Tuesday 1 March 2005

By Simeon Brody, Maria Ahmed, Amy Taylor and Derren
Hayes

Drunk father “smothered sick son in mercy
killing”

A former soldier denied murdering his terminally-ill 10-year-old
son after smothering him with a pillow, a court heard
yesterday.

Andrew Wragg, from Wimbledon, killed his son Jacob, who had the
degenerative condition Hunter syndrome, when he was more than three
and a half times the legal limit for driving and admits
manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Source:- The Independent Tuesday 1 March page 8

Behaviour worst in citizenship classes

Children are most likely to disrupt lessons when they are being
taught citizenship, religious education and modern languages,
according to Ofsted.

Source:- The Independent Tuesday 1 March page 12

Electronic patient record delayed by tests

A computer programme that will allow an electronic patient record
to be built for the NHS has slipped behind schedule by six to nine
months.

The delay, which will hit more than 100 hospitals and thousands of
doctors’ practices, is because software developer IDX decided
more testing time was needed.

Source:- Financial Times Tuesday 1 March page 2

Prescription change to speed treatment

Nurses and pharmacists will be able to prescribe a wider range of
drugs as part of plans to speed up patients’ treatment.

The government has proposed providing extra training to pharmacists
and allowing nurses to prescribe for long-term conditions.

Source:- Financial Times Tuesday 1 March page 4,

They made a nonsense of Commons security and fools of the
Palace guards… now they’ve done it again in the
PM’s front yard!

Father 4 Justice staged a demonstration near Downing Street, with
three men climbing onto the Foreign Office building.

Source:- Daily Mail Tuesday 1 March page 9

Only 21 EU newcomers claim dole

Only 21 immigrants from Eastern Europe have signed on the dole
since May, Home Office figures reveal.

The small number claiming benefits suggests the opening of the
borders last year attracted ambitious young people.

Source:- Daily Mail Tuesday 1 March page 22

MRSA bug that could be lurking in your gym

At least 100 people have contracted a strain of the MRSA superbug
in gyms and health clubs, according to public health experts.

CA-MRSA is normally spread through contact with those with cuts and
abrasions and has been found in communal changing areas.

Source:- Daily Mail Tuesday 1 March page 41

Challenging behaviour a problem in schools

Ofsted has found an increase in children misbehaving in
schools because of medical conditions, particularly autistic
spectrum disorder. They found children with special educational
needs made up a third of disruptive pupils, according a report
published today.

Source:- The Daily Telegraph Tuesday 1 March 2005 page
6

Drug alert

The government’s drug watchdog is to recommend that four
drugs for Alzheimer’s disease should not be prescribed on the
NHS. In draft guidance expected to be issued today, the National
Institute for Clinical Excellence will say that the cost of
rivastigimine (Exelon), donepizil (Aricept), galatamine (Reminyl)
and memantine (Ebixa) falls below the cost-effectiveness threshold
measured in quality of life.

Source:- The Times Tuesday 1 March 2005 page 4

Reckless abandon

Many autistic pupils are being thwarted by a lack of understanding
and hard cash. So it’s not surprising that mothers are
prepared to accost the prime minister.

Source: – Education Guardian Tuesday March 1 2005 pages
8-9

Scottish newspapers

Council ‘alienating ethnic minorities’

A Mori survey of people of Pakistani, Chinese, Middle Eastern,
Indian and African origin living in Glasgow Council found they felt
alienated and overlooked. The survey revealed that some respondents
from the various ethnic groups said council staff were
condescending and did not have enough sensitivity about cultural
differences. The study also found that black Africans were
sometimes labelled “aggressive” by staff merely because they talk
more loudly than indigenous Scots.

Source:- The Herald Tuesday 1 March

Welsh newspapers

Wales is ‘obsessed with health’

The poor performance of the national health service is people in
Wales’ number one concern, according to a new survey.

An ICM poll carried out for a special BBC Wales TV programme on
tonight found that health is the most important single issue that
will determine the way people vote. 22 per cent gave health as
their number one issue while eight per cent gave asylum and
immigration.

Source:- Western Mail Tuesday 1 March