Violence against women is costing British society £40bn a year yet charities working to provide refuge and aid to some of the most vulnerable people in society are woefully under-funded, a leading charity warns.

Leopardstown Park Hospital in south Dublin is closing 21 beds and plans to suspend respite care for around 30 families a month. The suspension comes into effect at the beginning of May.

There were 165 mental health tribunals held in February 2008, according to the latest figures published by the Mental Health Tribunal.

THE report into the breast cancer misdiagnosis of Rebecca O’Malley yesterday exposed major flaws in patient care and raised serious concerns about two hospitals designated as national “centres of excellence”.

A slight increase in the income thresholds for recipients of the Carers Allowance and Carers Benefit is coming into effect from today.

Tough new checks on people who want to work with children and vulnerable adults are to be introduced in Northern Ireland.

Irish mothers who refuse to believe their cherished sons have fathered illegitimate children are among the most popular users of DNA paternity services, it was revealed today.

Hospitals and other health services around the country are facing the threat of major disruption as up to 35,000 angry staff, including frontline workers, ballot on industrial action.

Members of the public are being urged to come out on the streets to express anger at the state of the health service.

A NEW report on staffing levels in the Health Service Executive is expected to expose widespread geographical discrepancies, with some regions employing too many administrators and managers and others not enough.