The NSPCC is launching a campaign asking retailers to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to parents smacking their children. The children’s charity is calling on shops to do more to prevent parents from losing control of their children and then hitting them.

A report launched by the AIDS Funders’ Forum reveals that neglect and complacency in the commissioning of HIV social care and support services has created a chaotic and fragmented system, which is failing people living with HIV in the UK.

{mosimage}The report, The growing challenge: A strategic review of HIV social care, support and information services across the UK, is based on the results of a survey of HIV services commissioners and service providers from across the UK. The report reveals frustrations amongst both commissioners and service providers at an inadequate system that fails to assess what is needed by people living with HIV in the UK both now and in the future.

Glenys Kinnock MEP comments: “This report highlights that HIV is one of the lowest priorities in the already neglected area of sexual health, with grave consequences for those living with HIV in the UK today. HIV is being overlooked, whereas it should be a priority both nationally and within local health services.”

One service provider commented in answering the survey: “…the support infrastructure for HIV services is crumbling very fast. There is unsaid complacency which you can almost feel, that people think that HIV is not a problem anymore. We know this is not the case, because people are still dying.” 

The UK has a drastic shortage of therapists to treat people with depression, but what if patients could log on to a chat room to get the help they need?
Two NHS psychologists believe online therapy may be the answer to ridiculously long waiting lists which leave people little choice but to take antidepressants.

Britain’s biggest teachers union has condemned leading supermarkets for putting “inappropriate” pressure on children to grow up too fast.

New measures to combat gun and knife crime, mobile phone robberies and hooliganism have come into force. It is now an offence to get someone to carry or hide a weapon on your behalf, carrying up to 10 years’ imprisonment for firearms and four years’ for knives.

Children who eat a Mediterranean diet packed with fruit, vegetables and nuts are less likely to develop asthma and allergies, say researchers. A study carried out on the Greek island of Crete found eating high quantities of traditional foods such as olive oil could protect youngsters from wheezing and other allergic symptoms.

A council has apologised for banning “lunatics, idiots, deaf and dumb” people from standing for election. An election pack issued by Bournemouth Borough Council stated that “lunatics and idiots” and “deaf and dumb persons” were disqualified from standing.

Colchester Borough Council is delivering services which are improving and are good value for money, according to the Audit Commission.

Up to 1,000 asylum seekers who fled from violence in Darfur were given new hope yesterday when three appeal court judges halted the removal of three Darfuris whom the home secretary, John Reid, planned to relocate to refugee or squatter camps near Khartoum.

Social Services in Bury, Lancashire, have launched a new campaign to recruit foster parents for young people aged 11 to 18. They hope that recently increased allowances will entice more adults to come forward.