Thursday 6 January 2005

By Clare Jerrom, Amy Taylor and Derren Hayes

Three arrested over new Damilola DNA evidence

Three teenagers were arrested yesterday in connection with the
murder of Damilola Taylor, who was killed more than four years
ago.

The three were arrested in November 2000 but released without
charge. However they have been arrested again after what police
described as a series of “significant” breakthroughs
including DNA evidence.

Source:- The Times  Thursday 6 January page 2

First random drugs test at state school

A comprehensive school in Kent became the first to administer
random drug tests to pupils.

Ten students were given mouth swabs yesterday as they arrived at
The Abbey School in Faversham for the start of the new school
term.

Source:- The Times  Thursday 6 January page 14

Life gets harder for the very early babies

Almost half the babies born early suffer from physical or learning
disabilities by the age of six, according to a study published in
the New England Journal of Medicine.

The research indicates that 46 per cent of children born between 20
and 25 weeks gestation suffered from moderate to severe learning
disabilities including blindness, deafness and low
intelligence.

Source:- The Times  Thursday 6 January page 24

Mentally ill man killed friends

A 25-year-old man was detained indefinitely at Rampton hospital
yesterday after he slashed the throat of a friend and stabbed
another to death at his home in October 2003.

Sean Crone, a paranoid schizophrenic, admitted manslaughter by
reason of diminished responsibility at Sheffield Crown Court.

Source:- The Times  Thursday 6 January page 31

Home visits from matron for long-term sick

Health secretary John Reid yesterday announced that by March 2007,
3,000 community matrons will be employed by the NHS to care for
people with long term health problems in their own homes.

Source:- Daily Mail  Thursday 6 January page 15

NHS rethinks elderly care plan

The prime minister’s former health policy adviser appeared
yesterday to have missed out on the NHS contracts he was expected
to bring to his NHS employer.

Simon Stevens left Downing Street in May to become vice president
of United Health, a corporation based in Minneapolis, that has
pioneered a new way of keeping the most vulnerable older people out
of hospital by giving them extra care at home.

A month later, the government pledged to adopt this model
throughout England, but yesterday health secretary John Reid said
his plan for improving care for people with chronic medical
conditions would not require US involvement.

Source:- The Guardian  Thursday 6 January page 10

Tory pledge of child tax credits

Shadow work and pensions secretary David Willetts will today
promise that a Tory government would allows hundreds of families on
low-incomes to keep excessive child tax credits paid by the
Treasury.

He will also vow to reduce the number of people living on less than
60 per cent of median income.

Source:- The Guardian  Thursday 6 January page 12

Drugs companies in pledge to reveal more trials data

Pharmaceutical companies across the world will pledge to publish
more data obtained from clinical trials of their drugs today.

The move aims to prevent the creation of legislation requiring them
to do so.

The information will be published on the internet. The scheme is
voluntary but drug companies will be under heavy pressure to take
part.

Source:- Financial Times Thursday 6 January

Scottish news

Plan B to avert huge rises in council tax

The Scottish executive is reconsidering its level of funding for
councils over the next three years because of fears the existing
settlement will result in service cuts or double digit council tax
rises over the next few years.

Source:- The Herald Thursday 6 January

More pensioners die after leaving hospital

The number of Scottish older people dying after being discharged
from hospital is rising, new government figures reveal. Since 1999,
the number of over-65s who died within 28 days of leaving medical
wards has risen by more than 200, raising concerns that pressure to
free up hospital beds is leading to patients being sent home before
they are ready.

Source:- The Herald Thursday 6 January

Jack calls summit on bigots

First minister Jack McConnell has called a summit next month to
tackle sectarianism in Scotland. He has also called leaders of the
Celtic and Rangers supporters’ associations to a meeting ahead of
Sunday’s Old Firm Scottish Cup clash in a bid to prevent
trouble.

Source:- The Daily Record Thursday 6 January

Welsh newspapers

Accused GP: More exhumations

Post-mortem examinations took place yesterday on the exhumed bodies
of two men believed to have been patients of a GP accused of
murdering another of his patients.

Dr Howard Martin is awaiting trial for the murder of 74-year-old
Harry Gittins who died in January 2004. Martin, of Penmaenmawr
Gwynedd, has denied the killing.

A third body is also due to be exhumed.

Source:- Western Mail Thursday 6 January page 12