Nicola Sturgeon described Boris Johnson as a "clown" during the pandemic, a series of foul-mouthed messages shown to the COVID inquiry has revealed. The exchange between the former first minister and her chief of staff Liz Lloyd took place on 31 October 2020 as the then prime minister appeared on TV to announce the second national lockdown. Ms Sturgeon hit out at the UK government's communications, stating: "This is f****** excruciating - their comms are awful. "His utter incompetence in every sense is now offending me on behalf of politicians everywhere." Ms Lloyd said she was "offended" on behalf of special advisers everywhere. Ms Sturgeon replied: "He is a f****** clown." Image: The foul-mouthed exchange between Nicola Sturgeon and Liz Lloyd. Pic: UK COVID-19 Inquiry Image: The foul-mouthed exchange between … 阅读全文

The Scottish government did not accept that COVID was "here to stay", the UK COVID-19 inquiry has heard. Mark Woolhouse, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, told the inquiry politicians were "mistaken or misinformed" in their understanding of the virus, and said the public was "misled". Responding to questions from Jamie Dawson KC, counsel to the inquiry, Mr Woolhouse said he "didn't understand the Scottish government's strategy over the summer of 2020". He added: "The emphasis was on a very, very cautious relaxation from the lockdown. "And it seemed to be important to the politicians that it was more cautious than the one in England, so they were emphasising that they didn't articulate in any way that I understood, what they thought the public health … 阅读全文

Hundreds of doctors are planning to sue the NHS over claims inadequate PPE on the frontline has left them with long COVID, disabled, and in financial ruin. Dr Kelly Fearnley, 37, was working on a COVID ward at Bradford Royal Infirmary in November 2020 when she caught coronavirus. More than three years later, the effects of long COVID mean she is still unable to work. After episodes of violent shakes, hallucinations, and a resting heart rate more than double the average, she was diagnosed with limbic encephalitis - inflammation of parts of the brain. Image: Swelling on Dr Fearnley's eyelid after contracting COVID. Pic: Kelly Fearnley Image: Swelling on Dr Fearnley's eyelid after contracting COVID. Pic: Kelly Fearnley Meanwhile, Dr Nathalie MacDermott - an infectious diseases registrar who treated people … 阅读全文

Nicola Sturgeon branded a statement issued by Aberdeen FC during the COVID pandemic as a "complacent abomination", text messages have revealed. Scotland's then first minister hit out at the football team after eight players breached strict social distancing rules during a pub trip in August 2020. Two players tested positive for the virus and a further six were instructed to self-isolate for 14 days, eventually forcing the team's match with St Johnstone to be postponed. Ahead of the Scottish Premiership game being called off, Aberdeen FC issued a statement describing the breaches as a "bitter blow" and a "harsh reminder of the severity and speed of spread of this virus". Dave Cormack, the club's chairman, said a full investigation would be carried out and all those linked to the club … 阅读全文

Professor Jason Leitch has said his claim of deleting WhatsApp messages as a "pre-bed ritual" was a "flippant exaggeration". The Scottish government's national clinical director is giving evidence to the UK COVID inquiry, which is currently sitting in Edinburgh. Last week the inquiry was shown transcripts of a group chat. Within the message, Ken Thomson, the Scottish government's former director-general of strategy and external affairs, warned that its contents were "FOI-recoverable" and sent an emoji face with a mouth zipped shut. Professor Leitch responded: "WhatsApp deletion is a pre-bed ritual." On Tuesday, Professor Leitch said the comment was "slightly flippant". He added: "It's an exaggeration. I didn't daily delete my WhatsApp. "My position is - as I have just described to you - that I tried to do today's work … 阅读全文

Scotland's chief medical officer told colleagues to delete WhatsApp messages "at the end of every day" during the pandemic, the COVID inquiry has heard. Professor Sir Gregor Smith's testimony has added to a growing political storm around the retention of informal messages by senior decision-makers and their advisers during the handling of COVID. Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon and her deputy John Swinney did not retain messages, while the national clinical director, Professor Jason Leitch, said deleting messages was a "pre-bed ritual". A message from Sir Gregor in a group chat in July 2021 with other government medical advisers was shown at the hearing in Edinburgh on Monday. Deputy chief medical officer, Professor Graham Ellis, said "hope this isn't FOI-able?" in reference to freedom of information in an exchange where … 阅读全文

All of Nicola Sturgeon's WhatsApp messages during the pandemic appear to have been deleted, the UK COVID inquiry has heard. The hearing, which is currently sitting in Edinburgh, also heard evidence in which top Scottish government advisor Professor Jason Leitch described erasing the messages as a "pre-bed ritual". Jamie Dawson KC, counsel to the inquiry, said former first minister Ms Sturgeon appeared to have "retained no messages whatsoever". The hearing also heard evidence that her deputy John Swinney's WhatsApp messages were either deleted manually or by using the app's auto-delete function. Ms Sturgeon has previously insisted she has "nothing to hide" and never used the informal messaging to make decisions during the pandemic. She will give evidence to the inquiry in the coming weeks. Image: Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney … 阅读全文

The mother of an 11-year-old girl with long COVID has launched legal action against a health board in what is thought to be one of the first cases of its kind in Scotland. Helen Goss, from Westhill in Aberdeenshire, is seeking damages from NHS Grampian on behalf of her daughter, Anna Hendy. The action - led by Thompsons Solicitors Scotland - claims medical negligence towards the schoolgirl, who has suffered from long COVID since March 2020. NHS Grampian said it could not comment on individual patient cases. Anna has been unable to return to school, needs the use of a wheelchair, and is often confined to her bed. Image: Anna at home. Pic: Helen Goss Image: Anna at home. Pic: Helen Goss In a statement posted on X, Ms Goss … 阅读全文

People in Scotland have been sharing their stories of how the pandemic has affected their lives - as the UK COVID inquiry resumed in Edinburgh. It is the first time the hearings, chaired by former judge Baroness Hallett, have taken place outside of London since the inquiry began in 2022 - and will focus on decision-making in Scotland. A total of 12 sessions will take place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) between 16 January and 1 February. Key witnesses are expected to include former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, ex-health minister Jeane Freeman, and national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch. The hearing on Tuesday began with a 20-minute impact video, featuring many Scots affected by the pandemic. Lady Hallet described the film as "extremely moving" and said some may … 阅读全文

Sarah-Jane Mee is joined by Sir David Nicholson, who used to run the NHS in England, as they explore 'How to fix the NHS' - a new mini podcast series for 2024 from the Sky News Daily. This time, Sarah-Jane and Sir David tackle the issue of mental health and a growing demand on services - particularly among children. Before the pandemic, one in nine children needed help with their mental health but now, one in six are trying to access services. They're joined by Dr Sarah Hughes, CEO of the charity Mind, to discuss why they believe "it's not about throwing money at the crisis end of the spectrum" - and how early intervention could provide more significant results. Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you … 阅读全文