Funds freeze to hit health boards

CASH-STRAPPED health boards which are struggling to make ends meet will not be getting additional funds in the new year.

As all nine health boards work on their end-of-year financial statements, more than ever they are expected to end up edging into the red.

But the Department of Health has warned that heath boards have to work within their existing funding allocation and that there'll be nothing extra in the kitty next year.