After trying out some podcasting last year without continuing success, here we go again as 2016 comes to a close. In this pilot episode of Official Anas Hassan Podcast: Should Fidel Castro be honoured in the Scottish Parliament? The results of a poll I conducted over on my own Twitter page over which was preferable…
Category: Scotland
Let’s extend and invest in Scotland’s Minor Ailment Service, abolish exemptions for patients and relieve the pressure across NHS Scotland
Scotland’s Minor Ailment Service (MAS) has been a well regarded success in the field of pharmacy over the best part of the last decade. It has opened up as a credible alternative to waiting for an appointment with the GP for many patients north of the border when it comes to treating a selection of…
Why minimum alcohol pricing eliminates the need for fining binge drinkers on the NHS
Towards the end of last year, I ran a poll online asking potential participants whether they agreed with the idea of fining patients who use the NHS as a result of binge drinking. Nearly 58% of people who responded to the poll voted against the idea, but over 40% sympathised with such a policy (link via my…
At the end of the day, ALL of us Scots are immigrants of our nation
At the end of the day, Scotland would never exist the dynamic and outgoing nation that it truly is without continuous and uninterrupted immigration. Nobody living here is bigger than the nation. And let’s face it, who is defined as a Scot? The unambiguous answer is that it is every person who lives here, who…
Volunteers wanted for a new programme on 1st anniversary of Scottish independence referendum
It has been nearly one year since Scotland voted on the issue of independence. And it hasn’t been boring in the slightest! In the aftermath of the vote, I produced a programme called “The Campaign For Scottish Independence: A Reflection” where a group of Yes voters, a prominent No campaigner and a chosen neutral observer…
Glasgow had an incredible Commonwealth Games. Now bring on the Olympics!
Glasgow 2014 was more than a sporting occasion. It was a time of happiness for many people. It brought about many days of real inclusiveness for many people across society. And it brought home one of the biggest international events in the world to our doorstep. Athletes and many other people from across the Commonwealth…
Barnett Formula, you’re fired. Full Fiscal Autonomy, you’re hired.
It’s fair to say that the principle of Full Fiscal Autonomy has not been receiving a favourable press in recent days. But that does not mean that the idea of Scotland achieving it’s financial independence is an idea worthy of provoking economical armageddon. In fact, long term especially, it is not just an luxurious proposition,…
Three reasons why Prescription For Excellence could become an overinflated failure
In just under a decade from now, the daily tasks of a community pharmacist in Scotland could be radically different to today. The bulk of a day in a pharmacy could be spent on consulting with patients, prescribing and playing a majorly integrated role within the NHS rather than just checking and filling prescriptions much…
Scotland is my country and I have nothing to prove to you
My reflective mood is still like a runaway train as far as the recent Scottish independence referendum is concerned. One issue that I regret wasn’t raised more often was national identity. Whilst the Yes campaign should be credited with the positives in talking about how to solve the problems and issues that exist within our…
