THE Health Service Executive has apologised to a retired east Clare nurse over its failure to properly investigate the alleged abuse of patients in the Clare mental health service in 2003 and 2004.

Rolling work stoppages will target medical facilities in Dublin, Laois and Clare today.

THERE is a real danger disputes in the health service will spiral out of control, the Labour Party warned yesterday.

Final contingency plans were under way in medical facilities across Ireland tonight at thousands of nurses prepare for a another series of rolling work stoppages.

A dozen more hospitals will be affected in the next series of stoppages by nurses in their dispute regarding pay and working hours.