A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers

By Clare Jerrom and Reg McKay.

Brown will raise taxes to revive the NHS

Britain will develop a “world-class” health service if taxes are
increased, the Chancellor claimed yesterday.

Gordon Brown said a “significantly higher share of national
income” would be devoted to healthcare to make up for years of
under-funding.

He implied the funding would come from higher taxes, and that
health service finance would be at the centre of the next general
election.

Source:- The Times Wednesday 28 November page 1

Camelot drops good causes target after profits
slump

A National Lottery ticket slump has forced Camelot to abandon
its target to raise money for good causes.

The lottery operator announced yesterday that its half year
pre-tax profits were down by 27.3 per cent to £22.9
million.

The decision to dump the guarantee of an income for the five
good causes during the next seven years will disappoint charities
and organisations that rely on lottery support.

When Camelot began the battle for the franchise, it included in
its bid document a £15 billion pledge for good causes. But
yesterday Camelot was not even prepared to match the lower figure
of £11 billion.

The new license begins on January 27.

Source:- The Times Wednesday 28 November page 2

Bullies drive girl who saved sister to
suicide

A girl who saved her sister four years ago by donating bone
marrow lost her own life yesterday after taking an overdose of
tablets.

Elaine Swift endured years of taunts from a group of friends who
turned against her after her bravery was highlighted by the local
media. She has been attacked physically and verbally more than 30
times since offering to help her sister.

Her parents claim she was let down by the education authority,
which did not take her allegations seriously.

Source:- The Times Wednesday 28 November page 11

Climbie ‘doomed’ council
believed

An internal review memo that Haringey council tried to keep
quiet from the inquiry into Victoria Climbie’s death said
that she was “doomed” no matter what social services did.

The review identifies failures by all agencies involved and 11
lessons that should be learnt.

The inquiry continues.

Source:- The Times Wednesday 28 November page 12

Baby who died ‘got no love from
childminder’

The mother of a baby who allegedly died after a childminder
shook him, told the Old Bailey that she had concerns baby Joshua
Osborne was receiving no love or affection from the woman.

Libby Osborne said she would notice Linda Bayfield cuddling
other children, but not her eight-month-old son when she went to
collect him.

She said: “I began to have a slight concern that there was not a
lot of love there.”

Bayfield denies murder or the alternative charge of
manslaughter.

The trial continues.

Source:- The Times Wednesday 28 November page 15

Hospital allowed killer to go home

A paranoid schizophrenic was allowed out of hospital and went on
a six-day rampage in Brixton, south London, in which two people
were killed. Poor communication and lack of resources between
agencies and professionals were blamed.

Wayne Hutchinson was granted home leave at Christmas 1994 from
South Western Hospital in south London by a junior locum, after he
had been admitted two months earlier complaining of hearing voices.
In January 1996 he was convicted of manslaughter, attempted murder
and three counts of wounding with intent.

The report released by Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Health
Authority made 32 recommendations to tighten procedures.

Source:- The Times Wednesday 28 November page 15

Stolen curtain ‘key clue’ in Sarah
case

A stolen curtain emerged as a key clue in the case against the
man accused of murdering Sarah Payne.

The jury heard that a fibre found on the eight-year-old’s
shoe matched a clown patterned curtain found in Roy Whiting’s
van.

The court also heard evidence about a red sweatshirt found in
Whiting’s van which is claimed to have one of Sarah’s
hairs on it.

Whiting denies abducting and murdering Sarah.

The case continues.

Source:- The Guardian Wednesday 28 November page 11

Paedophile DJ escapes extradition

A former Radio 1 disc jockey escaped extradition to Britain
yesterday to face charges of child sex abuse.

Chris Denning was freed by a court in Prague after completing a
prison sentence for abusing boys as young as 11.

Britain had sought his extradition to face nine abuse charges
dating from the early 1970s. He is thought to have been part of the
same paedophile ring as Jonathan King who was jailed last week.

Prague city court ruled that the extradition warrant failed
because the charges against Denning fell foul of the Czech
Republic’s five-year statute of limitations.

Source:- Daily Telegraph Wednesday 28 November page
6

Guardian Society

Earning a reprieve

Government U-turn on charging for disabled services

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 28 November page
4

Parents’ pain

Social services accused of discrimination

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 28 November page
4

Sick with worry

Prejudice haunts people with HIV

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 28 November page
4

On the margin

Breaking through taboos about Aids held by the UK’s
African community makes the sufferers harder to reach and therefore
harder to treat

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 28 November page
6

Peace process

Domestic incidents account for almost a quarter of violent
crime. Liza Ramrayka on a project helping perpetrators

Source;- Guardian Society Wednesday 28 November page
96-95

Sickness in the system

Assessments criticised after disabled woman loses benefits

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 28 November page
95

Service on the slide

Home care cut back for older people in Scotland

Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 28 November page
95

Scottish newspapers

Move to introduce tolerance zones for
prostitutes

Margo MacDonald MSP is to draft legislation introducing legal
powers to create tolerance zones for prostitutes in every local
authority in Scotland. MacDonald, chairperson of a working group to
identify a safe area in Edinburgh for prostitutes to work, is to
propose an amendment to section 46 of the Civic Government
(Scotland) Act 1982 which covers soliciting.

Source:- The Herald Wednesday 28 November page 9

Criminal court proceedings hit record low

The number of criminal cases in Scotland’s courts has hit
an all time low according to Scottish executive statistics. The
numbers proceeded against in the year 2000 fell by 10,000 or 7 per
cent to 137,000 while the cases marked “no proceedings” rose to a
record high of 45,000.

Source:- The Herald Wednesday 28 November page 9

Key ministers for social care and health
appointed

Newly appointed first minister, Jack McConnell, sacked a third
of the Scottish cabinet yesterday and made key replacements
affecting areas of child care, community care, health and social
justice.

Cathy Jamieson, becomes minister for education and young people
in a portfolio which covers child care services, her first
ministerial appointment. Malcolm Chisholm is promoted to minister
of health and community care.While Iain Gray becomes minister for
social justice.

Source:- The Scotsman Wednesday 28 November page 1