Students starting university have already developed disturbing patterns of alcohol use, according to the head of student health at University College Cork.

Almost nine in every 10 people will deliberately delay going to a GP or hospital for medical treatment because of spiralling health insurance costs.

Children in State care are up to five times more likely to suffer from mental health issues than their peers, a leading psychiatrist has claimed.

Struggling health insurers are increasingly offering restricted cover deals which, while cheaper in the short term, are a “time bomb” for unsuspecting customers, it has been claimed.