Helpline NHS 24 could handle calls to GPs during the day to help surgeries open in the evening. The medical phoneline’s new chief executive, Sandy Forrest, said its nurses could play a key role in extending GP practice hours – one of the aims of Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon.

The mother of a Shetland heroin addict is urging the community to wake up to the explosion in drug injecting. She says action taken now might prevent many more families suffering the unspeakable misery hers has endured. This is her story . . .

Frantic attempts are being made to halt a strike by hundreds of Glasgow social care workers. Crisis talks were being held today between strike leaders and council chiefs who are pledging to put more cash on the table in a bid to end the strike.

{mosimage}The breakthrough comes 48hrs after more than half of the city’s 600 social care workers began an indefinite strike and will see the creation of a new job title with more pay. The move comes as letters from Glasgow City Council dropped through the doors of all 5600 staff from the social work department.

The letter quotes Depute Director Social Work Services Rab Murray as saying he believes the strike to be “unnecessary and premature”. He adds: “It is important you have the facts so you can understand the current strike and decide whether to support it.”

The workers are furious with the outcome of a pay and benefits review which has seen them put into a new grade which they claim lowers their maximum earning potential by between £1000 and £5000. Council bosses claim that 367 staff have been given a wage rise but admit they have had to protect the pay of another 247 workers until March, 2009, as they stand to lose up to £1003 a year.

The city council knows the dispute is likely to escalate if a deal can’t be thrashed out quickly. Strike leaders with Unison are currently balloting 1000 social workers and practice team leaders. Unison is confident most of their balloted members will vote to join the dispute.

Scotland has the highest cancer rates in the UK, with Scots 15% more likely to die from the illness. National Statistics figures covering the years 2002 to 2004 revealed that there were 446 new cases per 100,000 men and 379 cases per 100,000 women in Scotland.

Residents in Upper Achintore have launched a vigorous campaign to prevent a residential care home for children opening in their neighbourhood. They are up in arms over the proposal by the organisation Wild2 Projects to turn a house into a care facility for a maximum of five 11-18 year old ‘at risk’ youngsters.

Disillusioned home carers launched a scathing attack on their employer Fife Council this week, expressing grave concerns over the state of the home care service.

Choose Life has made an appeal for people with mental health issues in Scotland to share their feelings and sign a pledge to be more open about feelings in general.

Schools and social services are failing to prevent youngsters ending up as criminals, ministers have been warned. A report commissioned by the Scottish Executive said more should be invested in specialist support for teenagers when they start to go off the rails.

A generation of vulnerable teenagers is falling into crime after being “failed” by education and social work authorities, according to new research. A study by Edinburgh University found that young people referred to the children’s hearing system in their early teens are three times more likely to have a criminal record by the time they reach 19.

The killer of Polish student Angelika Kluk has had a heart attack in prison. Peter Tobin, 60, who was jailed for life in May for the rape and murder of Miss Kluk in September 2006, was taken ill in Peterhead Prison on Wednesday.