Shocking hygiene standards have been found in some UK hospital kitchens, a consumer group reports. Which? reviewed hygiene inspection reports for 50 hospitals and found evidence of cockroaches, mice and mouldy cooking equipment. An online survey by the organisation also revealed 29% of NHS patients still felt hungry after their meals. But the Department of Health said hospital food had improved in the last few years.

The boy Madonna is seeking to adopt will be brought up with the teachings of the controversial mystic religion Kabbalah, the pop star has confirmed. David Banda has already been seen wearing a red Kabbalah string bracelet on his wrist and Madonna, 48, revealed that he would study the scriptures in which she places her faith. “I believe in Jesus and I study the Kabbalah, so I don’t see why he can’t too,” she said in an American television interview.

Too many young offenders have insufficient access to healthcare, particularly the large proportion needing mental health services, health and probation watchdogs have said. The Healthcare Commission and HM Inspectorate of Probation has published a report examining 50 out of 155 youth offending teams (YOTs) in England and Wales.

{mosimage}It found that one in six YOTs did not have a healthcare worker, even though primary care trusts have a statutory duty to provide one.

A third of YOTs did not have a mental health worker, even though 40% of child and young offenders have emotional or mental health needs.

Healthcare Commission chief executive Anna Walker said: “The consequences of not providing support to these children are dire for the young person and the local community. Children and young people are responsible for 25% of all crimes in the UK and 40% of those who commit crimes have mental health problems.”

Children who take antidepressants run a higher risk of self-harm and attempting suicide, says new research. The findings from a study of almost 3,000 children – some as young as six – will reinforce warnings to doctors not to prescribe medication to youngsters.

{mosimage}The latest time at which an abortion can be carried out should be cut from 24 weeks to 21 weeks, a Tory MP is due to argue in the Commons. A foetus may feel pain from 21 weeks, Nadine Dorries MP will say when presenting a private member’s bill. Ms Dorries wants a 10-day “cooling-off” period after a request for an abortion before it is carried out. Liberal Democrat MP Dr Evan Harris, who opposes the bill, says it would be unethical to impose a 10-day delay on treatment.

{mosimage} There were 186,400 abortions in England and Wales during 2005. Department of Health statistics show that 89% were carried out before the woman was 13 weeks pregnant, with 67% performed at under 10 weeks.Ms Dorries said the usual argument for reducing the time limit centred on viability – the likelihood of the foetus surviving outside of the womb – which is considered to be 23 weeks. “However, my argument for reduction rests not on viability, but on the issue of foetal sentience – how foetuses respond to pain, sound etc. 

Provision of services for the elderly requires dramatic reform if the growing needs of the 21st century are to be met, a new report has claimed. Fit for the Future, an analysis of the changing state of elderly services in the UK has been published  by the Counsel and Care charity, argues that a number of factors are putting pressure on existing arrangements, making them incompatible with the changing and growing needs of the elderly.

Speaking to the Kings Fund, Lord Hunt of Kingsheath called for public health professionals to ensure that the health benefits of work are recognised and continue to form a key part of any strategy to improve the health of the nation. Lord Hunt highlighted the recently published research that proves that being in work is beneficial for mental and physical health but that being out of work can shorten life expectancy.

A new centralised system for providing expert medical witnesses to family courts is to be proposed by the chief medical Officer for England.

More mothers will be encouraged to hand over their children to state-run nurseries and go out to work under Labour’s latest drive combat child poverty. Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton yesterday said that Labour’s plans to extend childcare places will provide women with a “world of employment opportunities”.

Care for older people is ready for radical changes in Waltham Forest. As elderly residents are living longer, and are more healthy than ever before, the number of people wanting to move into residential care homes is dropping. Waltham Forest Council maintains the majority of elderly residents want to remain in their homes, with access to care from social services and the health service.