Plaid Cymru confirms budget talks with Welsh Labour

The number of patients leaving NHS emergency departments in England without treatment has tripled over the past six years, according to new data from the Royal College of Nursing. This alarming trend is attributed to soaring demand for urgent care and extended waiting times, highlighting significant challenges within the healthcare system.

A politician in Wales has faced backlash after using a racist slur against the Chinese community, which has been described as 'very upsetting' by community members. The incident has sparked significant concern regarding the impact of such language on societal attitudes and inclusivity.

Rape victims in England and Wales will be protected from being labeled as 'serial liars' in court, as part of a significant legal reform aimed at addressing the injustices faced by complainants. This change, announced by Justice Secretary David Lammy, seeks to prevent victims from being questioned about previous reports of rape without warning, thereby enhancing their dignity and rights during legal proceedings.

An official report has revealed that a quarter of police forces in England and Wales have yet to implement basic policies for investigating sexual offences, highlighting ongoing failures to protect women despite commitments made following the murder of Sarah Everard by a police officer in 2021.

The UK government has announced plans to eliminate jury trials in England and Wales for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than three years. This decision is part of a broader reform aimed at addressing significant delays within the Crown Court system, which has been struggling with a backlog of cases.

Twelve prisoners in England and Wales were mistakenly released from custody in the past month, as confirmed by Justice Secretary David Lammy. This brings the total number of such incidents to twelve, with two of the released individuals still at large. Lammy stated that despite these occurrences, the overall trend of errors in prisoner releases is declining due to system improvements.

In September, 386,849 patients in England faced delays exceeding six weeks for critical diagnostic tests, including those for cancer and heart conditions, raising alarms among healthcare professionals about potential harm to patients. This situation highlights significant inefficiencies within the NHS, as reported by the Royal College of Radiologists.

Retired UK detective Hugh Hughes believes that Ivan Milat, convicted of murdering seven people, may have had additional victims, including a family member of his wife, Keren Rowland. This assertion comes as a New South Wales inquiry into unsolved murders invites public submissions, potentially reopening discussions on Milat's criminal history.