Other UK News In Brief

Police Appeal For Help In Armed Robbery Case

Detectives from the Flying Squad at Finchley are appealing for information regarding an armed robbery in Camden. Police were called around 5pm on Saturday 30 April to business premises on Drury Lane in London after a man threatened the female employees with a handgun. The man demanded that the till be opened before threatening an employee with a knife. One of the employees was then struck on the head with a fist, receiving minor injuries. The man fled the premises via a passageway opposite, that connects Drury Lane to Shelton Street, where he was captured on CCTV. The suspect was wearing an 'old man' latex mask, a white builder's helmet, reflective jacket and see-through plastic gloves.

Government Commits Funding To Maintain Vital Cancer Networks

The Department of Health has committed to funding Cancer Networks in 2012/13, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has announced. The networks provide expertise to help commissioners, providers and patients work together to plan and deliver high quality cancer services. Speaking at the launch of the Anglia Cancer Network’s Be Clear on Cancer campaign, Andrew Lansley also announced that, beyond 2012/13, the NHS Commissioning Board will support strengthened Cancer Networks. Mr Lansley said: "Over the last decade, Cancer Networks and clinical networks in other areas of care have had a crucial role, taking the lead in the development of great advances in treatments, promoting excellence and improving outcomes. I am determined that we build more clinical leadership into designing services, bringing together new clinically-led commissioning consortia with colleagues in specialties across medical, nursing and health professions, to design services that meet quality, choice and outcome objectives.” He added: "Clinical networks are a clear example of how this way of working delivers better quality. We are listening to the views of clinicians in the field, and will respond by ensuring that, through the reforms, the role of a broad range of clinical networks is centre stage to how clinical services are designed. This will help deliver for other conditions the sense of clarity of purpose established in cancer services." The Coalition Government’s cancer strategy - Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer – was published in January 2011 and committed to funding Cancer Networks in 2011/12. The Government is currently taking advantage of a natural pause in the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill to listen and reflect, so that it can further improve its plans for a stronger, more personalised NHS. Subject to the outcome of the listening exercise and the passage of legislation, the NHS Commissioning Board will be established as a statutory body in 2012.

Appeal Launched To Trace Missing Ealing Man

Police are appealing for assistance to trace a man who is missing from the Ealing area. Bernard McHugh, 79, was last seen on Sunday 22 May around 5pm in the vicinity of his home on Castlebar Hill, west London. Bernard is described as white with white hair. He is approximately 6ft tall and was last seen wearing a smart suit. He walks with a tall metal crutch. Bernard suffers from dementia and his family and officers are growing increasingly concerned for his welfare. Anyone who has seen Bernard is asked to contact Ealing police.

(BMcN/GK)