An enclosed play area for a teenage pupil with learning difficulties and autism, which was described as a "cage" by his MSP, has been removed. The 18-year-old's parents raised funds for a safe play area at the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway, on Lewis.
The use of anti-psychotic drugs for dementia patients must be cut by two-thirds by November 2011, the minister responsible has warned doctors. Care Services Minister Paul Burstow told Panorama (shown on BBC1 at 8.30 pm on Monday 1st November 2010) that GPs must "take responsibility" and drastically reduce the amount of drugs being prescribed.
The medicines watchdog, NICE, is to lose its power to turn down new medicines for use on the NHS. It will give advice on which drugs are effective, but will not decide whether patients should be given treatments their doctor recommends, the Department of Health has confirmed.
TEESSIDE'S top judge told two friends who saw a group vandalising a family's mobility car and decided to "join in" that they should be ashamed of themselves.
"Virtually all" councils in England and Wales could be forced to end home help for elderly and disabled people, the Local Government Association has said. The LGA, which represents 422 authorities, has warned MPs budget cuts may result in services being restricted to those with "critical" needs. A £3bn funding shortfall could affect people with dementia, Parkinson's disease and diabetes, it said.
People who volunteer to help the elderly or disabled could earn time credits which they could then redeem for their own care later in life.