A new grants scheme is being started which aims to help people with learning disabilities in Northants become more involved with their local communities. The Small Sparks scheme offers grants of up to £250 to groups helping people with learning difficulties to set up small-scale community schemes.
The majority of NHS trusts in England are not giving people with diabetes enough help in managing the condition at home, a watchdog has warned. The Healthcare Commission said most primary care trusts were offering basic diabetes care such as yearly check-ups. But it warned that almost 130 out of more than 150 failed on home support.
Everyone should be seen as a potential organ donor on their death unless they expressly request not to be, England's chief medical officer says. Sir Liam Donaldson calls for a system of "presumed consent" to be introduced to tackle chronic shortages of organs.
A Lancashire charity which has been providing support for people with profound disabilities for more than 50 years is facing closure. Preston and District Scope runs a centre on Eldon Street and also supports families across the region. About 200 families receive support from the charity in the form of classes, activities and advice. Those who run the centre say people assume they receive cash from the Scope national charity which is not the case.
A County Durham sex case has prompted a High Court judge to question whether mentally disabled people should be prosecuted in the criminal courts. Lord Justice Hughes made the comment while hearing an appeal centred on a 13-year-old boy accused of groping another disabled teenager.
A 28-year-old Teesside man has been awarded £1m in damages after a hospital blunder left him disabled. Anthony Louca was born premature in Middlesbrough in 1979 and was cared for in the town's maternity hospital. He suffered convulsions but was allowed to go home after two weeks. He now has short-term memory loss and cannot work.
