Labour’s efforts to win over health workers suffered an embarrassing setback last night after it was revealed that 67,000 nurses and midwives will not receive their promised full 2.5 per cent pay rise before polling day.

Scientists have made a breakthrough in discovering the cause of a form of diabetes that afflicts an estimated 200 million people around the globe. Their research, based on data from patients in Tayside and Fife, has identified three genes that have been directly linked to the development of Type 2 diabetes, bringing scientists a step closer to understanding what causes the complex disease.

Patients are dying and there have been suicides among overstressed staff as a result of NHS rationalisation, a leading consultant in Lanarkshire claimed yesterday. Dr Martin Watt of Monklands Hospital, who was speaking at an event organised by Scottish Voice NHSFirst, said of the downgrading of the A&E:

Doctors have demanded that targets for dealing with obesity – which earn them cash – should be cut from their contract. GPs from across Scotland agreed yesterday that “lifestyle issues such as obesity” should be excluded from their incentive pay scheme because they can do nothing about it.

Fears that patients have been put at risk by long delays are being addressed by the Scottish Ambulance Service. Thousands of seriously ill people had to wait more than an hour for a crew last year, despite urgent requests by GPs for ambulances.

Calls to prosecute parents who give children under the age of 15 alcohol at home are a step too far, according to a leading Scottish charity. English charity Alcohol Concern wants a toughening of the law south of the border to tackle under-age drinking.

Aberdeen City Council is taking legal action against a charity to try and recoup a £22,402 debt, it emerged last night. Multi-Ethnic Aberdeen Ltd (Meal), which leases an office in the city’s Belmont Street from the authority, is said to have a “long-standing issue” with settling a bill connected to rent arrears.

Only half of all full day nursery school places in Aberdeen have been allocated due to a flawed city council policy, it was claimed yesterday.

Cases of meningitis and deadly blood poisoning in Scotland are up 40 per cent, with six deaths already reported this year.

The part of the Register for practitioners in day care of children services opened in March and workers can now start registering with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). The part of the register for managers and lead practitioners in day care of children services opened in October 2006.