Helen McArdle

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 😊❤️🍾

At this rate, four years??

Thanks Kenny!

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…

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...

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...

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…

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...

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…

'Wholly unacceptable'

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

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2485177...

Thanks! Glad to say it's my choice (off to try something different for a while) but end of an era for me, for sure

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,…

📌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...

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

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?

'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...

@heraldscotland.bsky.social

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…

'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...

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…

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...

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)

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…

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...

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…

Biomarker test for lung cancer cuts deaths by 40 per cent @heraldscotland.bsky.social
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2484121...

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…

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 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

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.

💥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
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Skin Deep: Inside the Herald's investigation into Scotland's booming beauty industry
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2477701...

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…

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/...

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/...

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...

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...

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?

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👇
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Scotland and Alcohol: How the Herald investigated our relationship with booze
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2477699...

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...

light green line for winter 2019/20 (moderate) more typical - similar to last winter

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…

Flu cases take up one in 15 beds at major hospital amid 'extraordinary' outbreak @heraldscotland.bsky.social
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2481544...

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…

'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...

'Christmas will be special this year': Grandad's cancer mistaken for pulled muscle A Glasgow grandad whose incurable cancer was dismissed as a pulled muscle is counting down the days until he finally gets to celebrate his first…

Christmas joy 🎅for Graham Casey, 63, from Bearsden who is now in remission after a shock diagnosis two years ago

EXC 'Christmas will be special this year': Grandad's cancer mistaken for pulled muscle @heraldscotland.bsky.social
www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/...