SOCIAL Development Minister Margaret Ritchie is under growing pressure to spell out the future of the Child Support Agency after a highly critical report on the body from the Stormont Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The organisation representing managers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) has admitted many patients are not receiving the best of care.

The Taoiseach has defended the Government’s record on health services, saying he wanted to see services improved for the long term.

Wide-ranging quality standards for nursing homes were unveiled today but they could raise the cost of care for families.

The Health Information and Quality Authority has launched new minimum quality standards for nursing homes throughout the country.

SIPTU, which represents 1200 emergency ambulance personnel, has served strike notice on the Health Service Executive.

A new set of quality standards for nursing homes across the country is due to be launched by the Health Information and Quality Authority this morning.

EXPECTANT mothers might believe that they will receive the same quality of care no matter where they live, but there is a staggering variation in the number of midwives available in Irish hospitals. The level of care depends to a huge extent on the choice of hospital.

Fine Gael is demanding a special Dáil debate on allegations of a possible cover-up of information relating to cancer services in Portlaoise.

Staff at the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine are demanding a security guard after an attack last week.