Society daily 24.03.11

Sign up to Society daily email briefing Today's top SocietyGuardian stories • Gulf in standards of patient care is too wide, GP practices told • Sperm grown in laboratory, raising hopes of male infertility treatments All today's SocietyGuardian stories Other news • A high court judge has rejected a request to challenge Supporting People cuts made by Nottingham council, according to Inside Housing. Framework Housing Association had sought permission to bring the review after the city council announced a 45% cut to its budget for housing services for vulnerable people next year. • More than 50 hospital units could be forced to close down under "devastating" NHS reforms , reports the Telegraph, as doctors' leaders took the first step towards possible strike action . Dr Mark Porter, chairman of the BMA's consultants committee, said the "brutal" cuts being made to the NHS would lead to the rationing of treatment and hospitals becoming "financially unviable" as they are undermined by private competitors. • The Community Development Foundation will cut more than half of its staff when it changes from a quango to a charity, reports Third Sector, which also has the news that local umbrella body Community Matters is to cut more than half of its staff after it heard that it will not receive further funding from the Office for Civil Society's strategic partnership programme. On my radar ... • The budget . Yesterday's Society daily asked what does the budget mean for the public sector? , and the answer seems to be "not much". While ministers were keen to promote the announcements on apprenticeships and first-time buyers as key public sector policies, there was little in yesterday's speech for services as the cuts loom. As Jonathan Freedland points out, George Osborne's announcement on petrol duty shows there was some money in the kitty for giveaways, yet he chose to aid motorists rather than halt the axe : "For whatever giveaways the chancellor mustered are dwarfed by those changes that did not appear in this budget but which are becoming more real by the day. A penny off petrol is nice – but doesn't amount to much compared with January's VAT rise to 20%. The change in tax allowances are better than a poke in the eye – but barely relevant to the family about to lose a long-cherished public service or tax credit. What Osborne announced is only a relatively small part of what this government is doing to the pockets – and lives – of the people of this country." But the voluntary sector received £540m worth of tax breaks from the chancellor, including inheritance tax reforms to encourage everyone to leave a charitable legacy in their will and a pledge to bring Gift Aid "into the 21st century". As Acevo's chief exec, Sir Stephen Bubb pointed out: "This budget leaves a legacy of better giving for generations to come. But now we need government to get a grip on local cuts so that today's generation of charities is still around to benefit tomorrow." • Momentum is building for Saturday's anti-cuts protest, March for the Alternative . The newly formed Queer Resistance , an independent group of queers, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people from across the UK, will join the march and is highlighting alternatives to the cuts including a Robin Hood tax on the banks; closing tax loopholes; and policies for jobs and green growth. It plans a "pink and black bloc" at the demo. And for those who can't be in London on the day, here's a great idea, the Virtual Protest , where people can upload their pictures and songs of dissent. (thanks @BrokenofBritain ) • Photographer Kayte Brimacombe, who has focused on the issue of people living with Down's syndrome and the additional diagnosis of autism. An exhibition of her work is being held in London to coincide with Down's syndrome awareness week . We've a gallery showcasing her work and families' stories of dual diagnosis . • This clever new film from ChildLine , which explains how young people can make contact online or over the phone. The charity has just passed the milestone of 100,000 registered users on its site. Bullying and cyber bullying are the key areas young people access on the ChildLine site and the charity says that girls are more likley to make contact via email and chat than boys. On the Guardian Professional Networks • George Osborne's budget had little to say about public spending , but commentators have expressed concern over the cost of cutting the deficit . • Leeds teaching hospitals trust is saving time and money through doing its rosters through software , according to a senior nurse who used to spend up to five hours working these out on paper. • The government paid ex-suppliers to the ID card programme more than £2m in compensation after cancelling the project, according to a letter placed inparliament's library. 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