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Daily Record
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Jason Leitch criticised over TikTok advert plugging private healthcare firm
EXCLUSIVE: Leitch, the former national clinical director, praised a "one of a kind" private hospital in Glasgow. Professor Jason Leitch has been criticised after he appeared in an online advert promoting a private healthcare firm at a time Scotland's NHS continues to struggle. In a video shared on TikTok and Instagram, the country's former national clinical director praised a "one of a kind" private hospital recently opened in central Glasgow by Elanic Medical. Leitch, who helped lead Scotland's response to the covid pandemic, is a non-executive director with a focus on clinical governance at the healthcare firm. Elanic has an established cosmetic surgery clinic in Glasgow but has now built a 15,000 sq ft hospital in Bath Street to provide more routine operations. Leitch became a household name when he regularly stood alongside Nicola Sturgeon as the then first minister delivered her daily covid briefings in 2020 and 2021. He announced he was stepping down as national clinical director in March 2024, shortly after he gave evidence at the UK Covid the social media ad, Leitch said: "I'm on the board here at Elanic. I'm responsible, along with a host of other people, for the safety and governance of the care and services here. It's fantastic to be back at the Elanic hospital and see it fully functioning, with loads of specialties now, seeing patients on a daily basis. "Orthopaedics, plastic surgery, urology, gynaecology, bariatric surgery - all getting care and service right in the centre of Glasgow with real state of the art operating theatres." Leitch continued: "It's fantastic to see Elanic at the forefront of modern care. It's now becoming routine for patients to go home on the same day and that's no different here, particularly for orthopaedics. "It's been terrific to see this project from the plans on a piece of paper to what is now a state of the art facility in central Glasgow. I think it's probably one of a kind, with operating theatres, outpatient clinics, and bedrooms with en suite facilities. It's fantastic to see it grow from the architects' drawings right up to what is now a fully functioning hospital." Alba MSP Ash Regan said some Scots would be left feeling "scunnered" after seeing a former senior NHS figure promoting a private healthcare firm. She told the Record: "Jason Leitch built his public profile during the pandemic as Scotland's national clinical director as a trusted voice at the heart of our NHS. "Seeing him fronting TikTok adverts for a private healthcare company, where he sits on the board, sends a deeply mixed message about the Government's priorities and commitment to our NHS. "The public is rightly scunnered. Time and again, we see the revolving door for those paid by the public purse to lead and represent public services going on to use that platform to cash in on private interests." Leitch faced criticism during the UK Covid Inquiry last year over the mass deletion of his WhatsApp messages. One message which was retrieved showed him saying: "WhatsApp deletion is a pre-bed ritual." When asked about the comments, he said: "It's an exaggeration. I didn't daily delete my WhatsApp." A spokeswoman for Elanic Medical said: "We believe that only by working together can the private sector effectively support the NHS in reducing waiting times and improving patient outcomes. "As of March 2025, over 559,000 patients in Scotland were still waiting for outpatient appointments, with more than 63,000 waiting over a year, and over 5,200 waiting more than two years—the highest number ever recorded. These figures highlight the urgent need for collaborative solutions to ease the burden on the NHS and ensure timely access to care." The Record asked the Scottish Government for comment.
Wales Online
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Today's rugby news as Adam Jones responds, Wales captain upset and star's brother signs for region
Today's rugby news as Adam Jones responds, Wales captain upset and star's brother signs for region The latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond Wales scrum consultant Adam Jones (Image: Getty Images ) Here are the latest rugby headlines on Wednesday, July 9. Wales respond to Japan comments Adam Jones has responded to Michael Leitch's comments about Wales 'blowing' during the second-half of their 24-19 defeat in Kitakyushu, as they look to make the Japan captain eat his words. Wales let a 19-7 lead slip in the extreme conditions, with Leitch saying the Brave Blossoms knew they "would get them in the end" as the heat proved too much for Wales. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. However, Wales' scrum coach has challenged his side to prove Leitch wrong in the second Test in Kobe this Saturday - while also having a subtle dig at Japan coach Eddie Jones, who was also in charge the last time Wales toured Japan in 2013. "Their captain came out after the game and said a few things so hopefully we'll pay heed to that and hopefully he'll have a different opinion of us after the game on Saturday," said Jones. "It was hard for both sides. "We've done as much as we can. Being in Wales, it's not as if we're living in Dubai. You can put the boys in the heated chamber, have them wearing extra layers of stuff, but it doesn't replicate that. Article continues below "I think it was sensible around World Rugby, given the water breaks. I think it was a touch and go whether that was going to be the case. "But it turned out there's enough stoppages in the first half anyway, because it was 59 minutes, wasn't it? "So the ball in playtime wasn't massive. I think a lot of it was made around Eddie having the time he wanted. "If I remember correctly, Wales played the same sort of time in the last summer tour when we were in Japan. So I am sure Eddie was not up to his old tricks." Wales international's brother signs for Dragons The Dragons have signed two more players ahead of next season, including the brother of Wales international Ioan Lloyd. Fly-half Jac Lloyd and utility back David Richards both join the Welsh region from Newport RFC after impressive seasons in Super Rygbi Cymru. Lloyd has scored 219 points over two seasons and 36 games. The 22-year-old playmaker, a former Wales Under-20s international, has previously represented Bristol Bears and Hartpury RFC. Richards, who is comfortable playing across the back line, returns for a second spell having previously made four senior appearances. The 25-year-old, a product of the Dragons Academy, also impressed with Newport RFC, scoring five tries in 13 appearances last season. Head Coach Filo Tiatia said: 'Both Jac and David have performed well in the Super Rygbi Cymru and commanded an opportunity. 'It's great to see Super Rygbi Cymru working in that way, providing a showcase for players to feed into the next level. 'Jac is a talented young fly half and while David has had previous injury issues, he's got his body right and he gives depth to our back line. 'Both players know what it takes in a professional environment and are eager to grab the chance when it comes.' Backs Coach Matt O'Brien added: 'Both players have had good seasons at Newport RFC and give us depth across positions that we need in the squad. 'Jac and David have strong skills sets, bring a point of difference, and want to grasp this opportunity and make the step up over the coming years. 'It's important that they keep playing on a regular basis and continue their development in our environment.' Wales captain 'upset' by decision Wales Women's star Hannah Jones was upset by the decision to remove her as captain ahead of the summer tour to Australia and Rugby World Cup but has responded well. Jones has been replaced by new co-skippers Alex Callender and Kate Williams after boss Sean Lynn decided to make a bold decision. Lynn believed the captaincy was weighing Jones down after a difficult period on and off the pitch and was keen to change the culture in the squad. He said: "She was upset but she knew it was my decision and her response has been brilliant in training, going above and beyond. "I'm hoping we will see a different Hannah and I want her to lead the way she can lead on the pitch. "We had a chat after the Six Nations, some good honest conversations, and I just felt I didn't see a Hannah I saw in Gloucester-Hartpury. "She's gone through some tough times as captain and I can't fault what she's done. "She was very professional about it; she just said, 'whatever's right for the team, I will do'." Jones has spoken about being removed as captain on social media, saying: "Being captain was one of the greatest honours of my career I'm proud of that chapter, every messy, brilliant, brutal bit of it. "I've always worked hard. That didn't start when I became captain and it didn't stop when it (the captaincy) was removed. Environments change. My standards never have." England set high bar By PA Sport Staff Joe Heyes admitted England have set a high bar after largely nullifying Argentina's attacking threat over the weekend. Despite the absence of 13 players who are on the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, England started their summer schedule with an impressive 35-12 win over the Pumas in La Plata on Saturday. They managed to keep Argentina at bay when they were down to 13 men at one point, with Alex Coles and debutant Seb Atkinson sin-binned, and restricted the hosts to just two tries as England ran in five. 'Everyone stepped up really well and the defence was something that we could be really, really proud of,' Leicester tighthead Heyes told BBC Sport. 'That's our standard now.' But Heyes expects Argentina, who defeated the Lions 28-24 in Dublin just over a fortnight ago, to come back even stronger in Saturday's second and final Test at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario. 'I am fully, fully expecting a massive response from Argentina,' he added. 'The only thing we can do is make sure we're in the right spot to do the same as we did last Saturday. We're ready for it. Article continues below 'If we do go on and have the success we want to have on this tour, then I think some of the memories we'll make for everyone – especially these younger guys – will stay with us forever.'
Wales Online
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Tonight's rugby news as Japan star knew 'blowing' Welsh players would break and worrying Australia admission made
Tonight's rugby news as Japan star knew 'blowing' Welsh players would break and worrying Australia admission made The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world Japan knew Wales would tire, says Brave Blossoms captain Michael Leitch (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Here are your rugby evening headlines for Sunday, July 6. Japan captain: Wales were 'blowing' Japan captain Michael Leitch says his side could tell Wales were "blowing" in the second-half of their 24-19 victory in Kitakyushu. The first Test of Wales' summer tour of Japan was played in extreme heat and humidity, with cooling breaks in each half as well as an extended 20-minute red card. However, despite that, Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt and his squad refused to blame the conditions after falling to an 18th consecutive Test defeat. However, Leitch believes it played its part as Wales remained scoreless in the second-half to throw away a 19-7 lead. "Japan heat is no joke, I saw their guys out there second half and they were blowing," said Leitch. "We knew if we could keep the tempo up and hold the position, that would get them in the end and it was part of our game plan. "I was looking at the guys in the red jerseys and they were feeling it more than us and that was good to see on our part." Article continues below He added: "Preparation going into this game was key to our success. "We trained hard as a team and Eddie Jones gave us a really good training camp." Afterwards, the 36-year-old back-row said the victory ranked as the best in his illustrious career. Leitch has been involved in famous World Cup victories over South Africa in 2015 and Scotland in 2019, but post-match, he ranked this one first. "It's number one," he said. "When you look at Japan and Wales, we are rebuilding at the same pace and a lot of experienced players have left. "For such a young team to get a big win against a classy tier one nation like Wales, it gives us a lot of confidence, so we are happy with the result." Schmidt: Australia not confident ahead of Lions series By Duncan Bech, PA Rugby Union Correspondent, Canberra Joe Schmidt admitted Australia's shaky 21-18 victory over Fiji will have reinforced the British and Irish Lions' status as favourites to win the Test series. It took a 78th-minute try from back-rower Harry Wilson to save the Wallabies from an embarrassing defeat less than two weeks out from the opener against the Lions at Suncorp Stadium. Fiji were rampant in the second half in Newcastle and Schmidt insisted that "quiet resolve" rather than outright conviction would be his team's currency during the three Tests against Andy Farrell's tourists. "We didn't play well enough for people to have the expectation that we're going to come bowling into Brisbane and knock the Lions over. I'm not sure that expectation was there before Fiji," head coach Schmidt said. "There's not real confidence, but there's a quiet resolve. And that quiet resolve, hopefully over the three-match series, can build to something that will earn us the support of a very interested group. "We haven't been together for six months. To have five trainings and to be seamless would be an expectation that I hoped for rather than immediately believed would happen. Now we have another short runway to improve on where we were against Fiji." Not only did Australia scrape home in a game that saw a Fijian try by Sireli Maqala controversially ruled out, but they also lost fly-half Noah Lolesio with 20 minutes to go after his head hit the ground during a tackle by Elia Canakaivata. Schmidt is hopeful that Lolesio will only be a short-term absentee after providing a positive update on the 25-year-old playmaker. "The first question Noah asked me was 'did we win?'. He was still very much focused on the game and he appeared to be in good shape. That's the most important thing," Schmidt said. "It was whiplash and his head hit the ground. I'm hopeful that that will be something that resolves itself reasonably quickly. But we won't take any risks that we don't need to." Jones: Centre options interchangeable By Duncan Bech, PA Rugby Union Correspondent, Canberra Huw Jones insists the British and Irish Lions' centres are fully interchangeable despite the presence of established national combinations as the race for Test selection reaches a critical point. While a host of Andy Farrell's men played their way out of contention for the series against Australia in an unimpressive 21-10 victory over the New South Wales Waratahs, Jones seized his chance with both hands. The 31-year-old ran in two tries in Sydney - the first the product of his understanding with Scotland midfield partner Sione Tuipulotu - in the most eye-catching performance from a 12 or 13 so far on tour. If the Lions are to blend their best performing centres against the Wallabies in the first Test on July 19, then Bundee Aki and Jones will start. The conundrum facing Farrell with two matches to go before the Brisbane opener is whether to reward form or opt for the familiarity provided by the ready-made units of Tuipulotu and Jones or Ireland's Aki and Garry Ringrose. Jones, however, believes after being in camp for three weeks, the quartet have reached a point where they are interchangeable. "As a centre group we have been working really hard to get the connections with all of us," the Glasgow Warriors back said. "For the first try, Sione knows where I'm going to be. We have played loads together and it's all about timing. "It worked against the Waratahs, but there's no saying it wouldn't have worked with any other player. "We have worked as a unit in building those sorts of connections, whatever combination plays in the next couple of games, so hopefully we will see more results like that. "We bounce loads of ideas off each other in terms of rugby stuff, but socially as well it has been great to get to know the others. They are great guys and that makes it easier. "If you enjoy each other's company then you're willing to spend the time with each other on and off the field. That goes for the whole squad. "It has been a really enjoyable couple of weeks, but once we get on the field we are giving each other all the secrets and trying to help each other out as much as we can." Jones has scored three tries in as many appearances for the Lions and having joined the tour with a niggling Achilles problem, he is now flying. "After the Six Nations I was struggling with injury. I got it scanned late on in the season and we managed to then have a bit of an intervention," he said. Article continues below "It definitely feels better now, which is good. I didn't play much since the Six Nations, just two games. "So over this last week it has been good over to get two 80 minutes in a row and a bit off the bench against the Western Force. I feel like I have shaken off the dust."
Kyodo News
03-06-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Rugby: Bond between Mo'unga, Leitch underpinned Brave Lupus triumph
By Sean Miyaguchi, KYODO NEWS - 17 hours ago - 16:51 | Sports, Rugby, All As the final siren signaled an end to this year's Japan Rugby League One final, victorious man-of-the-match Richie Mo'unga immediately looked for one Brave Lupus Tokyo teammate. The former All Black wanted to share the moment at Tokyo's National Stadium with captain Michael Leitch, who Mo'unga credited with helping him find his way in Japan over the past two seasons, culminating in back-to-back titles with Sunday's 18-13 win over the Kubota Spears. Mo'unga, who was visibly emotional at the end of the match in front of 51,009, likened the Brave Lupus No. 8 and Japan's 2019 Rugby World Cup skipper to a "big brother" whose influence was felt throughout the Toshiba-owned club, based in the western Tokyo city of Fuchu. "The first person I sort of looked for was Leitchy," said the 31-year-old Mo'unga, after playing through a broken hand in the final. "I'm so proud of him and just in awe of what he does for this club and the man that he is, and what he stands for." While foreign stars have tended to play in Japan on short-term contracts toward the ends of their careers, Mo'unga arrived during his prime on a three-year deal at the start of last season, giving up the opportunity to play internationally for New Zealand during that time. He described New Zealand-born Leitch, who moved to Japan in high school, as both an inspirational leader and the glue that held together the home-grown and overseas-born players comprising the Brave Lupus squad. "I sort of speak on behalf of a lot of foreign players that come to Toshiba (Brave Lupus), where he just makes life so much easier for us," he said. "He's like a big brother and to see him have the success, for him to captain and lead the side, I'm proud to be a follower of someone like him." The pair had one-on-one time in the week leading up to the final as they undertook injury recovery therapy in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. "I tried to have a conversation with him, but as soon as he gets in there he just sleeps," Mo'unga laughed. Head coach Todd Blackadder said the joint leadership provided by Mo'unga and the 36-year-old Leitch had been the bedrock for Brave Lupus as they became the first two-time champions in the League One era. "Him and Leitchy together are a great combination," Blackadder said. "Together they really lead our team and in different areas -- one could be tactically, once could be mindset, they feed off each other really, really well." Lauding Mo'unga as an "incredible player," Leitch said the star playmaker had embraced life in Fuchu among his new Brave Lupus teammates. "He loves where we live. He loves the club. He showed that through his performance," Leitch said. Related coverage: Rugby: Brave Lupus outlast Spears for back-to-back League One titles Rugby: Brave Lupus aim to retain League One title in trademark style Rugby: Spears hold off Sungoliath to reach League One semis
Kyodo News
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Rugby: Bond between Mo'unga, Leitch underpinned Brave Lupus triumph
By Sean Miyaguchi, KYODO NEWS - 8 minutes ago - 16:51 | Sports, Rugby, All As the final siren signaled an end to this year's Japan Rugby League One final, victorious man-of-the-match Richie Mo'unga immediately looked for one Brave Lupus Tokyo teammate. The former All Black wanted to share the moment at Tokyo's National Stadium with captain Michael Leitch, who Mo'unga credited with helping him find his way in Japan over the past two seasons, culminating in back-to-back titles with Sunday's 18-13 win over the Kubota Spears. Mo'unga, who was visibly emotional at the end of the match in front of 51,009, likened the Brave Lupus No. 8 and Japan's 2019 Rugby World Cup skipper to a "big brother" whose influence was felt throughout the Toshiba-owned club, based in the western Tokyo city of Fuchu. "The first person I sort of looked for was Leitchy," said the 31-year-old Mo'unga, after playing through a broken hand in the final. "I'm so proud of him and just in awe of what he does for this club and the man that he is, and what he stands for." While foreign stars have tended to play in Japan on short-term contracts toward the ends of their careers, Mo'unga arrived during his prime on a three-year deal at the start of last season, giving up the opportunity to play internationally for New Zealand during that time. He described New Zealand-born Leitch, who moved to Japan in high school, as both an inspirational leader and the glue that held together the home-grown and overseas-born players comprising the Brave Lupus squad. "I sort of speak on behalf of a lot of foreign players that come to Toshiba (Brave Lupus), where he just makes life so much easier for us," he said. "He's like a big brother and to see him have the success, for him to captain and lead the side, I'm proud to be a follower of someone like him." The pair had one-on-one time in the week leading up to the final as they undertook injury recovery therapy in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. "I tried to have a conversation with him, but as soon as he gets in there he just sleeps," Mo'unga laughed. Head coach Todd Blackadder said the joint leadership provided by Mo'unga and the 36-year-old Leitch had been the bedrock for Brave Lupus as they became the first two-time champions in the League One era. "Him and Leitchy together are a great combination," Blackadder said. "Together they really lead our team and in different areas -- one could be tactically, once could be mindset, they feed off each other really, really well." Lauding Mo'unga as an "incredible player," Leitch said the star playmaker had embraced life in Fuchu among his new Brave Lupus teammates. "He loves where we live. He loves the club. He showed that through his performance," Leitch said. Related coverage: Rugby: Brave Lupus outlast Spears for back-to-back League One titles Rugby: Brave Lupus aim to retain League One title in trademark style Rugby: Spears hold off Sungoliath to reach League One semis
