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The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland's public sector cuts and a stinking metaphor
They had to pee in the showers, which was fine until the drifting ship hit choppy waters and the overflowing shower trays spilled into the cabins and hallways. The trickiest choice for passengers was over what to do with number twos. The hen party interviewed in the documentary mainlined Imodium, while the young man trying to impress his father-in-law-to-be spent an age searching the boat's 13 decks for the last working bog. Others tried to hold it in, but most opted for the small red carrier bags doled out by the ship's crew. They left them filled and tied up outside their doors, leaving the ship's corridors like a Glasgow city centre street ahead of a major event. Sometimes circumstances leave you with nothing but poor choices. Take, for instance, the near £5 billion black hole in the Scottish Government's finances. Shona Robison is opting for Imodium, hunting for the one working loo and using the red bag all at the same time. To plug the gap, the Finance Secretary is hoping for growth, searching for efficiencies and cutting the number of public sector jobs. The red bag option here is the threat of compulsory redundancies. The minister believes she should be able to reduce staffing numbers by 0.5% annually for five years, through retirements and general churn, eventually saving £700m per year. Read more from Unspun: But when asked if she could rule out compulsory redundancies, she could not. You'd be right to think that 0.5% of roughly 460,000 devolved public sector workers isn't actually a huge amount, particularly when the workforce is now up 39,000 on pre-Covid levels. But what makes this choice tougher is that the government probably isn't going to be looking at the frontline. NHS staff, for example, will likely be protected. It'll be back office staff who are targeted Suddenly, that makes the pool much smaller. Will retirements, voluntary severance and a recruitment freeze be enough to get the Scottish Government to their target? As Professor Graeme Roy, the Chair of the Scottish Fiscal Commission told journalists on Thursday morning, if this "doesn't get you the number that you need, then you're going to have to find it either through direct redundancy policies or by trying to find and free up resources elsewhere from the non pay budget." Basically, if ministers don't want to fire public sector workers then they will need to find the money from somewhere else. Where this properly awful metaphor that I've hammered to death over 500 words falls down is that the Carnival Triumph was eventually towed to safety. There's no tugboat on the horizon for the Scottish Government. The messiest situations demand the toughest choices — and sometimes, even the best options still stink.
Otago Daily Times
12-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
More denials from mushroom murder-accused
Disagree. Disagree. Disagree. Those were Erin Patterson's responses to the prosecution's final three questions in her murder trial. Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC rounded out her marathon cross-examination on Thursday with three suggestions: that Patterson deliberately sourced death cap mushrooms in 2023, deliberately included them in the beef Wellington she served her former in-laws and did so intending to kill them. Patterson has pleaded not guilty to the murders of her estranged husband Simon's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, 70, his aunt Heather Wilkinson, 66, and the attempted murder of Heather's husband Ian. She denies deliberately poisoning her lunch guests on July 29, 2023 when she served them meals that included death cap mushrooms. Patterson was accused of more lies on her eighth and final day in the witness box at the Supreme Court in Morwell in regional Victoria. The 50-year-old was asked about her evidence that she dehydrated dried mushrooms she had bought from an Asian grocer before adding them to the beef Wellingtons. She agreed she never said this to anyone at the time and didn't mention putting the fungi into the dehydrator when she earlier admitted adding them to the lunch. "I suggest this is another lie you made up on the spot," Dr Rogers said, accusing Patterson of hedging her bets to try to make it sound like there were multiple possible sources for the death cap mushrooms. "Incorrect," the accused killer responded. The prosecutor also suggested Patterson lied about taking diarrhoea treatment following the lunch after the 50-year-old earlier claimed one reason she went to hospital was because she thought they would have something stronger. Patterson agreed she did not tell medical staff at the hospital she had taken the medication, maintaining no one asked. "If you were looking for something stronger, you would've told medical staff you had already taken Imodium and it didn't work," Dr Rogers said. "I don't agree," Patterson responded. She was also questioned about her evidence that she had to stop by the side of a road and go to the toilet in the bushes while driving her son to a flying lesson, something the boy denied during his testimony. "I suggest he did not recall you stopping by the bushes on the side of the road because it did not happen ... I suggest this is another lie you told the jury about how you managed the trip to Tyabb," Dr Rogers said. "Disagree," Patterson said. The mother-of-two said she had served her children reheated beef Wellington with the mushroom and pastry scraped off while she had a bowl of cereal the night after the deadly lunch. But Dr Rogers referred to her children's evidence, in which they suggested their mother had the same meal of leftovers the night after the fatal lunch. One of Patterson's children said she "ate the same as us", but Patterson told the court they were incorrect and denied eating the leftover food. She also denied that she "deliberately concealed" one of her phones, referred to at the trial as phone A, from police when they searched her house. Patterson said she switched from phone A to another, referred to as phone B, because the former was "not cutting it anymore". But the prosecution pointed to records that showed regular use from a SIM card in phone A until days after the mushroom lunch. Patterson said she conducted a factory reset of phone B because she wanted to use it and that was the phone she gave police. "I suggest to you that there was nothing wrong with phone A and this is another lie," Dr Rogers said. "Disagree," Patterson responded. Under defence barrister Colin Mandy SC's re-examination, Patterson became emotional as she talked about her daughter's ballet lessons and son's flying lesson. With all evidence in the trial concluded, Justice Christopher Beale told jurors about discussions they could expect before dismissing them for the day.
West Australian
12-06-2025
- West Australian
Mushroom cook's triple denial as trial grilling ends
Disagree. Disagree. Disagree. Those were Erin Patterson's responses to the prosecution's final three questions in her murder trial. Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC rounded out her marathon cross-examination on Thursday with three suggestions: that Patterson deliberately sourced death cap mushrooms in 2023, deliberately included them in the beef Wellington she served her former in-laws and did so intending to kill them. Patterson has pleaded not guilty to the murders of her estranged husband Simon's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, 70, his aunt Heather Wilkinson, 66, and the attempted murder of Heather's husband Ian. She denies deliberately poisoning her lunch guests on July 29, 2023 when she served them meals that included death cap mushrooms. Patterson was accused of more lies on her eighth and final day in the witness box at the Supreme Court in Morwell in regional Victoria. The 50-year-old was asked about her evidence that she dehydrated dried mushrooms she had bought from an Asian grocer before adding them to the beef Wellingtons. She agreed she never said this to anyone at the time and didn't mention putting the fungi into the dehydrator when she earlier admitted adding them to the lunch. "I suggest this is another lie you made up on the spot," Dr Rogers said, accusing Patterson of hedging her bets to try to make it sound like there were multiple possible sources for the death cap mushrooms. "Incorrect," the accused killer responded. The prosecutor also suggested Patterson lied about taking diarrhoea treatment following the lunch after the 50-year-old earlier claimed one reason she went to hospital was because she thought they would have something stronger. Patterson agreed she did not tell medical staff at the hospital she had taken the medication, maintaining no one asked. "If you were looking for something stronger, you would've told medical staff you had already taken Imodium and it didn't work," Dr Rogers said. "I don't agree," Patterson responded. She was also questioned about her evidence that she had to stop by the side of a road and go to the toilet in the bushes while driving her son to a flying lesson, something the boy denied during his testimony. "I suggest he did not recall you stopping by the bushes on the side of the road because it did not happen ... I suggest this is another lie you told the jury about how you managed the trip to Tyabb," Dr Rogers said. "Disagree," Patterson said. The mother-of-two said she had served her children reheated beef Wellington with the mushroom and pastry scraped off while she had a bowl of cereal the night after the deadly lunch. But Dr Rogers referred to her children's evidence, in which they suggested their mother had the same meal of leftovers the night after the fatal lunch. One of Patterson's children said she "ate the same as us", but Patterson told the court they were incorrect and denied eating the leftover food. She also denied that she "deliberately concealed" one of her phones, referred to at the trial as phone A, from police when they searched her house. Patterson said she switched from phone A to another, referred to as phone B, because the former was "not cutting it anymore". But the prosecution pointed to records that showed regular use from a SIM card in phone A until days after the mushroom lunch. Patterson said she conducted a factory reset of phone B because she wanted to use it and that was the phone she gave police. "I suggest to you that there was nothing wrong with phone A and this is another lie," Dr Rogers said. "Disagree," Patterson responded. Under defence barrister Colin Mandy SC's re-examination, Patterson became emotional as she talked about her daughter's ballet lessons and son's flying lesson. With all evidence in the trial concluded, Justice Christopher Beale told jurors about discussions they could expect before dismissing them for the day.
Perth Now
12-06-2025
- Perth Now
Mushroom cook's triple denial as trial grilling ends
Disagree. Disagree. Disagree. Those were Erin Patterson's responses to the prosecution's final three questions in her murder trial. Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC rounded out her marathon cross-examination on Thursday with three suggestions: that Patterson deliberately sourced death cap mushrooms in 2023, deliberately included them in the beef Wellington she served her former in-laws and did so intending to kill them. Patterson has pleaded not guilty to the murders of her estranged husband Simon's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, 70, his aunt Heather Wilkinson, 66, and the attempted murder of Heather's husband Ian. She denies deliberately poisoning her lunch guests on July 29, 2023 when she served them meals that included death cap mushrooms. Patterson was accused of more lies on her eighth and final day in the witness box at the Supreme Court in Morwell in regional Victoria. The 50-year-old was asked about her evidence that she dehydrated dried mushrooms she had bought from an Asian grocer before adding them to the beef Wellingtons. She agreed she never said this to anyone at the time and didn't mention putting the fungi into the dehydrator when she earlier admitted adding them to the lunch. "I suggest this is another lie you made up on the spot," Dr Rogers said, accusing Patterson of hedging her bets to try to make it sound like there were multiple possible sources for the death cap mushrooms. "Incorrect," the accused killer responded. The prosecutor also suggested Patterson lied about taking diarrhoea treatment following the lunch after the 50-year-old earlier claimed one reason she went to hospital was because she thought they would have something stronger. Patterson agreed she did not tell medical staff at the hospital she had taken the medication, maintaining no one asked. "If you were looking for something stronger, you would've told medical staff you had already taken Imodium and it didn't work," Dr Rogers said. "I don't agree," Patterson responded. She was also questioned about her evidence that she had to stop by the side of a road and go to the toilet in the bushes while driving her son to a flying lesson, something the boy denied during his testimony. "I suggest he did not recall you stopping by the bushes on the side of the road because it did not happen ... I suggest this is another lie you told the jury about how you managed the trip to Tyabb," Dr Rogers said. "Disagree," Patterson said. The mother-of-two said she had served her children reheated beef Wellington with the mushroom and pastry scraped off while she had a bowl of cereal the night after the deadly lunch. But Dr Rogers referred to her children's evidence, in which they suggested their mother had the same meal of leftovers the night after the fatal lunch. One of Patterson's children said she "ate the same as us", but Patterson told the court they were incorrect and denied eating the leftover food. She also denied that she "deliberately concealed" one of her phones, referred to at the trial as phone A, from police when they searched her house. Patterson said she switched from phone A to another, referred to as phone B, because the former was "not cutting it anymore". But the prosecution pointed to records that showed regular use from a SIM card in phone A until days after the mushroom lunch. Patterson said she conducted a factory reset of phone B because she wanted to use it and that was the phone she gave police. "I suggest to you that there was nothing wrong with phone A and this is another lie," Dr Rogers said. "Disagree," Patterson responded. Under defence barrister Colin Mandy SC's re-examination, Patterson became emotional as she talked about her daughter's ballet lessons and son's flying lesson. With all evidence in the trial concluded, Justice Christopher Beale told jurors about discussions they could expect before dismissing them for the day.
Daily Record
11-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Pharmacist says there are six medications you should pack on holiday
Pharmacist Ashley O Dubhain has shared the six medications he always packs when travelling abroad - and that you should too Preparing for an overseas holiday can often lead to a packing conundrum. While the essentials like clothing and toiletries are no-brainers, it's the unforeseen circumstances that can catch you off guard. It's not easy to anticipate every need, and there may be times when you're caught short without something essential. One pharmacist has highlighted a few key medicines to pack from home to ensure a stress-free vacation. Irish Pharmacist Ashley O Dubhain, known as Ash the Pharmacist on social media, notes that he's frequently asked "in the summer months" about essential travel medicines. He advises travellers not to panic, reminding them that pharmacies will be available at their destination, but he does recommend six particular items based on his "own experience" and understanding of what might be harder to find abroad. For those travelling to hotter, more humid climates, Ashley emphasises the importance of bringing electrolytes with you, and it doesn't matter about the brand. Electrolytes play a crucial role in maintaining fluid balance and supporting muscle and nerve function. Since we lose electrolytes through perspiration, it's critical to replace the sodium lost, particularly if you're prone to heavy sweating. Additionally, he suggests packing an antihistamine such as Zirtek, Telfast, Clarityn, or whichever brand you prefer. Ashley highlighted the benefits of a popular treatment, saying: "This will be good for insect bites but also if you take a reaction to food or the sun, for example. It can help with that heat rash." For those travelling and unaccustomed to foreign cuisine, Ashley suggests keeping Imodium at hand, a crucial over-the-counter remedy to swiftly halt diarrhoea and "stop" any adverse effects. When it comes to insect stings, Ashley often recommends Fucibet, but hydrocortisone cream is available without prescription, such as Cortopin. Yet, Ashley warns: "Ask your pharmacist if you're allowed to take it, as not everyone is. If steroid creams aren't suitable for you, you can get some Anthisan cream." Considering probiotics is another tip from Ashley; start them a few weeks before your trip, particularly if you're heading somewhere the "know the food and the water could make you sick". Probiotics are thought to help restore the natural balance and bacteria in your gut, according to the NHS. Lastly, he recommends bringing some painkillers such as paracetamol, Panadol, Nurofen or ibuprofen. It's important to speak to your doctor or a pharmacist if you're unsure before taking any medication, as what's suitable for others might not be for you.
