Prime minister raises election fever as Cameron prepares for crucial speech

By Mithran Samuel, Maria Ahmed, Derren Hayes and Amy Taylor

Prime minister raises election fever as Cameron prepares for crucial speech

The comprehensive spending review is likely to promise health spending growth of more than 2.5% per year from 2008-11, implying a lower share for local government and hence adult social care.

The review could be announced as early as next Monday should Gordon Brown call a general election next week.

Source:- The Independent Wednesday 3 October 2007 page 4

Stop concealing ‘chemical cosh’ in old folk’s food, care homes told

Care homes should be barred from hiding drugs in the food and drink of residents, campaigners said yesterday.

Complaints over covert medication were raised with the Scottish parliament by Hunter Watson, who discovered staff were giving medication to his mother disguised in her meals.

Guidance to care homes in Scotland says that medication should only be hidden in meals when it is in the best interests of residents. In England, care home staff may not administer medication covertly without the permission of the patient, the patient’s family or a doctor if they are incapacitated.

Source:- The Daily Mail Wednesday 3 October 2007 page 28

Pledge to create prison places and end early release

The Conservatives sought to wrest back from Labour their traditional position as the party of law and order yesterday, when they unveiled plans to stop the early release of prisoners.

Source:- The Times, Wednesday 3 October 2007, page 7
 
 
Racist officers may be given a second chance

Racist, sexist or homophobic police officers may be allowed to keep their jobs if they mend their ways, according to draft guidelines published yesterday.

Source:- The Times, Wednesday 3 October 2007, page 25
 
 
800,000 pupils ‘get poor education’

A quarter of secondary schools in England are “wasting” pupils’ talents, the government admitted yesterday.

Source:- The Daily Telegraph, Wednesday 3 October 2007, page 1
 
 
Acts of compassion

Emma Thompson’s powerful exposure of the horrors of sex trafficking suggests she is no ordinary celebrity activist.

Source:- The Society Guardian, Wednesday 3 October 2007, page 1-2
 
 
When ignorance is never bliss

Relatives of people who die in state custody often endure appalling indignity and official indifference when they seek an explanation. A new book argues that its time to reform the inquest system.

Source:- The Society Guardian, Wednesday 3 October 2007, page 3
 
Great expectations

His dogged determination saw him become Britain’s first black trade union boss, and how Lord Morris of Handsworth of focusing his leadership efforts on social housing.

Source:- The Society Guardian, Wednesday 3 October 2007, page 5
 
 
A wee bit of initiative

Involving local children in the fight against antisocial behaviour is proving a big success on a Scottish estate

Source:- The Society Guardian, Wednesday 3 October 2007, page 6
 
 
Back on track

After 35 years, a ‘model’ scheme continues to steer young people away from homelessness

Source:- The Society Guardian, Wednesday 3 October 2007, page 6

Scottish digest

Secret drugs in OAP food ‘to be outlawed’

Medicating older patients by hiding drugs in their food and drink could be subject to new controls being considered by the Scottish Government.

Campaigners claim it is against the human rights of vulnerable adults to give medicine without consent. Care homes argue, however, that it is a necessary part of looking after patients.

The public petitions committee said control of covert medication should be considered as part of new guidelines being drawn up to protect the vulnerable. Mental Welfare Commission guidance states that drugs should only be hidden in food or drink if it is in the best interests of a patient – not for staff’s convenience.

Source:- The Scotsman, Wednesday 3 October

Boys reported after attack on disabled veteran

Three boys, including a nine-year-old, have been reported following an attack on a disabled war veteran.

Hope Cairns, 87, was left bruised after being knocked out of his motability scooter during the incident on August 1. He was taking his dogs for a walk in Dunfermline’s Rex Park when it happened, leading police to step up patrols in the area.

Police said that three local boys, aged 12, 11 and nine, were being reported to the Children’s Panel as a result of the incident.

Source:- The Record, Wednesday 3 October

Welsh news

Pupils help to form education strategy

The views of more than 1, 000 teenagers in Wales are set to be fed into the Welsh Assembly Government’s education strategy.

The children will contribute their opinions through the Voice of Children project, which is backed by the education minister Jane Hutt.

Source:- Western Mail, Wednesday, 3 October 2007

Property prices to be investigated

An investigation into housing needs in rural Wales was launched today by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

The study is set to look at the issues which arise due to rising house prices and a lack of social housing.

Source:- Western Mail, Wednesday, 3 October 2007

New powers to protect vulnerable

New powers to protect the legal rights of vulnerable adults in Wales have been announced by the assembly government.

Health minister Edwina Hart said the Mental Capacity Act will help to protect people if they lose mental capacity.

Source:- Western Mail, Wednesday, 3 October, 2007

Equality Commission launch labelled ‘absolute shambles’

The launch of a new commission in Wales covering equality issues has been heavily criticised.

Many members of staff at the Commission for Equality and Human Rights have not been told precisely what job they will be doing it has emerged.

A person working in the equality sector who tried to contact the commission on Monday has branded the fact that people don’t know what job they are doing an “absolute shambles”.

Source:- Western Mail, Wednesday, 3 October, 2007