A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers

By David Callaghan and Reg McKay.

Father ‘had no idea of Lauren’s abuse’

The father of six-year-old Lauren Wright, who died with 60
bruises on her body, denied that he knew of the systematic abuse
she is alleged to have suffered.

Craig Wright, of Welney, Norfolk, and his wife Tracey Wright are
both accused of manslaughter and wilful neglect. Tracey Wright has
been accused of kicking Lauren in the stomach, which proved to be a
fatal blow.

Craig Wright told Norwich crown court: “I wasn’t looking for
(the bruises) and I didn’t have any idea what was going on. I did
not know my little girl was dying. I did not turn away. I did not
see anything to give me concern.

He said his wife and daughter both told him that she was being
bullied at school. Mr Wright said that Lauren was “clumsy”.

The trial continues

Source:- The Independent Tuesday 25 September page
11

Westminster expected to reject Scots’ case or
£20 million

The Scottish executive will know in the next 10 days if they
will have to find an additional £20 million to fund their
proposals on free personal care.

Alistair Darling, the work and pensions secretary, is said to be
still considering the executive’s bid to have the payment of
£55.30 per person per week attendance allowance retained
despite the new payments of £90 per week towards personal
care. Officially, Darling will decide in the next 10 days.
Unofficially, civil servants indicate that the bid will be rejected
and the executive will have to find the additional £20 million
from their allocated budgets.

Source:- The Herald Tuesday 25 September page 1

Free personal and nursing care for all by April
2002

The Scottish executive has announced that it will back all the
recommendations of the care development group and introduce free
personal and nursing care by April 2002. The move was warmly
welcomed by Lord Sutherland, chairperson of the Royal Commission on
Long Term Care for the Elderly, who described the announcement as
“a historic decision” and said: “It shows we are a civilised
society.”

Source:- The Herald Tuesday 25 September page 8