As the final draft of the NHS white paper went to the Cabinet, shadow health secretary Robin Cook released an 'authoritative' summary. It included plans for managers to be given greater pay bargaining flexibility, and tax relief for people over 65 taking out private health insurance. Mr Cook condemned it as the first step towards privatisation.

The 22 health authorities with the longest waiting lists will have to sign a contract before they can share the government's£6m fund to help the worst areas. It will commit each HA to reducing its list within a timescale, and will be agreed with a team led by John Yates of Birmingham University.

Lack of sleep led to 85 per cent of junior doctors making one or more mistakes during one year, and 22 per cent made four or more mistakes, a Bristol survey has found. Meanwhile, managers had until the end of this week to respond to health minister David Mellor's circular

suggesting they reduce the use of locums and to his instruction that they cut juniors' hours.

Many hospital Leagues of Friends are being squeezed out by managers keen to exploit the space for income generation, the leagues' national association has warned.

Junior health minister Roger Freeman has congratulated Bexley HA for its entrepreneurial spirit in marketing places at its Broomhills therapeutic community to other districts at£8,000 each.

Increasing numbers are dissatisfied with hospital treatment - 29 per cent in 1987, up 8 per cent since 1983 - according to Social Trends. Dissatisfaction with GPs, dentists and nurses has risen only slightly.

Health service commissioner Anthony Barrowclough has criticised a consultant obstetrician who examined a pregnant woman as if she was 'a piece of furniture'.