News
Live news stream
UK should build 'new community institutions' for elderly
Britain should build "new community institutions" specifically designed to help elderly people live independent lives to cope with the looming care crisis.
IPPR senior research fellow Clare McNeil said:
– Clare McNeilThe supply of unpaid care to older people with support needs by their adult children will not keep pace with future demand.
Thousands of people in their 60s and 70s today could be left to cope on their own when they need care in the future, with overstretched services unable to make up the shortfall.
Britain needs to build new community institutions capable of sustaining us through the changes ahead and to adapt the social structures already in place, such as family and care, public services, the workplace and neighbourhoods.
Not enough family carers for elderly 'by 2017'
There will not be enough family members to provide informal care for their elderly relatives as early as 2017, a leading think tank has warned.
Read: Tonight: Looking after Mum and Dad
Read: Charity: Local authorities 'rationing care' to the elderly
IPPR warned there would be more than a million elderly people without adult children to care for them by 2030, as they published research on rising care costs.
The report shows the average annual cost for an older person who pays for a typical package of care has increased to £7,900 a year, an average £25,000 for home care and an average £36,000 for a nursing home.
IPPR pointed to Germany, Japan and Australia as examples of countries with ageing populations which had coped well in the absence of adult children.
Advertisement
Machines 'could do a third of British jobs by 2030'
Machines will be capable of doing more than a third of Britons' jobs by 2030, exclusive research for ITV's Tonight predicts.
The study by the University of Oxford looked at 702 different categories of occupation and found that 36% of the UK workforce are in jobs where there is a high risk that a machine could be capable of doing their work by that time.
The programme, which airs at 7.30pm on ITV, sees a range of experts predicting that technological changes in the coming decades will be at a pace not seen since the industrial revolution of the 19th century.
'Disingenuous' to blame overdue smears on GP access
It is misleading to suggest the rise in overdue smear tests is the result of a lack of GP access, the Government has said.
A Department of Health spokeswoman claimed there had been a sharp rise in the number of women screened for cervical cancer in the wake of Jade Goody's death in 2009, and now, fewer were choosing to get screened:
– A Department of Health spokeswomanIt is disingenuous to suggest that more women are unable to get a smear test because of GP access issues.
We know there was a significant rise in women wanting tests in 2009 following Jade Goody's death, and now fewer women choose to take up the invitation to have a smear.
The old 48-hour GP appointment target actually worsened access and under new plans, millions more people will get to see their family doctor at evenings and weekends.
'Proud day' for Cornwall after years of campaigning
Campaigners on the Cornish peninsular are celebrating after the people of the region received official minority status for the first time.
Many on the peninsular have long argued the region deserves special measures - including economic concessions, such as reductions in fuel duty - in recognition of its geographical location and cultural heritage.
Half a million people signed a petition and thousands marched through Cornwall and Westminster in opposition to 2012's controversial VAT rise on hot pasties - dubbed the "pasty tax".
Dick Cole, leader of Cornish independence party Mebyon Kernow, said: "The detail is still to come out on what this might mean, but make no mistake that this is a proud day for Cornwall."
Labour: Rise in missed smear tests 'extremely worrying'
The 11% rise in the number of women who have failed to have a smear test is "extremely worrying", Labour have said.
Shadow health minister Liz Kendall said:
– Liz KendallSomeone is diagnosed with cervical cancer every three hours in the UK, and it kills three women every single day.
Smear tests save thousands of lives every year, so this recent drop in uptake is extremely worrying.
It's vital to increase public awareness and make it easier for women to book their tests, including outside normal working hours, because it can be tough getting to your local surgery if you're working, commuting or have to pick your children up after school.
Advertisement
'Govt failing to act' over rise in missed smear tests
Labour has accused the Government for failing to act after figures showed an 11% rise in the number of women who had missed a vital cancer screening.
Read: Cervical cancer test fears
Read: Pancreatic cancer poses 'growing threat'
Around 3.7 million women were late with their smear test check up for cervical cancer last year, while only 364,000 missed them in 2009-10, according to data.
The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), who released the figures, said the working women bracket had the biggest increase in overdue smear tests.
More than a million aged in their 30s were overdue, up 11%, while numbers of 40-somethings rose 15% to 925,000 and in their 50s it was up 16% to 620,000.
Cornish recognised as national minority for first time
The Cornish are to be recognised as a national minority group for the first time, the government has announced.
After years of campaigning, the move means the Cornish are classified under the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities - meaning they have the same rights and protections as the UK's other Celtic people, the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish.
Communities Minister Stephen Williams said of the announcement: "This is a great day for the people of Cornwall who have long campaigned for the distinctiveness and identity of the Cornish people to be recognised officially."
The announcement follows previous commitments, which included formal recognition of the Cornish language.
Syria: Ban Ki-moon urges end to blocks on aid
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has demanded the Security Council take action in Syria on violations of international law as he reported that none of the warring parties was adhering to UN demands for aid access.
In his second monthly report to the 15-member council on the implementation of a resolution demanding great humanitarian aid access in Syria, Ban said "none of the parties to the conflict have adhered to the demands of the Council".
"The Security Council must take action to deal with these flagrant violations of the basic principles of international law," he wrote in the 21-page report.
He did not specify what measures the council should take.
Read: Warning over sharp rise in 'British jihadis' heading to Syria
Donations for teenage cancer patient reach £1.5m
Donations to teenage cancer patient Stephen Sutton have passed the £1.5 million mark after his campaign for the Teenage Cancer Trust became an international story.
Nearly 60,000 people had donated to Stephen's cause via his JustGiving page at the time of writing.
After originally aiming to raise £10,000 for the charity, Stephen raised the target to £1 million as interest in his campaign grew.
Read: Teen passes £1m charity goal as cancer fight nears end
