More than 60 elderly people have suffered abuse in Scotland’s care homes during the past two years, a watchdog has revealed. The latest figures show that the number of abuse complaints upheld by the Care Commission has risen by a third year on year.

Police investigations are being hampered by outdated forensic science facilities, leaving detectives facing long delays to obtain crucial evidence. The Scotsman has learned that a chronic shortage of modern laboratories and cutting-edge equipment means Scotland’s police are having to wait weeks before DNA can be extracted from weapons, blood stains and other evidence.

More specialist treatment services are needed to tackle Scotland’s growing cocaine problem, according to experts. A conference in Glasgow will hear that although more users are turning to drug projects for help, most services are geared towards heroin addicts.

Council leaders in Dumfries and Galloway have called for action to tackle the lack of residential care places for children in the region. There are only two units in the region providing a total of seven beds.

Cancer researchers are to benefit from £35m funding for 17 new experimental drug centres across the UK aimed at turning scientific discoveries into effective treatments.

An Arbroath woman, who lost her job as a result of contracting breast cancer, has joined the Disability Rights Commission in highlighting employers’ ignorance of new legislation. Cancer patients are facing discrimination and unfair dismissal at work, despite new legislation, the campaign group has said. Hazel Miller was working as a care assistant at a residential care home when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

The care home sector desperately needs a “Jamie Oliver figure” to force the Government to drive up nutritional standards in residential care, according to Liberal Democrat MP Paul Burstow. Widespread dementia and an ageing population are fuelling an expansion in residential care and yet the area of nutrition in the care home sector is woefully ignored by the Government, he said.

The belief that obesity can be thwarted by getting overweight children to take more exercise is misplaced, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Glasgow found that pupils at nursery who took part in exercise classes were no slimmer than other children. It is thought the children compensated for activity by eating more, or taking it easy for the rest of the day.

First Minister Jack McConnell dashed hopes of extra funding for councils to care for the elderly last night. His comments – in front of an invited female audience at the Press and Journal-hosted Ask Jack session in Inverness – will alarm councils reeling from cuts in social work budgets.

Cancer patients are facing unfair dismissal and discrimination at work, a BBC investigation has revealed. Some have even been sacked after being refused time off for treatment. A new law which came into force at the end of last year has given much stronger protection at work to people with serious illnesses like cancer.