About 330 children had to be referred to Social Services in Londonderry over a 12 month period because of domestic violence, according to the NSPCC.

BELFAST is to get a network of new social care and health facilities over the next decade following the announcement of a £580 capital funding package from the Government.

The Western Health and Social Care Trust has moved to allay immediate fears of job losses in children’s homes locally. Social services staff who work in local children’s care homes were told at a special meeting on Thursday that their jobs were secure, at least for now.

Health and social care services in Belfast are to get £180m in funding in the next three years, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has announced.

The Western Health and Social Services Trust is to close two of it’s nine children’s homes to save money. The facilities facing closure are to be identified shortly. There will then be a consultation period.

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has said it could move virtually all its patients out of a County Antrim nursing home. Earlier this year, the Orchard Manor Care Home in Antrim was at the centre of a controversy over the standard of care it provided.

Subsidised childcare places across Northern Ireland – including many in Londonderry – are set to lose their government funding, the Sentinel can reveal.

The largest health service employees’ union, UNISON has this week threatened ‘strong resistance’ to proposals set out last week by the Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey to pay off staff across all four health trusts as part of a three-year efficiency savings’ initiative.

Linda Brown, Deputy Secretary for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) joined guests to mark the official opening of Geanann Care Centre for older adults in Dungannon, Tyrone recently.

OLDER people living in Northern Ireland last year failed to claim over £1.2 million in benefits, according to latest figures.