Many people use the SwiftCare Clinics for minor injuries to avoid going to a busy hospital emergency department and waiting hours for treatment.

The cost of private health insurance continues to soar, with a second insurer announcing a second price hike within six months.

Vhi have announced a price rise for its customers that will take effect from November 1, 2016.

Families faces a €105 rise in health insurance each year, while adults will have to pay almost €40 more, as the country’s largest insurer has once again pushed up its prices.

The VHI has cut child and student premiums by 50% on most of its plans to encourage cash-strapped families to take out private health cover.

An ever increasing number of Irish emigrants, who take out special expatriate health insurance with VHI, made a record €6.6m in claims last year.

The VHI struck a six-figure deal with a private consultancy firm so it could benefit from the advice of its former chief executive who resigned from his post last year.

The Government has been accused of ignoring the needs of patients and ordinary health service workers after agreeing to breach a pay level for VHI’s new incoming chief by almost €48,000.

Vhi Healthcare has recorded a surplus after tax of €7.4m for the 12 months to end December 2011, the company said today.

The surge away from private health insurance is set to increase again, after VHI announced plans to hike its prices by an average of 9% from next month.

Health insurer Vhi is to increase its prices by an average of 9%, it announced today.

HIKES in health insurance will see more young people cancel their policies leaving insurers with more older people which will in turn drive up the cost of premiums, an insurance expert has warned.

Quinn Healthcare and Aviva are hitting out at the Government's decision to increase the levy on health insurance policies by almost 40%.

More than 50,000 people have cancelled private health insurance policies in the first nine months of this year, putting increasing pressure on a creaking public hospital system.

FAMILIES could face a €1,250 hike on the average health insurance plan on the back of yesterday’s budget.

Families could see their health insurance premiums soar by €500 on the back of Government plans to make savings in health.

Two Derry men were charged at a special sitting of the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today in connection with the attempted robbery of a cash delivery in Dublin’s north city on Wednesday.

The 2009 Vhi GAA Cúl Camps were officially launched this morning in Croke Park by Christy Cooney, in his first official outing as President of GAA, Declan Moran, Director of Marketing and Business Development, Vhi Healthcare, Anthony Daly current Dublin hurling manager and former captain of the Clare senior intercounty hurling team, and Colm O'Rourke, former inter-county Gaelic footballer for Meath.

Vhi Healthcare today announced that Mary Harney, Minister for Health & Children has appointed Mr Jimmy Tolan and Mr Declan Moran to the Board of Vhi Healthcare with effect from May 1.

CROKE Park has set a new goal to help GAA clubs tackle a syndrome that has devastated families throughout the country.

Only 57% of Irish people travelling abroad for leisure purposes in the past 12 months took out travel insurance, according to research findings issued today by Vhi Healthcare.

CORK’S hopes of achieving an historic golfing double were dashed yesterday when they lost to Knock in the most dramatic of circumstances in the semi-final of the Bulmers Irish Senior Cup.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy has set his sights on Tiger Woods' course record in the Irish Close at the European Club.

VHI Healthcare today launched VHI Health Shop, a service from VHI to purchase health-related goods and services online at discount prices.