Residents of care homes due to close will still be given care, Bromley council has promised. Six care homes are due to close as part of a move away from residential care and towards a mix of services, aimed at giving more support to people living independently.

Opposition parties have condemned the government for failing to protect frail elderly patients entrusted into the care of national health services.

Six whistle-blowers sacked by a council for revealing a series of alleged management failures in children’s homes have received an out-of-court settlement, the council has confirmed.

Around 90 per cent of care homes can ignore the Human Rights Act, according to Help the Aged. The law, which came into force in October 2000, gives residents of council-run homes the right to take cases of abuse and neglect to court.

Researchers have revealed that prescribing some medicines to elderly people in order to stave off illnesses could just mean changing the nature of diseases and reduce life quality overall.

Britain’s largest trade union today blamed poor pay for the neglect and abuse of elderly people in care homes. Jack Dromey, the deputy general secretary of Unite, said the profit motive was at the heart of the ill treatment of elderly people.

Politicians and drinks manufacturers have dismissed a call by a chief constable to raise the legal drinking age to 21. Peter Fahy, of Cheshire police, said raising the limit would send “a clear message about the dangers” of alcohol.

About £80m a year could be saved by providing better support for young offenders leaving jail, a report says. Research by the resettlement project Reset and charity Rainer argues that providing housing and training is cuts further crime so it is cost-effective.

Improved supervision is the aim of a step-by-step workforce development tool that has been designed by Skills for Care and the Children’s Workforce Development Council.