A backlash is growing among family doctors against a Tory pledge to cut hundreds of NHS bureaucrats and devolve their work to GPs.

More than £900 million could be saved every year by scrapping the commissioning work of Primary Care Trusts and relying on GPs to liaise directly with hospitals, the Tories believe. But senior members of the British Medical Association believe that most of the 9,000 GP practices would have to hire an extra member of staff. The NHS Alliance, which represents trusts, has estimated the extra cost of the Conservative proposals at £300 million a year.

Computer fakes

Two police administrators who accessed intelligence files on their Yardie boyfriends were each jailed for two months . Davina Kirwan and Sunshes Pike-Williams, both 21, changed details on Scotland Yard’s database from computer terminals at a North London police station.

MoD stance

The Ministry of Defence will not take part in an independent inquiry investigating the illnesses suffered by thousands of veterans of the 1991 Gulf War. Many have become unwell from the so-called “Gulf War syndrome”, suffering from a wide range of health problems.

Unhappy nurses

Morale among British nurses working in the NHS and private hospitals is lower than in any other European country, research funded by the European Union says. A third of the workforce think frequently about quitting. A total of 40,000 nurses were questioned over a year.

Care battle

The parents of two disabled boys who are trying to secure a care package from their council will take their fight to the High Court tomorrow. Michael and Henrietta Spink, whose sons need 24-hour care, claim that Wandsworth Borough Council has refused to make adaptations to their home and provide day care.

Drinker jailed

A drunken man who accidentally shot himself in the testicles with a sawn-off shotgun was jailed for five years for possessing a prohibited firearm. David Walker, 28, downed 15 pints of lager at a pub near Rotherham before discharging the gun, stuffed down his trousers.

MoD bans iPods

Apple Macintosh’s iPod music players have been banned by the Ministry of Defence because they pose a security threat to its computers. The pocket-sized device is considered a threat because it can be plugged into computers through a Universal Serial Bus slot found on the back.

‘No’ to growth

The Government is moving to prevent grammar schools expanding despite pledging to encourage successful schools to grow. A government source said: “Grammar schools won’t have a strong presumption in favour of expansion . . . because we don’t agree with the expansion of selection.”

Exams reform

England’s schools were left isolated last night after Welsh politicians pledged to abandon national tests for 11 and 14-year-olds in favour of teacher assessments. Jane Davidson, Minister for Education, said the statutory Key Stage 2 and 3 tests would be “gradually removed”.

'Jackass' stunt

Four men were charged with breach of the peace after staging a “Jackass-style” hoax abduction in a supermarket car park in Dalkeith, Midlothian. Shoppers called police after they saw what they believed was a tussle between kidnappers and victim. It turned to be a stunt inspired by the TV show.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Times Christmas appeal: Letter from the Editor
• Conferences — what a waste of money
• Schools supremo learns a painful lesson