An inquest has heard how a suicidal man took his own life two days after being sent home from hospital because no psychiatric beds were available anywhere in Northern Ireland.

A 17-year-old Dublin girl who was having “a bad come-down” on prescription drugs when she scalded her social worker has had her sentence adjourned by Judge Patricia Ryan until November.

Health service workers belonging to the IMPACT trade union held lunchtime protests at 28 venues nationwide. 28,000 workers staged lunchtime protests today to highlight their dispute over staffing levels, which the IMPACT trade union claims is affecting patient services.

Not enough is being done to help the victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse in the North, it was admitted today as ministers launched a new five-year victim-focused strategy.

Health chiefs and the trade union Impact are expected to hold talks next week over a row about an alleged recruitment freeze.

A fresh battle is under way on behalf of thousands of nurses who have lost out on a cut in hours, while their colleagues get a shorter working week.

EMBATTLED Health Minister Mary Harney yesterday insisted there are currently no plans to axe 1,000 bureaucratic jobs in the Health Service Executive.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has told the Dáil that new Minister for Children Barry Andrews will be following up with the HSE the findings of last night’s RTÉ Prime Time Investigates programme on children at risk.

MENTAL health services will continue to suffer severe disruption until Wednesday despite a breakthrough in talks on the psychiatric nurses’ dispute.

A drive is on to recruit at least 200 new foster carers in Northern Ireland over the next year alone in order to provide more children in care with the stable homes they need.