THE cost of looking after people in Plymouth with dementia could rise nearly £2million by 2012. The increase is a massive jump of more than 45 per cent in what the city pays to care for its rising population of dementia sufferers.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) has helped launch a new pilot scheme to enable asset rich but cash poor older people pay for additional support at home, which could help to make their lives easier and allow them to stay in their own homes for longer, rather than move into a care home.

An investigation has been launched into the woman’s sudden death at Littlestone Lodge in Dartford. The nurse was on duty at the time and was found by staff at around 6pm on Sunday evening.

The Conservatives pledged last night that an incoming Tory government would publish the full report into social workers’ disastrous dealings with the family of Shannon Matthews, the kidnapped schoolgirl who was drugged and held captive for 25 days by an accomplice of her mother.

COUNTY Hall bosses have agreed to pump more than £20million into improving services for children in Essex. Essex County Council’s cabinet this week agreed to transfer £20.9million to help children’s social services.

FURIOUS union leaders warned today that some of York’s most vulnerable people would suffer after council chiefs unveiled plans to axe dozens more staff.

A SOCIAL worker has been suspended for two years after fraudulently claiming more than £4,000 in travel expenses while working for Oldham council.

A mentally ill man who killed a student was not properly assessed or cared for, a report said. Khalid Peshawan, 33, killed Halimah Ahmed at his Derby home in November 2007 before hanging himself.

A CALL has been made for the man in charge of York’s cash-strapped network of care for vulnerable people to quit as it faces going over budget by £1.1 million.

A FORMER care home worker has been warned she could be jailed after being convicted of mistreating a vulnerable resident.