Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has announced to parliament that decisions to close two accident and emergency units will be reversed. The previous government had endorsed plans to close A&E units at Ayr hospital and Monklands in Lanarkshire.

Patients in Ayrshire are to be offered tests for hepatitis C amid concern that they may have been infected by a health care worker more than 15 years ago. Some people who underwent surgery, such as caesareans or hysterectomies, were offered tests in 2005 but none were found to be infected.

Children and young people have produced a DVD highlighting the “horrors” of their detention at the Dungavel immigration removal centre which they hope will lead to the end of the

The Scottish government is to outline its plans for managing sex offenders. The SNP administration has already begun work on proposals to release the names and pictures of offenders who

A major expansion of Raigmore Hospital is being proposed which would enable 75 per cent of patients undergoing non-emergency surgery to be sent home on the day of their operation.

Scotland will need seven new prisons if current policies are not changed, according to a confidential report which has been sent to the new Justice Secretary.

A key manifesto pledge by the SNP is expected to be delivered today with the announcement that two hospital accident and emergency departments earmarked for closure will now be saved.

A care manager in charge of a residential home for the elderly stole a pensioner’s cash machine card and went on a spending spree.

Judges have thrown out claims for compensation by former residents of a children’s home run by nuns in Glasgow.

Vincent Crane Smith, who runs the Aldercraig outward bound centre for troubled teenagers and young people in the Borders, said the initiative’s name was tarnished “beyond resurrection” and instead the money should be used to fund either existing programmes or brand new initiatives.