A care home for the elderly in Downpatrick is to be closed, the Health Minister said yesterday.

Two Irish children’s charities have expressed their concerns about the HSE’s plans to shelve proposals for a dedicated out of hours social work service, because of budgetary constraints.

A SURVEY published today has revealed that the quality of maternity care, overstretched staffing levels and low pay are the issues that most concern midwives.

A CHARITY has warned the HSE it risks another tragedy like the deaths of four members of one family in Monageer, Co Wexford, after it shelved plans for a round-the-clock care service for vulnerable children.

Services which enable older people remain living in their own homes are in serious trouble in many areas due to underfunding, it was claimed today.

Seven nurses have been suspended from an old people’s home in Antrim, the BBC has learned.

Officials from IMPACT and the HSE are due back at the Labour Relations Commission today for more talks about controversial recruitment restrictions in the health service.

NEARLY 3,600 children are now waiting to see a psychiatrist, with more than 1,000 facing delays of at least a year. The waiting lists are growing with 465 more young people in this predicament compared to two years ago.

A member of staff has been suspended at a care home in Eglinton over the alleged abuse of a resident. Southern Cross Healthcare, which operates Longfield Care Centre, said the claim was acted on immediately.

Schizophrenia Ireland has published a new document outlining the benefits of psychological or talk therapies in the treatment of psychosis as part of Lucia Week, the national schizophrenia awareness week.