Tuesday 25 March 2003

March 25, 2003 in Community Care

By Amy Taylor, Nicola Barry and Alex
Dobson.

Bullied boy, 10, to sue school

The family of a pupil who says he suffered five years of
bullying is seeking a judicial review of his school’s refusal to
expel those responsible.

Solicitors on behalf of Dean Walker are set to challenge the
decision of the head teacher, Jennifer Brunskill, not to expel two
boys from St. James’ Lanehead Church of England school in
Burnley.

They say the case could set a legal precedent.

Source:- The Times Tuesday 25 March page 15

Campaign to stamp out school bullying

A £470m behaviour and attendance programme involving the
appointment of consultants to help schools combat bullying is being
rolled out by the Government.

Ministers are set to send out guidance to local education
authorities stating that pupils should be consulted on how bullying
should be dealt with.

Speaking at a conference organised by ChildLine, the children’s
charity, Ivan Lewis, the junior education minister, said that a
measures would be in place by autumn.

Source:- The Telegraph Tuesday 25 March page 15

Welsh Newspapers

Depressed dad hanged himself

The parents of a man who killed himself after being released
from psychiatric care claim that he was let down by the health
service.

Jonathan Gingell, 30, of Risca in south Wales hanged himself
after being released from a care facility.

An inquest heard that he had suffered from schizophrenia and had
been treated at various hospitals over many years. His parents
speaking after the inquest said that he should not have been
released from care and that he needed a greater level of
support.

Gingell leaves a five-year-old daughter.

Source:- South Wales Argus Monday 24 March page 7

Health books on prescription a UK first

In the first scheme of its kind in the UK, a collection of
self-help manuals, will be available, on prescription, in all of
Cardiff’s 22 libraries.

The scheme, provided jointly by Cardiff Council and Cardiff and
the Vale NHS Trust, is currently available only to adult mental
health patients although it could expand in the future to cover
children’s mental health problems.

The project is aimed at people suffering from mild depression,
anxiety, low self -confidence and even the long term effects of
sexual abuse and will mean that patients can access the books
through a prescription from their GP.

Source:- Western Mail Tuesday 25 March page 11