Patient Voice Proposals Will Fail Without Resources, Says BMA
Government proposals to give patients and the public in England more say in the NHS are likely to fail because of insufficient resources, the BMA has said.
Read MoreGovernment proposals to give patients and the public in England more say in the NHS are likely to fail because of insufficient resources, the BMA has said.
Read MoreCouncil leaders in 40 new “Respect” areas have been warned they no longer have any excuse for failing to take action against yobs. Home Secretary John Reid said the local authorities were expected to make a major push against anti-social behaviour in exchange for additional resources.
Read MoreThe Government was accused of “criminal negligence” today as judges and magistrates were urged to jail only the most dangerous and persistent criminals in a bid to ease overcrowding. Ministers’ “scaremongering” tactics have blocked prisons with petty offenders, vulnerable women and children, as well as addicts and the mentally ill, according to the Prison Reform Trust.
{mosimage}Director Juliet Lyon said: “Ministers are right to call at last for jails to be used more sparingly, not because they are full to bursting, but because the Government’s own scaremongering tactics have blocked prison beds with petty offenders, vulnerable women and children, addicts and the mentally ill,” she said. “The Government has been guilty of criminal negligence to allow prisons to get into such a terrible mess without intervening earlier in a planned way.”
Her remarks come after the Home Secretary John Reid, Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer and Attorney General Lord Goldsmith wrote to judges and magistrates in a bid to try to relieve some of the pressure on Britain’s overcrowded jails. The prison population of England and Wales is hovering around its capacity of about 80,000 places. The Home Office confirmed that a wing with 176 places at Norwich Prison declared “unfit” by inspectors is to be brought back into use from today because of cell shortages.
Read MoreThe Scottish Executive has given assurances that adoption agencies run by the Catholic Church will not be compelled to place children with same-sex couples, the Church claimed last night. The Catholic Church added that it would regard any backtracking on the assurance as a “betrayal”.
Read MoreScotland’s Health Minister, Andy Kerr, has approved plans for a new health centre for patients who live in Renfrewshire. The Renfrew Health and Social Work Centre will unite the two services, following the official linking of responsibilities between health boards and local authorities to provide care for the sick and vulnerable in the community.
Read MoreStatistics released today show that in the last five years there has been a continuing increase in the amount of Class A, Class B and Class C drugs seized by the police. Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said: “Drugs and the people who peddle them are a scourge on our communities.
What skills are important to the social service sector and how are these skills best delivered? These are just two of the topics expected to be discussed at a series of consultation events being held across Scotland this February and March.
Read MoreHousing support staff throughout Scotland will soon be able to support their learning and development with the first national Skills Sets developed specifically for their sector which have now been launched by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
Read MoreThe criminal courts are in meltdown with a severe cash crisis forcing offenders to be sentenced on the ground of cost, not justice, magistrates say.
Read MoreFour in 10 families now face paying inheritance tax as Gordon Brown comes under mounting pressure to raise the £285,000 threshold.
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