A leading psychiatrist says many adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are not getting the treatment they need. Professor Philip Asherson, from London’s Maudsley Hospital, wants sufferers to be recognised and treated.

Religious groups are to protest outside Parliament in an attempt to halt legislation banning discrimination against lesbians and gay men. Organisers say the Sexual Orientation Regulations would limit their right to live according to religious beliefs.

A project that has helped a small group of autistic children understand more about human emotions is being launched nationwide. The project uses cartoons narrated by the actor Stephen Fry to help teach the youngsters about facial expressions.

The mother of stabbing victim Abigail Witchalls has spoken out against plans to lock up mentally ill patients who pose a danger to the public.

Under-fire cabinet minister Ruth Kelly will get a public show of support from the Prime Minister when they join forces for a social housing summit. Tony Blair will appear side-by-side at Downing Street with the Communities Secretary a day after she came under fire from some Labour MPs for sending her son to a private school.

The head of the NHS drug watchdog said it would not be forced into approving medicines it had doubts over yesterday as the body came under fresh pressure over the use of a controversial Alzheimer’s treatment.

Council estate resident groups in England will be able to apply for anti-social behaviour orders, under measures announced by the government. The resident groups will be assessed before being allowed such powers, with “clear safeguards” to make sure they are not abused.

Recruitment failures are wrecking plans to look after more patients at home, it is claimed. Ministers had promised to take on 3,000 community matrons by March but only 1,200 are thought to have started work so far.

{mosimage}Yet Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has said that more of the chronically ill will be cared for at home as community hospitals are shut down.

At least 105 of the hospitals are under threat of closure as health trust bosses try to turn around their debts.

The idea of looking after more patients at home was put forward in the NHS Improvement Plan of 2004.

It called for community matrons to look after those with chronic conditions such as diabetes and asthma and so avoid the need for hospital treatment.

Lynn Young, of the Royal College of Nursing, said budget cuts were jeopardising the initiative.

Community matrons are really just the tip of the iceberg,’ she said. The policy is to do more in the community but district nurse and health visitor courses are being slashed.

A House of Lords committee is to begin considering proposals to introduce tougher mental health laws. The new bill would allow the enforced detention of people who are mentally ill, even if they have not committed any crime.

Almost 1,300 of the country’s most dangerous criminals are living at the heart of the community in bail hostels, it has emerged. They include 98 in the ‘very high risk category’ – which includes killers, sex offenders and violent thugs the authorities consider extremely likely to strike again.