By David Callaghan and Reg McKay.
'Secret' tests for pregnancy on girls
Senior nurses have spoken out against the practice of giving pregnancy tests to girls as young as nine without their knowledge.
Children arriving in accident and emergency wards with stomach pains are often tested without their approval or their parents', paediatric nurses have said.
A survey carried out at the Royal College of Nursing accident and emergency nursing association conference found that one in five nurses working in A&E are involved in the practice, according to a report in the Nursing Standard magazine.
Sue Burr, the Royal College of Nursing's adviser in paediatric nursing, said it was "an infringement of human rights".
Source:- The Guardian Wednesday 7 November page 8
NHS looks for 1,000 foreign doctors
Health secretary Alan Milburn said the NHS needs a thousand more doctors and 2,000 nurses. The department of health has set a target of 7,500 extra consultants by 2004.
Speaking at the launch of a recruitment drive in Madrid, Milburn said there had been 1,500 expressions of interest from Spain, Germany, America and Israel, and 150 applications.
He said: "My strong preference is not to send NHS patients abroad for treatment but to encourage doctors from abroad to come here to treat English patients at home."
Source:- The Daily Telegraph Wednesday 7 November page 15
One child in 20 eats no fresh vegetables
A survey of children's eating habits reveals that one in 20 ate no fruit or vegetables in the previous seven days.
The research by the Cancer Research Campaign and the supermarket chain Iceland shows that the average consumption was less than two portions a day, a third of the level recommended for a healthy diet.
Source:- The Times Wednesday 7 November page 13
Guardian Society
Credit unions are improving health in poor communities
Page 4
Top pay for housing association leaders
Page 4
Champion of children's rights dies
Page 4
Ghost towers
Peter Hetherington on the scandal of England's empty houses and attempts to bring abandoned properties back into use
Page 5
Two schemes which support vulnerable people to enable them to live independent lives have won awards for excellence, reports Alison Benjamin
Page 10-11
Treating people with mental health problems as partners, not patients is having positive results
Page 120-119
Drive to recruit social workers and reform the profession
Page 119
Scottish newspapers
Inadequate psychiatric services for young people
Young people with mental health problems in Scotland are still being cared for in adult facilities contrary to official policy, according to the Mental Welfare Commission’s annual report published yesterday.
The report says there are no adolescent psychiatric care units in Scotland, and young people with mental health problems often have to be admitted to one of two units in the north of England.
Source:- The Herald Wednesday 7 November
Court sees video diary of girl with disabilities
In a rare move, the court of session has viewed a video diary of parents caring for their severely disabled teenage daughter as part of a case of alleged negligence against Tayside Health Board. Hamish and Moira Miller claim that in 1992 staff at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee were negligent when treating their daughter, then aged six, for a rare condition, OTC deficiency, which could result in an excess of ammonia in her body and lead to brain damage.
Following treatment, the girl was left unable to walk, talk or feed herself and in need of constant care. The hearing is expected to last several weeks.
Source:- The Scotsman Wednesday 7 November page 7
