Like 2 million other viewers, I tuned in to The Verdict on BBC2 recently, curious to witness the goings-on behind the closed doors of a jury room in a major criminal trial – albeit a fictional one. Unlike most of my fellow viewers, however, I know that I will never be called to sit on such a jury. My mental health status rules me out. My judgment is invalid.

Councils across England and Wales have been left with a £100m bill because they are for caring for sick and destitute migrants left unsupported by the state.

{mosimage}The home secretary, John Reid, is facing demands from more than 100 councils who blame “chaotic” government immigration procedures for leaving them to support migrants assessed as having “no recourse to public funds” (NRPF). These include thousands of failed asylum seekers, migrants sponsored to enter the UK, some overseas students and others in ill health, including many who have HIV.

Twenty-four hours after Mr Reid announced another crackdown on illegal immigrants – tightening the system to deny them benefits and urging them to leave by sending them text messages – it emerged that his officials have no idea how many have NRPF. Voluntary agencies estimate that the figure runs into tens of thousands and accuse the Home Office of parading a tough line on rejecting asylum claims while failing to mention this “statistically invisible” group.

A Royal Navy junior rating who claims she was raped by a senior colleague regained her memory of the incident after undergoing a controversial psychotherapy technique, a court martial heard yesterday.

A devoted wife and mother left with profound brain damage following a tragic holiday accident four years ago has been given the “right to die” with dignity by a senior High Court judge.

A health trust has saved a couple from taking the agonising decision of which one of them should go blind. It agreed yesterday agreed to fund treatment for one of the pensioners following claims that the availability of sight-saving drugs on the NHS was a postcode lottery.

A housing service is looking for residents to give vulnerable adults a home. The Bromley Scheme for Adult Placements houses people who have learning or physical disabilities or mental health needs.

Mental health chiefs in Norfolk last night announced that they were cutting 100 jobs after their funding was slashed by £2m a year, sparking fears that patient care will be affected.

Unlike those with physical disabilities, people who suffer from Alzheimer’s and similar diseases struggle to get help from the state. The number of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia is soaring. And, says the Alzheimer’s Society, the cost of care is already more than £17bn.

The BBC has apologised for Jeremy Clarkson’s description of crash-victim Richard Hammond as “a mental”. Mental health groups complained about the Top Gear episode when co-presenter Hammond returned following his life-threatening smash.

A bullying nurse shoved, kicked and kneed frail elderly Peterborough patients in his care, an inquiry heard yesterday. Norman Pearce (59) roughly handled and screamed at vulnerable residents while on duty at Dove House in Peterborough, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) was told.