The number of new nursing home places within the Western Health Trust has been cut to two a month due to a lack of funding.

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has today revealed that treating drug and alcohol addictions costs over £7million.

The Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers (NIASW) has welcomed the conclusion of an investigation into the handling of a high profile child abuse case as a vindication of the excellent work carried out in the Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) by social work professionals.

The task of protecting children from on-line ‘predators’ has gone all-Ireland with news of an new initiative.

A patient with mental health problems has highlighted what she has described as the “horrendous conditions” where she is being treated in Belfast.

A successful scheme, which has seen children in care getting better help from independent social workers contracted to local authorities, will be extended to adult social care, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced today.

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey today officially launched a new programme to help people maintain positive mental health and wellbeing.

The State has failed to protect six vulnerable children who suffered at the hands of parents, the Children’s Minister has admitted.

The chancellor’s announcement of a 6.9% cut in funding for Northern Ireland, announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review last week, has been criticised by the Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers (NIASW), which has called on the Northern Ireland government to do everything it can to protect services for vulnerable adults and children.

Last year 800 children in Ireland sought emergency accommodation. Two-hundred of these children were under the ago of 12.