Thomson unaware of board direction
Thomson unaware of board direction
A Southern District Health Board member says he does not know what the organisation is up to in key areas, which would be unacceptable in the commercial sector.
Eileen Goodwin
Delay with HDC report disappoints
Delay with HDC report disappoints
An investigation into whether a group of Dunedin Hospital mental health patients was unwittingly involved in an experiment casts a shadow over those awaiting the outcome, an advocate says.
Board will not release draft report on Dunedin surgery cost-cutting
Board will not release draft report on Dunedin surgery cost-cutting
The Southern District Health Board has refused to release draft reports written by a senior Wellington health official who was seconded to its surgical service last October.
Dunedin band 'blown away' by win
Dunedin band 'blown away' by win
Dunedin band The Fu King won the national final of Battle of the Bands in Auckland at the weekend.
Hospital catheter procedure faulted
Hospital catheter procedure faulted
Hospital safety markers released last week reveal Dunedin did not meet a key measure designed to reduce bloodstream infections.
Hospital upgrade progress slammed
Hospital upgrade progress slammed
Health executives have occupied at least five different well-appointed suites during the 18 years they have stalled on upgrading Dunedin's gastroenterology facility, a highly critical report released this week says.
K2 prominent in admissions audit
K2 prominent in admissions audit
The synthetic cannabis product K2 was associated with 13% of admissions to an inpatient psychiatric ward in Dunedin, including one patient with homicidal thoughts, during a three-and-a-half-month audit done earlier this year.
Court case seen as part of wages campaign
Court case seen as part of wages campaign
A court case arguing carers' pay rates discriminate against women is part of a co-ordinated litigation strategy to lift workers' low wages, University of Otago public law specialist Prof Andrew Geddis says.
Early discharge option for older patients
Early discharge option for older patients
Older patients at Dunedin Hospital are likely to be offered an early discharge from next week.
Lack of transparency criticised
Lack of transparency criticised
New Zealand is out of step with other countries in a lack of transparency about how some $9 billion of health funding is distributed each year, University of Otago researchers suggest.
Prescription changes spark plea to keep eye on elderly neighbours
Prescription changes spark plea to keep eye on elderly neighbours
Reduced contact with pharmacists because of a sector shake-up has sparked a call for more neighbourly concern for the elderly.
New diabetes regime shows promise
New diabetes regime shows promise
Dropping free annual GP visits for diabetics seems to be working, because they need to visit the doctor anyway, Dr Hywel Lloyd says.
In-hospital advertising considered as cash cow
In-hospital advertising considered as cash cow
Selling advertising in southern hospitals has been ''jokingly'' suggested as a means to raise cash, Southern District Health Board deputy chairman Paul Menzies says.
Progress made with gut health
Progress made with gut health
A group trying to improve the ''poor public image'' of gut-related diseases, as well as finding ways to treat them, had a successful year, its annual report says.
Health board job talks unsettle
Health board job talks unsettle
Scores of Southern District Health Board middle managers on transitional contracts face uncertainty, as the board runs a ''highbrow'' discussion about their jobs, Public Service Association organiser Julie Morton says.
4000 take up whooping cough vaccine
4000 take up whooping cough vaccine
Nearly 4000 pregnant women have accepted an offer of a free vaccine against whooping cough since the initiative was launched at the start of the year.
Water and waste change
Water and waste change
Water and wastewater network maintenance will be outsourced to an outside provider, the Dunedin City Council announced yesterday.
NZ told: plan for 'storm'
NZ told: plan for 'storm'
New Zealand needs an economic ''Plan B'', because it was not immune from a looming ''perfect storm'' starting to play out in Europe, Canadian systems analyst Nicole Foss told a group in Pine Hill last night.
Apology after 'panic stations'
Apology after 'panic stations'
An elderly Dunedin man who was incorrectly billed for home help, and then told by the Southern District Health Board to sort it out with the Auckland-based company himself, will receive an apology, health board chief executive Carole Heatly says.
Meeting challenges of new health role
Meeting challenges of new health role
The Scottish chief executive of the Southern District Health Board says while she relishes her role, it had more challenges than she expected. Carole Heatly spoke to health reporter Eileen Goodwin.