Helen McArdle
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Helen McArdle
@hmcardleht.bsky.social
1.2K followers 360 following 76 posts
Former health Correspondent at Herald. Specialist Reporter of the Year 2022, Scottish Press Awards. ❤️ cats, movies, podcasts
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hmcardleht.bsky.social
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 😊❤️🍾
March 27, 2025 at 1:39 PM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
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...
Helen McArdle: What have I learned from 16 years in journalism?
After 16 years as a journalist at The Herald, including eight covering health, Helen McArdle reflects on that stories that stood out and what she's…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 18, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Reposted by Helen McArdle
heraldscotland.bsky.social
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...
January 16, 2025 at 6:54 PM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
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...
Why are out of hours GPs being told to keep patients away from hospital?
As out of hours GPs are encouraged to 'consider alternatives' to hospital admissions for patients as the NHS grapples with huge overcrowding, are…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 15, 2025 at 8:51 PM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
'Wholly unacceptable'

EXC Breast cancer survivors 'in limbo' amid two-year wait for NHS reconstruction surgery

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2485177...
Breast cancer survivors 'in limbo' amid two-year wait for NHS reconstruction surgery
The delays came to light after Conservative MSP for Glasgow, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, raised the case of one of his constituents - Shareen Gault - in the…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 15, 2025 at 12:08 PM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
📌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...
Scot on world-first asthma drug trial reveals how huge accidental overdose nearly killed him
RETIRED pharmacologist Dr Richard Marshall is surprisingly laidback as he recalls how a huge overdose of the then-untested asthma drug, salbutamol,…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 15, 2025 at 7:47 AM
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@heraldscotland.bsky.social
hmcardleht.bsky.social Helen McArdle @hmcardleht.bsky.social · Jan 11
'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...
The surprising links between January 6, Covid denialism, and the 'wellness' boom
What are the links between the Covid pandemic, the January 6 insurrection, and the boom in health misinformation?
www.heraldscotland.com
January 11, 2025 at 9:37 AM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
'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...
The surprising links between January 6, Covid denialism, and the 'wellness' boom
What are the links between the Covid pandemic, the January 6 insurrection, and the boom in health misinformation?
www.heraldscotland.com
January 11, 2025 at 9:37 AM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
@heraldscotland.bsky.social
hmcardleht.bsky.social Helen McArdle @hmcardleht.bsky.social · Jan 11
'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 cosmetic crackdown 'has all the trappings of political manoeuvring'
Dr Darren McKeown, one of Scotland's leading practitioners of aesthetic medicine, fears that patient safety is not being prioritised enough in…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
'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 cosmetic crackdown 'has all the trappings of political manoeuvring'
Dr Darren McKeown, one of Scotland's leading practitioners of aesthetic medicine, fears that patient safety is not being prioritised enough in…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
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...
Experts warn 'loopholes' in cosmetic crackdown will leave patients exposed to harm
The Scottish Government has published a consultation setting out proposals to tighten regulation on the cosmetic sector. But experts working in the…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 11, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Reposted by Helen McArdle
heraldscotland.bsky.social
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)
January 10, 2025 at 5:32 PM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
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...
A decade in the making - will Glasgow's drug consumption facility work?
As Glasgow's long-awaited Safer Drug Consumption Facility prepares to open its doors to the city's drug users on Monday, the Herald took a tour of…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 10, 2025 at 8:50 AM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
Biomarker test for lung cancer cuts deaths by 40 per cent @heraldscotland.bsky.social
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2484121...
Biomarker test for lung cancer cuts deaths by 40 per cent
Groundbreaking research from the University of St Andrews School of Medicine has found that biomarker testing in individuals at risk of lung cancer…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 9, 2025 at 10:06 AM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
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 row over NHS Glasgow's Hospital at Home service
NHS Glasgow planned to revamp its Hospital at Home service, but instead it has been mothballed with nothing to replace it - and a deadlock over…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 8, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by Helen McArdle
heraldscotland.bsky.social
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
January 8, 2025 at 4:25 PM
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...
Skin Deep: Inside the Herald's investigation into Scotland's booming beauty industry
During a four-day series in August, the Herald investigated Scotland's rapidly growing cosmetic sector. Here we look back on some of the highlights.
www.heraldscotland.com
January 2, 2025 at 11:24 AM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
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/...
How can we close health inequalities? Invest in GP practices and grassroots schemes
New research in Glasgow into health inequalities has highlighted the need to invest a larger share of resources into GP practices and grassroots…
www.heraldscotland.com
December 29, 2024 at 9:46 AM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
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/...
www.heraldscotland.com
December 28, 2024 at 10:01 AM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
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...
www.heraldscotland.com
December 28, 2024 at 9:55 AM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
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...
December 27, 2024 at 4:53 PM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
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...
Scotland and Alcohol: How the Herald investigated our relationship with booze
We take a look back at the Herald's second impact series, exploring Scotland's relationship with alcohol. Why did we do it and what did we learn?
www.heraldscotland.com
December 26, 2024 at 10:36 AM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
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...
www.heraldscotland.com
December 24, 2024 at 8:35 AM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
Flu cases take up one in 15 beds at major hospital amid 'extraordinary' outbreak @heraldscotland.bsky.social
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2481544...
Flu cases take up one in 15 beds at major hospital amid 'extraordinary' outbreak
Almost one in 15 beds at Grampian’s biggest hospital are currently occupied by patients with influenza, as Public Health Scotland data shows flu…
www.heraldscotland.com
December 23, 2024 at 3:38 PM
hmcardleht.bsky.social
'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...
These might be the most important lessons for the NHS from Lucy Letby public inquiry
The Thirlwell public inquiry into Lucy Letby has concluded for the Christmas break - but one of its final witnesses had plenty to say about what is…
www.heraldscotland.com
December 21, 2024 at 9:51 AM