A SILENT vigil in Sligo last night sent a powerful message to the HSE and Government that its residents will not give up in their battle to retain local breast cancer services.

Attempts by the Junior Minister for Health Brian Lenihan to empathise with the nurses turned sour at the INOs special annual conference in Dublin.

FINE Gael leader Enda Kenny said recently that his party in Government would get drunks and their hangers-on out of A&Es, hit the pockets of those who are abusing the system and make room for patients who are genuinely deserving of treatment.

People in the North have just one month to say if they support a ban on public smoking, they were told today.

Niamh Nolan