News round up: Doncaster torture case: Brothers admit attack

Doncaster torture case: Brothers, aged 10 and 12, admit attack

Two brothers aged 12 and 10 have admitted carrying out a sustained attack on two boys in parkland in South Yorkshire during which their victims were tortured, beaten, robbed and sexually assaulted.

One of the victims, an 11-year-old boy, almost died when part of a bathroom sink was smashed against his head. He was only saved when local people went out searching after the other boy, aged nine, was found wandering a street in Edlington, on the edge of Doncaster, severely traumatised and covered in blood.

Read more on this story in The Guardian

Edlington reveals new failings by social workers

The Edlington case has highlighted new failings by social workers at Doncaster Council who have already been condemned as “inadequate” by inspectors.

An independent inquiry is under way into why, despite years of contact with the family, they failed to heed warnings that the two young brothers were dangerously out of control.
Read more on this story in The Times

NHS drug blunders ‘may kill hundreds every year’

Drug errors by NHS staff are known to kill dozens of patients a year, and the real toll may be 10 times higher, the National Patient Safety Agency said today .

In 2007, the watchdog received reports from NHS staff of 86,085 mistakes in prescribing or administering medicines, compared with 36,335 errors in 2005, according to a new review.
Read more on this story in The Guardian