Left journalism after 16 years in January to try sth new - wasn't an easy decision, so lovely surprise to be nominated for Specialist Reporter of the Year at the 2025 #ScottishPressAwards 😊❤️🍾

That's all folks! My last Saturday analysis column looks back on 16 years at @heraldscotland - what's changed, and the stories that stand out❤️ ANALYSIS What have I learned from 16 years in journalism? www.heraldscotland.com/news/2485404...

A tribute to David Lynch, who has died at the age of 78, written by @derekmcarthur.bsky.social in August when the legendary director confirmed he would never step foot on a set again www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2450...

My final #InsidetheNHS column looks at why the ambulance service has been urging out of hours GPs to "consider alternatives" to hospital treatment for patients www.heraldscotland.com/news/2485283...

'Wholly unacceptable' EXC Breast cancer survivors 'in limbo' amid two-year wait for NHS reconstruction surgery www.heraldscotland.com/news/2485177...

📌Some personal news: Sad to say after more than 16 years, 8 covering health, today is my last day at @heraldscotland.bsky.social and - for now - my last day as a journalist. It's been an absolute blast, so I'll simply sign off with one of my favourite stories👇 www.heraldscotland.com/news/1778288...

'It all starts with Covid' This wk's Sat analysis on how Covid conspiracy theories planted the seeds for Jan 6 insurrection - and an appetite for medical misinfo 👇 ANALYSIS The surprising links between January 6, Covid denialism, and the 'wellness' boom www.heraldscotland.com/news/2484027...

'They know they have a problem on their hands because years of a regulatory vacuum has already allowed hundreds of salons around the country to pop up' OPINION Dr Darren McKeown: Scot Govt cosmetic crackdown 'has all the trappings of political manoeuvring' www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2483...

Scot Govt proposals to tighten regulation around who can provide treatment like Botox and filler have been dubbed 'messy' and 'irrational' @heraldscotland.bsky.social EXC Experts warn 'loopholes' in cosmetic crackdown will leave patients exposed to harm www.heraldscotland.com/news/2484738...

The UK's first Safer Drug Consumption Facility opens in Glasgow on Monday. Health correspondent @hmcardleht.bsky.social takes an in-depth look: heraldscotland.com/news/2484531... (1/3)

Visited the UK's first Safer Drug Consumption Facility yesterday ahead of its opening on Monday - full story here👇 "The reality is I think we're going to be busy really quickly." A decade in the making - will Glasgow's drug consumption facility work? www.heraldscotland.com/news/2484531...

Biomarker test for lung cancer cuts deaths by 40 per cent @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2484121...

This wk's #InsidetheNHS looks at why Glasgow's Hospital at Home closed, and why attempts to relaunch it are stalling @heraldscotland.bsky.social The row over NHS Glasgow's Hospital at Home service www.heraldscotland.com/news/2483928...

The UK's first official consumption room for illegal drugs including heroin and cocaine is due to open in Glasgow this month www.heraldscotland.com/news/2484029... @hmcardleht.bsky.social

💥Make it a HappyNY Get @heraldscotland.bsky.social for £25 for the whole of 2025 - and catch up on in depth series like this one heraldscotland.com/subscribe/ 👇 Skin Deep: Inside the Herald's investigation into Scotland's booming beauty industry www.heraldscotland.com/news/2477701...

New research makes the case - once again - for distributing GP spend by need to most deprived areas. I hear from one patient who benefitted @heraldscotland.bsky.social How can we close health inequalities? Invest in GP practices and grassroots schemes www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/...

Paul has gone from being homeless, on the streets, using drugs and alcohol to becoming an athlete - thanks to the kindness of a stranger @heraldscotland.bsky.social 'Adult fostering' is transforming lives in Scotland - so why isn't it talked about? www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/...

The last Sat analysis of 2024 takes a look at the complexities behind Scotland and England's waiting list divide @heraldscotland.bsky.social ANALYSIS Was the NHS in Scotland right not to prioritise patients with the longest waits? www.heraldscotland.com/news/2481875...

They're not calling it an 'extraordinary' flu season for nothing - unusually high rates of infection right now, already worse than in 2022/23 Scotland hit by worst flu season in years as hospital admissions surge 65 per cent www.heraldscotland.com/news/2482092...

Right now, get @heraldscotland.bsky.social for the next 13 months for £25 - perfect chance to catch up with in-depth series like this one👇 www.heraldscotland.com/subscribe Scotland and Alcohol: How the Herald investigated our relationship with booze www.heraldscotland.com/news/2477699...

Two years ago today, Scott McQuade arrived at A&E for the start of a 2-year sepsis nightmare. He is finally home thanks to the kind donations of friends and strangers👇 EXC Sepsis survivor home for first Christmas in two years thanks to £30k fundraiser www.heraldscotland.com/news/2477685...

Flu cases take up one in 15 beds at major hospital amid 'extraordinary' outbreak @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2481544...

'Too often doctors who want to disclose patient safety issues are disciplined or threatened' - #ThirlwellInquiry ANALYSIS These might be the most important lessons for the NHS from Lucy Letby public inquiry @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2480566...

Christmas joy 🎅for Graham Casey, 63, from Bearsden who is now in remission after a shock diagnosis two years ago EXC 'Christmas will be special this year': Grandad's cancer mistaken for pulled muscle @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/...

Merry Christmas!!🍸🍸

The @heraldscotland.bsky.social did a deep dive earlier this year into the sector. New proposals interesting - but I'm not sure they'll go far enough for campaigners Scot Govt sets out new proposals to tighten regulation of cosmetic sector www.heraldscotland.com/news/2480941...

One patient waiting for gallbladder surgery was told he faces a 70 week wait before he can be added to the waiting list Golden Jubilee: Number of operations fall at NHS Scotland's biggest elective hub www.heraldscotland.com/news/2480114...

Our last #InsidetheNHS for 2024 looks at how and why NHS Grampian is struggling to meet demand for care in the wake of November's 'critical incident' 'This can't continue': Inside the 'high risk' pressures engulfing NHS Grampian www.heraldscotland.com/news/2480108...

'Attention is turning to whether there is something intrinsically harmful about these foods' Get @heraldscotland for the whole of 2025 for just £25: heraldscotland.com/subscribe/ ANALYSIS Could 2025 be a watershed year for obesity and ultra-processed food? www.heraldscotland.com/news/2479061...

'Developing situation': IT software supplier to Scots GP practices in administration www.heraldscotland.com/news/2479013...

Steep increase in flu rates in week ending December 8. Following similar trajectory at the moment to 2022/23 winter

This wk's #InsidetheNHS on what last week's Budget means for health service - and, crucially, what wasn't mentioned👇 @heraldscotland.bsky.social Will the Scottish Budget get the health service working? www.heraldscotland.com/news/2478231...

Physiotherapists sound alarm over staffing crisis impacting patient care in Scotland www.heraldscotland.com/news/2478406...

GP numbers in Scotland fall for second year in a row www.heraldscotland.com/news/2478454...

Annual GP workforce survey out: The size of Scotland's GP workforce has declined again year on year, from 3,478.4 in 2023 to 3,453.1 WTE in 2024. Sickness absence up too - the number of GP sessions lost to sickness absence was around 15% higher last year than in 2022/23

EXC No laughing matter? The stand up event shining a spotlight on suicide prevention @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2477185...

This wk's Sat analysis in @heraldscotland.bsky.social on what new research is telling us about the burdens of long Covid, the chances of recovery, and how to get there👇 ANALYSIS The long Covid legacy: Costs to economy, NHS, and the question of recovery www.heraldscotland.com/news/2477580...

This week's #InsidetheNHS looks at why GPs in Scotland have voted to ballot on industrial action, and what forms it could take Industrial action by GPs is looming - how did we get here? www.heraldscotland.com/news/2476982...

Just a few hours left to grab a bargain - access to @heraldscotland.bsky.social ad-free, no paywalls, for a full YEAR for only £20👇

Subscribe to @heraldscotland.bsky.social for £20 for a full year: heraldscotland.com/subscribe/ 'The scale and pace of reform needs to increase' - Audit Scotland👇 Audit Scotland warns tough choices needed on NHS including what it 'stops doing' www.heraldscotland.com/news/2476470...

This year, we have run numerous in-depth series on issues that matter to people in Scotland. In our Black Friday offer, you can receive 12 months of unlimited ad-free web and app access for only £20. www.heraldscotland.com/subscribe/?u... Here's a look at what we've been covering... (1/11)

If you haven't already, there's still time to subscribe to @heraldscotland.bsky.social - you can get a full YEAR of access for £20. But hurry, offer ends tomorrow www.heraldscotland.com/subscribe/

We report today on concerns being raised by clinicians as #NHSGGC replaces many of its #SAERs (the process used to investigate incidents of patient harm and near misses) with a newly created 'Rapid Review' - they warn it will mean much less scrutiny and transparency👇

Are Scotland's planned NTC's actually enough to get waiting times back on target? Why is productivity down? And are there any 'quick fixes'?👇 ANALYSIS Can NHS Scotland ever get back to where it should be on waiting times? www.heraldscotland.com/news/2475824...

💥Limited time only - Get full access to @heraldscotland.bsky.social now for a YEAR for just £20 heraldscotland.com/subscribe/ EXC Medics 'flabbergasted' by NHS Glasgow shake up to Serious Adverse Event process www.heraldscotland.com/news/2475843...

MPs vote 330 to 275 in favour of legalising assisted dying in England and Wales Will this sway wavering MSPs when it comes to considering a change in the law for Scotland too?