Standards of care in Scotland’s nursing homes need to be improved, according to the minister responsible for services for the elderly.

{mosimage}Shona Robison, the public health minister, said she was “appalled” by the cases of neglect and mistreatment of elderly people highlighted by The Scotsman earlier this week, and pledged action to lift standards.

Following Monday’s investigation – which found that complaints about abuse in care homes had risen by two thirds last year, The Scotsman has learned of further serious instances of neglect.

Writing for this paper, Ms Robison said: “Like anyone else, I was appalled to read of the cases of neglect and mistreatment of older people in care homes highlighted by The Scotsman.

“The fact that these cases still have the power to shock us demonstrates that they are, thankfully, not commonplace – but it’s still not good enough that they happen at all.

“I am determined to prevent the unacceptable mistreatment of older people in care homes. The need to improve standards lies at the heart of this issue.”

Ms Robison said a new campaign would raise awareness of the existing care standards, which experts say are too often not being met.

Pensioners at the centre of a controversial row over care fees are to receive £100 from Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Scotland’s drugs minister has said he is “sympathetic” to UK Government plans to upgrade cannabis to a class B drug.

Major health problems including binge drinking and bad eating habits are more common in the west of Scotland – even among the middle classes.

One educates some of the most privileged children in society while the other serves some of the poorest – but it is the further education college in the east end of Glasgow which could lose its charitable status following a ruling yesterday.

A Care worker has been suspended from a sheltered housing complex in Aberdeen following allegations she used a mobile phone to take a photograph of a dead elderly woman lying in an open coffin.

Conditions at Scotland’s only female prison, Cornton Vale, have been heavily criticised in a new HMI report. Despite listing six recommendations to improve the prison in 2006, inspectors found five had not been implemented.