Fraud against local authorities reaches £111 million in two years

Fraud against local authorities reaches £111 million in two years
Fraud uncovered in local authorities and the NHS increased by a third to £111 million over the past two years, according to a report by public spending watchdogs.
Source:- The Independent, Wednesday 31 May 2006, page 17

Wheelchair plight
Disabled children as old as 11 are being pushed around in baby buggies because of a lack of NHS funds for wheelchairs, a new report by Barnardo’s claims.
Source:- The Times, Wednesday 31 May 2006, page 2

Woman forced out of care home dies after overdose
A woman, 93, forced to leave the care home where she hoped to spend her final days, has died after an overdose, her family said yesterday. Relatives of Alice Pink said she was distraught at having to leave Dresden House, Hove, East Sussex when it closed in March.
Source:- The Guardian, Wednesday 31 May 2006, page 10
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1786338,00.html

Pre-release prisoners may be given re-tox
Prisons are considering “re-toxification” programmes for inmates who are about to be released, to prevent them taking fatal drug overdoses when they reach the outside world, it was claimed yesterday.
Source:- Daily Telegraph, Wednesday 31 May 2006, page 4
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/31/nreid231.xml

Teenagers to face random drug testing at all schools
Random drug testing is set to be rolled out to all secondary schools in England as a part a crackdown on drug use among pupils.
Source:- The Times, Wednesday 31 May 2006, page 1
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2204492,00.html

NHS scheme ‘risk to confidentiality’
Doctors are cautioning that a failure to consult staff and patients over the new multi-billion pound system will add to a two-and-a-half year delay announced by ministers.
Source:- The Times, Wednesday 31 May 2006, page 24

Reid challenged in police plans
John Reid faces a High Court challenge to the government’s plans to merge the 43 police forces in England and Wales.
Source:- The Times, Wednesday 31 May 2006, page 33

Unmarried couples to get new rights
Unmarried couples will have the right to make the same financial claims a break-up as those who have gone through a marriage or civil rights ceremony under proposals to be unveiled today.
Source:- The Guardian, Wednesday 31 May 2006, page 1
http://www.guardian.co.uk/gayrights/story/0,,1786469,00.html

NHS patients get ‘menu’ to go private
NHS patients will be given the right to obtain free treatment in private clinics and foundation hospitals anywhere in the country, under a major expansion of patient choice to be announced today.
Source:- The Guardian, Wednesday 31 May 2006, page 5
http://society.guardian.co.uk/health/story/0,,1786384,00.html
 
Second offence
The Home Office had to do something about the ‘foreign prisoners affair’. But its over-reaction has only created a fresh scandal
Source:- The Guardian, G2, Wednesday 31 May 2006, page 16
http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1786289,00.html

Farewell, my fiefdom
Jonathan Myerson wanted to do his civic duty. Now, stepping down after four eventful years as a Labour councillor, he reflects on whether he was able to make a difference.
Source:- Society Guardian, Wednesday 31 May 2006, page 1
http://society.guardian.co.uk/localgovt/story/0,,1785951,00.html

Truth and reconciliation
A jargon-free report counters to ‘myth-mongering and misrepresentation’ that fuelled the race riots in Burnley five years ago, and assess the town’s successes and failures since then.
Source:- Society Guardian, Wednesday 31 May 2006,  page 3
http://society.guardian.co.uk/communities/story/0,,1785958,00.html

The real people’s game
In less than two weeks, billions throughout the world will be glued to their TVs watching the World Cup. Interview with the creator of the alternative international football tournament – for homeless people.
Source:- Society Guardian, Wednesday 31 May 2006, page 5
http://society.guardian.co.uk/communities/story/0,,1785974,00.html

The treatment gap
I’m an expert on the theory of health and social care for older people – but it did not prepare me for the reality of my mother’s treatment.
Source:- Society Guardian, Wednesday 31 May 2006, page 6
http://society.guardian.co.uk/longtermcare/story/0,,1785992,00.html

My liberation from the prison system
Ministerial musical chairs have made the Home Office difficult to govern. I’m glad I’m out, says Martin Narey.
Source:- The Guardian, Wednesday 31 May 2006, page 33
http://society.guardian.co.uk/crimeandpunishment/comment/0,,1786548,00.html

No Scottish social care stories today

Welsh news
 
Why schools should lay down the law on bullying
Schools should tackle bullying before victims take them to court a Welsh expert said yesterday.
Delwyn Tattum, a Welsh bullying expert, made the comments after it was revealed that there has been an increase in the number of legal claims by bullied schoolchildren.
The figures show that 300 cases have gone to court in the past two years.
Source:- Western Mail, Wednesday 31 May 2006
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_objectid=17151005%26method=full%26siteid=50082%26headline=why%2dschools%2dshould%2dlay%2ddown%2dthe%2dlaw%2don%2dbullying%2d-name_page.html

Youngsters in need are seen as migrants first, children second
Social workers are being pressured into acting like “immigration officers” towards immigrant children, according to new research.
The study by Dr Heaven Crawly, an expert in sociology based at Swansea University, is highly critical of the way the government treats this group of youngsters.
Source:- Western Mail, Wednesday 31 May 2006
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_objectid=17151045%26method=full%26siteid=50082%26headline=youngsters%2din%2dneed%2dare%2dseen%2das%2dmigrants%2dfirst%2d%2dchildren%2dsecond-name_page.html