Many young people with mental health problems are at risk of falling through a huge gap in provision when they move from adolescent to adult care services.

GOOD local NHS services are important to the communities of Northumberland - and patients have given community mental health services the thumbs up.

AT HER visit to Scotland's State Hospital at Carstairs, the Health Secretary revealed that the hospital is on target in reducing its patient numbers. Nicola Sturgeon said that it is important to stress that patient needs and public safety are paramount.

By Deborah Orr IT WILL not be of great consolation to the 14-year-old girl who was raped twice at knifepoint by Darren Harkin last February, or to her angry family - and nor should it be.

AN MP last night strongly criticised a charity that runs a mental hospital after a patient absconded and allegedly raped a 14-year- old girl. Darren Harkin, 20, escaped from Hayes Hospital at Pilning, near Bristol, last Saturday.