The General Secretary of the INMO, Liam Doran, says patients are suffering in silence in Mullingar Hospital.

A safety system introduced in maternity wards after Savita Halappanavar's death is not functioning properly in a number of hospitals.

A woman in her 70s has died following a traffic accident in Co Roscommon in which four cars and a truck were involved.

A High Court judge apologised to the family of an eight-year-old boy with cerebral palsy because legislation to allow for periodic payments orders has not yet been brought in.

A man in his 20s remains critically ill in hospital after a crash in Co Westmeath in the early hours of this morning.

A man is in a critical condition in hospital following a single-car crash in Co Westmeath overnight.

Gardaí are appealing for information following a serious crash which injured seven people in Longford on Thursday.

A schoolgirl seriously injured in a car accident in which her sister and a friend died has launched an action for damages in the High Court against her parents.

A man in his 20s has died following a two-vehicle crash in Mullingar this afternoon.

CORK University Hospital and Kerry General Hospital have been rewarded for good levels of efficiency — by more than €2 million.

The High Court has approved a €1.35m settlement to a four-year-old boy who suffered brain damage during his birth.

A 12-year-old girl has been seriously injured in a housefire in Longford.

The wife of a man accused of raping and assaulting her admitted she had initially lied to gardaí in a statement saying that her husband had not been living with her at the time the alleged offences took place.

The N4 Dublin to Sligo Rd has now fully reopened between J11 Castlepollard and the Old Longford Rd jct following a serious crash this morning.

The N4 Dublin to Sligo Road remains closed in both directions between Junction 11 Castlepollard and the Old Longford Road Junction following a multi vehicle crash.

A midlands hospital is introducing copper door handles in a bid to reduce the spread of superbugs.

THERE are worrying signs that waiting times for bowel cancer tests are starting to creep up again, the Irish Cancer Society said yesterday.

CONSULTANT oncologist Prof John Crown still believes there could have been political interference in last Friday night’s Late Late Show discussion on health issues despite RTÉ insisting “no outside influences” were involved in the decision to drop him from the panel.

THE decision to end all breast cancer services in Mullingar last night has been strongly criticised by prominent politicians in the midlands.

Health chiefs tonight sought to ease the crisis in breast cancer services by listing 20 centres they vowed would meet standards in care.

A man in his 70s has been killed in a car crash near Moate in Co Westmeath.

The Health Service Executive has awarded a contract for the refurbishment of a wing at Mullingar Hospital that has been lying idle since being nearly 10 years ago.

Five people have been killed in road collisions around the country since yesterday morning.

The body of a man pulled from the water of Lough Ree in Co Roscommon has been identified as Swiss national, Walter Borner, gardaí confirmed tonight.

A lorry driver accused of conspiracy in the Ir£151,000 alleged insurance trial has told the jury in evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that he had nothing to do with the claims made.

Nurses at Mullingar Hospital have cancelled their planned work-to-rule after voting to accept recommendations from the Labour Relations Commission.

PATIENTS at four provincial hospitals face industrial action by nurses angry at inadequate staffing levels.