Prompt treatment a life-saver
Prompt treatment a life-saver
If you think you or your loved ones will never need emergency neurosurgery, and the battle to retain the service in Dunedin does not affect you, think again.
Elspeth McLean
Panel for neurosurgery decision named
Panel for neurosurgery decision named
Two clinicians and a consumer representative make up the expert panel considering the future of neurosurgery in the South.
Neurosurgery issue personal for producer
Neurosurgery issue personal for producer
Channel 9's Charlotte Young is used to being at arm's length from the subjects covered in the programmes she produces, but that will not be the case when Dunedin Diary goes to air tonight.
Nurses support service
Nurses support service
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation has come out in support of retaining neurosurgery services in Dunedin, saying the implications of a Christchurch-only service for acute patients from the southern area are grim.
English breaks silence
English breaks silence
Deputy Prime Minister and MP for Clutha-Southland Bill English says he wants to make sure his constituents get good access to neurosurgery.
SDHB appoints surgeons
SDHB appoints surgeons
Southern District Health Board chief executive Brian Rousseau has signed up two European neurosurgeons for Dunedin. They are expected to start work in January.
Injury victim waits in pain
Injury victim waits in pain
A 50-year-old Dunedin woman who had ACC-funded back surgery turned down earlier this year says while her condition is increasingly debilitating, she has no idea when she might get the surgery she needs.
Increasing refusals of surgery requests
Increasing refusals of surgery requests
The percentage of elective surgery requests declined by ACC has doubled since 2007, with shoulder and spinal requests among the most commonly refused.
Understand the issues and act, nurse urges
Understand the issues and act, nurse urges
Intensive-care nurse Pam Adams says she sits quietly most of the time, but is not prepared to let anyone "steal" Dunedin's neurosurgery service.
Hospital to trial e-prescriptions
Hospital to trial e-prescriptions
Confirmation that electronic "signatures" will be allowed for Dunedin Hospital's national e-prescribing pilot, means the scheme should go ahead in two wards in September.
Experts against moving Southern patients
Experts against moving Southern patients
Transporting Otago and Southland emergency neurosurgery cases to Christchurch is unacceptable and Dunedin's intensive care specialists cannot take any responsibility for any of the predictably disastrous outcomes, says their leader, Mike Hunter.
Working party review of health care options
Working party review of health care options
The working party reviewing health care options for the Wakatipu is expected to deliver a report outlining an agreed model by December 1.
Personal health information workshop topic
Personal health information workshop topic
How access to personal health information may be managed in future will be one of the topics at a community workshop looking at the future of patient records to be held in Dunedin next week.
Health board cuts credit card
Health board cuts credit card
The Southern District Health Board, which has a budget of about $800 million, is to cut its credit cards from three to two.
Murdoch to be town's next GP
Murdoch to be town's next GP
The University of Otago's first professor of general practice and authority on the clinical management of what was called Tapanui flu, Prof Campbell Murdoch is returning from Australia to become Tapanui's GP next month.
Large drop in food prices
Large drop in food prices
Shoppers may have been surprised to learn that overall food prices nationally have dropped in the year to the end of June, with fruit and vegetables nearly 10% cheaper than a year ago.
Letters on neurosurgery reaching director-general
Letters on neurosurgery reaching director-general
Director-general of Health Stephen McKernan has been receiving a "small number" of letters about neurosurgery services, his office confirmed this week.
University council approves department mergers
University council approves department mergers
Two previously signalled departmental mergers at the University of Otago, to apply from next year, were approved by the university council yesterday.
Call to all to come to aid of the party
Call to all to come to aid of the party
MY uncontrollable weeping was not caused by the thought I may never again visit Christchurch after dark.
Bid to cut back MRI wait time sees Saturday sessions
Bid to cut back MRI wait time sees Saturday sessions
Additional MRI scans are being carried out at Dunedin Hospital on Saturdays in a bid to cut back the waiting time for non-urgent scans from 107 weeks to 30.