Residential care beds for the elderly, controversially axed from a Sutherland community care centre by the former Highland Council, could yet be restored under the new political administration in Inverness, it is hoped.

Deprivation is driving a rise in suicides in the poorest parts of Scotland, research released yesterday suggests. A new study focused on the biggest clusters of suicides in the past 20 years, finding that east Glasgow was persistently the worst-affected area.

Measures designed to give a more rounded and reliable picture of young people’s behaviour will be brought in by the Executive to replace the previous administration’s indicator of persistent young offenders.

The number of persistent young offenders in Edinburgh has jumped by 12 per cent in a year. New figures show a hardcore of 103 repeat offenders were referred to the children’s panel for 1043 offences in 2006-07.

The Princess Royal’s Fife Carers Centre, which recently moved into larger premises in the town, will be able to employ a new carer support worker, a part time information officer, and a part time administration assistant.

Almost one in ten patients in Scottish hospitals is suffering from an infection such as MRSA, a survey suggested yesterday.

A callous care worker at an old folks’ home took a photo of a 91-year-old patient’s private parts to show her boyfriend.

The NHS 24 helpline is to be sued for £200,000 by the family of an Aberdeen schoolgirl who died of meningitis.

Alzheimer Scotland welcomes the findings of the National Audit Office (NAO) study, Improving Services and Support for People with Dementia, which accused the Department of Health of failing to make dementia a priority in England and Wales.

Hundreds of social care staff will strike later this month after voting overwhelmingly for industrial action, union leaders have said. The 600 Glasgow City Council staff had planned a work-to-rule from Monday this week but decided on an all-out strike to raise the profile of their grievance.