Proper public consultation on the National Health Service will be undermined by “vague and woolly” legislation passing through parliament, a committee of MPs said. The Commons Health Committee criticised government proposals to limit public consultation on healthcare changes to “significant” proposals and decisions.

Western drugmakers should do more to cut prices and must recognise that developing countries have a right to break patents to guarantee access to vital medicines, a top official said on Thursday.

A hospital has warned patients about free NHS transport provision after reports the service was being abused. Free ambulances at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital cost £2.5m for 130,000 journeys a year.

A woman from the Czech Republic who was lured to England and made to work as a prostitute was raped in a Lancashire restaurant, a court has heard. Eleven people have appeared at Preston Crown Court charged with trafficking and controlling prostitution in connection with the case.

At least one child aged five or under is expelled from school every week and dozens more are suspended as bad behaviour among pupils soars.

The stress of everyday life is threatening a global epidemic of cardiovascular disease, a report by international health experts has warned. High blood pressure is a “silent condition” which is “grossly underestimated” by patients, their families, medics and politicians, according to the study unveiled at the European Parliament in Brussels.

A 53-year-old man is due to appear in court accused of murdering an 11-year-old girl more than 30 years ago. Ronald Castree is charged with the murder of Lesley Molseed on Rishworth Moor, near Ripponden, West Yorkshire, between October 4 and October 9, 1975.

A shortage of specialist care for post-natal depression could drive more and more women to commit suicide, nurses warned yesterday. Suicide is the leading cause of maternal death and every year a small number even kill their own children.

Ambulance services are being stretched to “breaking point” because GPs have opted out of out of hours care, a union has claimed. The debt-ridden NHS is facing a shortfall of around 2,000 ambulance workers – with remaining staff having to work extra shifts to take up the burden, according to Unison.

Plans to tag old people so they can be tracked by satellite received a mixed reaction today. Science Minister Malcolm Wicks said technology could be used to help families keep tabs on frail or elderly relatives. He said tags, similar to those used to monitor criminals, could help give more freedom to those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

{mosimage}Kate Jopling, of Help the Aged, said that at first glance the proposal smacked of “Big Brother”. But she said the potential of new technology to help vulnerable older people should not be dismissed.
Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, warned of “gimmicks” which are designed to replace expensive care. She said: “A debate about better care for the elderly is a good thing but technical gimmicks often provide cheap and quick fixes rather than dignified and possibly expensive care.”

Mr Wicks said the idea of using satellite monitoring to benefit society should be discussed. He said: “We’ve got an ageing population with many people frail and many suffering from dementia, including Alzheimer’s. How can we get the balance right so that these people have the freedom to live their lives, to go out in the community and go shopping?”