News round up: NHS attacked for ‘cruel treatment’ of elderly

August 27, 2009 in Mental Health, Older people, Substance misuse

NHS nurses attacked for ‘cruel treatment’ of elderly patients

Many elderly patients are being treated in a demeaning manner by a small number of “bad, cruel nurses” according to a report published today by the Patients Association.

The charity’s investigation presents 16 stories in detail from a database of hundreds of stories from patients and their relatives who claim to have been badly treated by the NHS.

Stronger beer and wine prompts fear of stealth drinking

British drinkers are unwittingly knocking back more alcohol units than they were nearly a decade ago because of the prevalence of extra-strong lagers and high-alcohol wines, new research reveals.

Drinkers in the UK consume 10% more by alcoholic strength than in 2000, figures from the research company Mintel show, even though the volume of alcohol consumed overall has been static during that period
Read more on this story in The Guardian

Children as young as 10 feel pressure to have a ‘perfect’ body

Children as young as 10 feel under pressure to have a “perfect” body, putting themselves at risk of going on to develop problems such as anorexia or using laxatives to lose weight, a new study warns.
Read more on this story in The Daily Telegraph

Workless rate jumps as Labour benefit bill reaches £350bn

The cost of unemployment has reached nearly £350 billion under Labour.

There are now 3.3 million households with no one over the age of 16 in employment, up from 240,000 on last year, with 1.9 million children living in families where neither parent works.