Hain to reveal Remploy cuts

Blunders in hospitals are linked to 90,000 patient deaths a year

As many as 90,000 patient deaths a year could be linked to hospital errors, according to a study published today in journal Quality and Safety in Health Care.

The study of a large teaching hospital in the North of England identified problems including hospital-acquired infections, wrong diagnoses, drug compliations and falls as leading to fatalities and injuries.

Source:- The Daily Mail, Thursday 29 November 2007, page 6

Winter cold kills 25,000 pensioners

There were 25,000 excess winter deaths last year in the UK, government figures have shown, including over 19,000 of people over 75.

Help the Aged’s Paul Cann said the figures were “nothing short of a national scandal” and called for more action to tackle fuel poverty among pensioners.

Source:- The Daily Mail, Thursday 29 November 2007, page 6

Life expectancy gap widens

The life expectancy gap between the rich and poor has widened over the past century, with men in routine jobs such as bus and coach drivers, now almost three times more likely to die between the ages of 25 to 64 as those in higher managerial posts, government figures show.

Source:- The Financial Times, Thursday 29 November 2007, page 2

Hain to reveal Remploy cuts

Work and pensions secretary Peter Hain is expected to back Remploy’s plans to close around one third of its factories, which employ disabled people, today.

Source:- The Financial Times, Thursday 29 November 2007, page 2

Reforms aim to dispel rape myths and increase convictions

Juries are to be told how rape victims typically respond in an attempt to dispel “rape myths” which ministers believe are contributing to plummenting conviction rates for the crime.

Source:- The Guardian, Thursday 29 November 2007, page 8

England plunges in rankings for reading

Pupils shun stories at home for computer games while ministers to spend £5m on more books for nurseries.

Source:- The Guardian, Thursday 29 November 2007, page 13

Teenage burglar on electronic tag battered woman to death

A teenage burglar will be sentenced today after being convicted of battering a mother of two to death in her home.

Source:- The Guardian, Thursday 29 November 2007, page 16

Boy, 12, killed playing on road had taken drugs

A 12-year-old boy was killed when he was hit by a car while playing chicken on a busy dual carriageway after taking ecstasy and cannabis, an inquest heard yesterday.

Source:- The Guardian, Thursday 29 November 2007, page 17

Doctor assault claim

David Southall, the paediatrician, is being investigated by police over a claim that he assaulted a child. The accusation was made by the parents of the boy – known as “Child H” – to South Wales Police.

Source:- The Times, Thursday 29 November 2007, page 6

How Treehouse stops my son being dragged under by autism

Nick Hornby describes how he helped to set up a charity after doctors diagnosed his son with autism.

Source:- The Times, Thursday 29 November 2007, page 12

Mental health patients suffering routine abuse from neighbours

Most people with mental health problems are routinely subjected to physical and sexual abuse or theft by their neighbours, a new study indicates.

Source:- The Times, Thursday 29 November 2007, page 34