A leading charity has welcomed a Parliamentary report warning ‘soft targets’ such as mental health services should not suffer as a consequence of the financial crisis within the NHS. The Health Select Committee study, published today, said mental health services should not be targeted for disproportionate cuts.

Current guidelines used to determine whether people can train and practise as teachers, nurses and social workers are likely to fall foul of anti-discrimination laws, an independent legal review. The review forms part of the Disability Rights Commission’s (DRC’s) investigation into the legal framework governing entry and progress in nursing, teaching and social work.

The troubled Child Support Agency will not be fully phased out until 2013, the work and pensions secretary admitted yesterday, to the disappointment of campaigners. John Hutton unveiled long-awaited plans to replace the agency with a slimline body, as recommended by an independent review.

The University of Reading is to share in a £7.2 million research grant to help create a 21st century infrastructure for health and social care. A consortium of universities including Reading has been awarded the research grant by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under its Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre initiative.

A life-saving technique dubbed a “brain bypass” has been carried out for the first time in the UK. The operation, which has been carried out abroad, was performed on four UK patients with brain tumours and aneurysms – blood vessel weakness. It works – like a heart bypass – by re-routing blood supply around the problem using a piece of grafted vein.

The government is to abolish the requirement for fertility clinics to consider the need for a father when deciding whether to offer treatment. It means clinics will no longer be able to deny treatment to lesbians and single mothers out of hand. A white paper outlining plans for a major overhaul of the law on assisted human reproduction and embryo research is being published.

Cancer is costing patients their homes, a survey suggests. A Macmillan Cancer Support survey of 1,751 patients found 6% lost their home following their diagnosis. The figure rose to 11% among the self-employed. Another 18% had difficulties keeping up rent or mortgage payments, the survey found. Not only can a cancer diagnosis make it hard to work, but it can also mean extra fuel, food, drug and hospital parking bills.

A Zimbabwean man has won the right to stay in the UK – bringing to an end 84 days on remand in prison. Thomas Mvemve, a former paramedic, had been arrested after using a fake letter from the Home Office to obtain paid work which he was barred from doing. Luton Crown Court heard that while his asylum application was being considered the 49-year-old got work with a care agency and earned £15,000, on which he paid tax and national insurance.

Adult care services in the Hertfordshire have retained their two-star rating. Inspectors found the Hertfordshire County Council department is “serving most people well with promising prospects for improvement”. The council’s strategic direction, partnership working, and pro-active approach to working with minority ethnic communities were among the aspects singled out for praise.

There is a strong scientific case for the continued use of monkeys in medical experiments, according to a high-level investigation by some of Britain’s leading scientists. The report on the use of primates in scientific research was immediately condemned yesterday by anti-vivisectionists, who labelled the independent inquiry short-sighted, misguided and a whitewash.