As a nation we have turned away from God’s values and His guidelines when it comes to taking and giving life. The Liverpool Care Pathway was meant to be phased out last year following concerns that it was being abused by NHS staff. But recently, nurses have warned that it is still being used by hospitals under a different name. The LCP is a practice whereby foods and fluids are withdrawn from patients who are thought to be close to death. They are usually sedated and given a 'do not resuscitate' order. An inquiry overseen by Baroness Neuberger ordered the practice to be phased out and the practice was banned last summer. But earlier this year nurses and cancer charities told MPs on the health select committee that the pathway was still being used by hospitals - although not by that name. 

Medics at a Glasgow hospital were terrorised by a colleague who threatened to bomb the building when told there was no prayer room for him to practise his faith. Police were called to the Southern General in Govan when he became abusive and threatened to blow up the hospital. It is understood that the man is a temporary porter at the five-storey laboratory building, part of the new £842m South Glasgow University Hospital. The incident sparked fears that the new 1,365-bed, 14-floor, South Glasgow University Hospital could be a target for terrorists. Medics told the Evening Times that they fear for their safety after details of the incident on 10 April emerged this week. One doctor, who asked to remain anonymous, said, ‘There are no security staff on site. The new building is due to open soon and could potentially be a target.’

Democratic Unionist Party MP Jeffrey Donaldson, who is a Stormont Junior Minister,  said the Department of Health has - for the first time - published guidance to health professionals in Northern Ireland on terminating pregnancy. Such guidelines have not been previously in place as abortion remains illegal in NI, except when the mother's life is at risk. He said, ‘We will not be liberalising the law on abortion here.’ The Royal College of Midwives has said they will bring greater clarity to the legal position of staff who take part in terminations. Although the move will not change the law, and the guidelines will merely make clear what is and is not permitted, Jeffrey Donaldson has already said he and his party colleagues were unhappy with some of the guidelines. ‘We had a number of concerns that we raised with the Health Minister,’ he said.