Nursing homes around the country are reportedly facing the prospect of having to undergo major modifications to comply with new regulations.

Only 17 out of 181 children in care in Northern Ireland who sat GCSE examinations in 2006 obtained five or more passes from grade A* to C, it can be revealed.

A total of 1,200 ambulance staff employed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) have voted for industrial action which could affect 999 services all over the country.

New funding is being provided for medical research after Alzheimer’s experts expect the number of people with dementia in Northern Ireland alone to double within a generation.

Round-the-clock emergency response services are needed to help people at risk of suicide, it was claimed today.

An Ulster charity has been forced to shell out almost £35,000 after two employees were sacked – one of them via a voice message left on their phone.

YOUNG people addicted to cocaine, suffering from eating disorders, or with suicidal tendencies are to benefit from a €100m expansion in services by the largest independent mental health care service in the country.

The number of rape cases dealt with in the Central Criminal Court was reportedly up 26% last year.

More than €100m is to be spent on upgrading facilities and services at St Patrick’s Mental Hospital in Dublin.

THE embattled Health Services Executive is receiving 400 formal complaints a month from disgruntled members of the public.