The first sod has been cut on the £4.7m second phase development of the mental health unit at Craigavon Area Hospital.

DUANE Farrell, director of policy at Age NI said stories like that of Jackie’s father ‘‘demonstrate that many older people are being let down by the health & social care system and are not being treated with the compassion and dignity they deserve.’’

A raft of proposals aimed at saving the health service – including cutting 180 hospital beds and halving the number of statutory residential homes – has been given the green light.

A child protection helpline has reported a 58% rise in the number of calls it received from Northern Ireland last year, compared to the previous year.

Service users across Europe want their social workers to be good listeners, empathetic and politically motivated, a DVD launched to mark World Social Work Day in Northern Ireland has suggested.

Work is almost complete on the new regional sexual assault referral centre at Antrim Hospital.

One hundred and eighty hospital beds are to close in major changes to the health service in Northern Ireland, the BBC understands.

People who have experienced a traumatic event have an increased likelihood of developing a range of physical and mental health conditions, according to University of Ulster research.

A health trust breached a man’s right to privacy by disclosing unproven allegations that he sexually abused his sister, a High Court judge has ruled.

WORK is almost complete on the new regional Sexual Assault Referral Centre at Antrim Area Hospital, The Rowan.