred to private firms during those three years has been recouped – barely 7%.’

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/23/nhs-trusts-use-bailiffs-collect-debts-ineligible-patients-asylum-seekers-immigrants

I searched and searched but could find no evidence of a single case of a Scottish health board pursuing the sick for the cost of treatment. Tourism is booming so there will have been a few. I’d have been horrified if I had. That wouldn’t be the better country I want to live in.

Mind you, maybe our health board accountants had already worked out that it would cost more to pursue than we’d get in return – canny!

Add the above to the list below to see that we are collectively, in our behaviour and values, a wee bit different.

More evidence of a difference as 73% of Scots back increase in taxes for higher public spending

Are Scotland’s employers also different – more willing to pay a decent wage?

Another step on the way to becoming a ‘Living Wage Nation’ and a ‘Better Nation?’

With 1 in 4 living wage employers already in Scotland, the Scottish Government aims to make this a ‘Living Wage Nation’

8% of the UK population and 28% of living wage employers. More evidence that we are different enough to want to run the whole show?

80 000 lowest paid workers in NHS England still on poverty wages as NHS Scotland follows Scottish Government policy to pay a living wage to all public-sector employees

Scottish care workers to receive Living Wage for ‘sleepover’ hours while English care workers receive only the National Minimum Wage.

At 78% level of satisfaction with NHS Scotland is impressive 36% higher than for the NHS across UK

UK Government urged to follow Scotland’s praised lead on employee ownership – another 8% story?

8% of the population but 11.8% of the charitable donations – ‘punching above our weight?’

8% of the UK population and 28% of living wage employers. More evidence that we are different enough to want to run the whole show?

BBC Scotland lie and distort to try again to spread violent crime crisis into Scotland despite it having only 3.5% of the gangs for 8% of the population, falling levels of violent crime and because of falling levels of fear of crime?

Wha’s like us? Damn few and they’re a’ deid!