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PANORAMA UNDERCOVER NURSE STRUCK OFF
A nurse who filmed undercover to reveal neglect of the elderly for a Panorama broadcast in 2005 has been struck off for misconduct.
Margaret Haywood, who secretly filmed at the Royal Sussex Hospital in Brighton, said she had raised concerns with her line manager but felt her decision to film was in the public interest.
A panel at the Nursing and Midwifery Council found her actions were "a major breach of the code of conduct".
Margaret Haywood expressed her devestation at losing her job. "It is a serious issue and I knew it was a risk I was taking but I thought the filming was justified and it was in the public interest. I always made it clear to the BBC that patients would come first at all times," she said.
Elizabeth Bloor, producer of Undercover Nurse, defended Margaret's decision saying it had been in the public interest.
A spokesman for the BBC said "Panorama believes that Margaret Haywood has done the elderly population of this country a great service".
The decision has raised questions about the protection for whistleblowers in the future. You can read more about the story on BBC News Online.
You can also join the debate on protection of whistleblowers on the BBC's Have Your Say.
BRITAIN'S HOMECARE SCANDAL: A PANORAMA SPECIAL
Care of the elderly was revisited just last week by Panorama, this time in a special looking into the provision of home care. Britain's Homecare Scandal drew a strong response with hundreds of you emailing the Panorama inbox.
Many of the emails echoed the findings of the programme with people sharing their own experiences of homecare services.
Those working in the profession also got in touch, some to voice their concern that they did not want to be tarred with the same brush and many others saddened but not surprised at what they had seen, having experience of similar problems.
It was a harrowing watch, with secret filming of how elderly clients were being let down by their care providers. The programme revealed how visits were often cut back and sometimes missed.
Joan Bakewell, the government's advisor on the elderly said she was shocked by the programme's findings, and in particular the practice of driving down costs by some local authorities who have introduced a reverse bidding auction system which sees contracts awarded to the lowest bidder.
"The idea of charging down the ladder of costs to force the costs down, down and down and down for the sake of profit is truly immoral - it's scandalous. The lowest bidder is going to cut costs, which means cutting care," Dame Joan said.
If you missed the programme you can watch it on the Panorama website.
You can also find out more about the Britain's Homecare Scandal, including a list of organisations that can offer advice to anyone affected by the issues raised in the programme, on our website.
MAY CONTAIN NUTS...
It's the butt of many jokes and a popular refrain when things seem maddeningly controlled - blame health and safety.
It seems to control all aspects of our lives, from work, to how loud we play our music and even how large and heavy gravestones can be.
What should be a serious set of regulations has become a laughing stock, and fallen prey to lawyers pushing for claims for almost any accident. Panorama investigates what's gone wrong in May Contain Nuts... BBC One, Monday 20 April at 8.30pm.
LIFE AFTER WOOLIES
After 99 years of trading on the UK high street, January saw the end of Woolworths as the last store closed its doors, another victim of the credit crunch.
But what happened to the 27,000 employees who lost their jobs? In Monday's programme, Life After Woolies, Panorama followed five ex-Woolworths workers as they tried to find new jobs in this uncertain climate.
If you missed the programme you can catch it on the BBC iPlayer.
One ex-employee has devoted his time to helping his former colleagues via his website Woolworths Reunited which has helped 4,000 people find new jobs. You can read more about his success on the Panorama website and see his collection of Woolies memorabilia that has helped create a near-museum to the store that was at the heart of the UK high street in our video extra.
That's all from us for this week. You can keep up to date with Panorama on our website.
And remember you can e-mail us at panorama@bbc.co.uk
 bbc.co.uk/panorama
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