The
frequency of committee meetings was under scrutiny at
yesterday's inaugural disability support and community and
public health advisory committee meeting in Dunedin, with one
member saying once every two months was not enough.
"If you make a difference for one family, then it's
worthwhile." Since the death of her teenage son in 2003,
Oamaru woman Helen Algar has been involved in raising public
awareness about text-message bullying.
The University of Otago is keen to see a "strong academic
component" in any future South Island neurosurgery service,
the university's health sciences pro-vice-chancellor, Prof
Don Roberton, says.
A review looking at whether New Zealand needs a third medical
school looks set to recommend keeping two schools, says Prof
Des Gorman, executive chairman of a high-powered health
committee.
Convicted fraudster Michael Swann has been ordered to pay $6
million to the Crown and forfeit $4.4 million worth of
property bought with money stolen from the Otago District
Health Board.
There has been little to laugh about in the neurosurgery
debate, but expert panel member Glenn McCulloch raised smiles
at meeting of about 1000 people in Invercargill yesterday
when he referred to himself as "an ignorant Australian".
The former Otago and
Southland district health boards have shown progress towards
meeting all six health targets in the last quarter of the
year, the latest figures show.
Once again, the defenders of Otago and Southland's health
services are doing battle - this time over the future of
Dunedin's neurosurgical services. But, is there more at
stake? One of the seasoned warriors from battles past thinks
there might be. Mark Price reports.
