Doctors have ridiculed plans for more NHS services at evenings and weekends, saying the idea of a “Tesco NHS” is absurd and unaffordable. The British Medical Association also overwhelmingly passed a motion of no confidence in Jeremy Hunt, saying he was denigrating the NHS for ideological reasons. That drew a sharp response from the health secretary, who said the doctors’ union had failed to learn the lesson of recent NHS scandals. Mark Porter, chair of council at the BMA, told delegates at its annual representative meeting in Edinburgh: “We all want urgent care at weekends to be of the same high standard as patients can expect on weekdays. But the calls we sometimes hear for a Tesco NHS, full service, 24/7, are just ridiculous when the health service can barely afford its current model.” Sir Bruce Keogh, medical director of NHS England, is working on plans for more routine operations , clinics, and tests to take place out of hours, arguing it will be more convenient for patients and make better use of expensive equipment. But the BMA voted against the plans by a huge majority after they were described as “utter folly”. Chaand Nagpaul, of the BMA’s GP committee, said the NHS was already overstretched and without extra money the plans would mean weekday services getting worse. More staff would be needed and doctors would have be paid “premium rates” at weekends, he said. A series of studies have suggested death rates
Drinks, drugs, violence, promiscuity: British youth at the top or near the top of the bad youth list. And they frighten grown ups.

A report by the Institute of Public Policy Research, to be published next week, describes British youth as among the worst in Europe. The study compares teenage English and Scots with their counterparts in other European countries. 

Fewer British youths ate regularly with their family, and many more spent most evenings with their friends; they were drunk more often, got involved in fights and more had sex than other European youth.

More British adults than Continental adults would be reluctant to intervene should they see youths vandalising a bus shelter fearing a violent response.  Many adults were fearful of leaving home after dark and a large number were thinking of moving home because of youths "hanging about".

The demonisation of youth in the British media is said to have induced real fear in many adults.

Many more comparisons are made in this report. 

====Related reports====

A study comparing the behaviour of South of England youth in 2005 with that in 1985, concluded that youth now are better behaved than their predecessors. There were marked differences between boys and girls.

ASBOs (Anti-social behaviour orders) are civil actions that can be taken against those who are likely to cause alarm, harassment, or distress to others outside their family. Research by NACRO (National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders) in 2002 concluded that they were a failure. The average ASBO costs more than £5,000 to enforce and takes over three months to obtain. Over one third of all ASBOs were breached within the first 9 months of issue. 

Another report published today by NACRO criticises some courts for using ASBOs inappropriately and too readily. ASBOs should be seen as the last resort for young offenders. There should be consultations with the local Youth Offending Team (YOT) and the reasons why other remedies were not suitable should be given. There were also indications that ASBOs are being used as weapons of racial discrimination, there being a disproportionate number of young black people being served with ASBOs. In some quarters, youths flaunt ASBOs as a badge of honour.