Inaccuracies dog ‘fit to work’ test

New study finds disabled people are being wrongly denied benefits after health assessment errors

Chris Linacre says the work capability assessment made her feel as though she was regarded as someone ‘just milking the state’. Read More…

Welfare cuts set for House of Lords challenge

Reforms to welfare payments for cancer patients are set to be challenged in the House of Lords.

A government plan to tighten the rules on welfare payments to cancer patients will be challenged by peers from across the House of Lords on Wednesday. Read More…

Bereavement raises heart attack risk

The newly bereaved are at greatly increased risk of heart attack after the death of a close loved one, US researchers say.

Heart attack risk is 21 times higher within the first day and six times higher than normal within the first week, a study in the Circulation journal of nearly 2,000 people shows. Read More…

Art wanted for international exhibition

This is a request for art works to be submitted for the first exhibition of Southwark’s artists in the German town of Langenhagen.

Langenhagen is 700 years old in 2012, and we’d like to help them celebrate the anniversary by exhibiting great art from Southwark. Read More…

PM orders merging of health and social care

David Cameron has ordered health and social care services to be brought together in order to benefit patients in a move which government advisers are calling the NHS’s most urgent overhaul. Read More…

Three million lives ”will improve through telehealth”

Three million lives could be improved across England thanks to new high-tech healthcare, the care services minister Paul Burstow said as he pledged to make it available to more people with long-term conditions. Read More…

Poorest families left in the cold by energy suppliers

Some of the UK’s poorest families are not getting the help they need to heat their homes this winter from energy suppliers because of a funding shortfall, a leading charity has warned. Read More…

Politicians urged to seize chance to change social care

Politicians from all parties have been urged to work together to find a way to overhaul the “failing” social care system inEngland.

Cross-party talks about the care given to the elderly and disabled failed in 2010 but will start again this month. Read More…

£170m fund to help older patients leave NHS hospitals

Councils will get £1m each to spend on social care to reduce the number of elderly patients occupying beds longer than needed.

The government will announce a further £170m funding for councils on Monday, to help them improve care and support for elderly people coming out of hospital. Read More…

Dementia care: Hospitals ‘must improve’

Hospitals in England and Wales are falling short in the care given to dementia patients, a review says.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ audit of 210 hospitals – the first of its kind – says while services are safe, they are lacking in other areas. Read More…