News round up: dementia spending; autism babies; the latest Ofsted

£8bn a year spent on ‘ineffective dementia care’

The Government’s dementia strategy looks set to fail its 600,000 sufferers, because the condition has not been made a national priority despite costing more than heart disease, stroke and cancer combined.

As much as £8.2 billion is still being spent on ineffective dementia care every year, a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) concludes today.

Read more on this story in the Independent

Baby’s brain study trial to help autism research

Four-month-old Matai Reid was monitored by scientists at Durham University to see how he responded to different moving images on a television screen.

Matai, from Durham, was fitted with a cap with sensors attached so his brain activity could be recorded.

Read more on this story in the Telegraph

106-year-old woman evicted from her care home

Mrs Watts was settling in “okay” to her new home, her son said, adding: “We’ve just got to keep our fingers crossed.”

However, relatives of other residents who spoke to her said she would rather have “thrown herself in the canal” than move out.

Read more on this story in the Telegraph

Baby P: One in six Serious Case Reviews still inadequate, Ofsted claims

But fewer of the Serious Case Reviews evaluated by the children’s services watchdog are now sub-standard, after their shortcomings were highlighted by the Baby P scandal.

The reports are carried out by councils, health bodies and police whenever a child dies or is badly injured and abuse or neglect is suspected.

Read more on this story in the Telegraph

Aisling Murray stabbed her little girl after social services said she was not a risk

A mentally-ill mum killed her five-year-old girl by knifing her 52 times after a series of warnings that she was a danger were ignored.

Aisling Murray, a paranoid schizophrenic, stabbed screaming Chloe during a twisted ritual after transforming her daughter’s bedroom into an altar.

Read more on this story in the Mirror