Elspeth McLean

Gastroenterology Society offers help with colonoscopy demand

Gastroenterology Society offers help with colonoscopy demand

The New Zealand Gastroenterology Society has offered to help Southern District Health Board staff cope with any extra demand for colonoscopy resulting from recent changes to the referral process.

The Southern District Health Board is committed to overhauling its management of colorectal cancer but it cannot do that until it sorts out the culture around the gastroenterology department, chief executive Chris Fleming says.

Report author seeks inquiry as funding to do job absent

Phil Bagshaw, who is chairman of the Canterbury Charity Hospital Trust and Clinical Associate...

Report author seeks inquiry as funding to do job absent

A public inquiry into colorectal cancer management by the Southern District Health Board is being called for by the co-author of a recent damning review of colonoscopy access.

'Bullying, favouritism and humiliation': Letter spells out crisis

Some junior doctors report being "broken" by their time in the Dunedin department of gastroenterology, according to a hard-hitting letter to the Southern District Health Board.

Expensive decision looms on landfill's future

Rubbish from the old Fox Glacier landfill. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Expensive decision looms on landfill's future

As the volunteer input into clearing rubbish from the Fox Glacier landfill spill winds down, a decision has yet to be made on the future of the remains of the dump.

Mission of mercy merciful renewal

Volunteers move slowly in an ‘‘emu line’’ revisiting ground already covered to pick up any...

Mission of mercy merciful renewal

ODT columnist Elspeth McLean reflects on her rubbish holiday at Fox Glacier volunteering in help clean the mess after severe March rain dislodged an old dump.

Response on cancer criticised

Southern District Health Board's response to the damning report into colonoscopy access has been slammed by the co-author of the report, Christchurch surgeon Phil Bagshaw.

Office of the Ombudsman crystal clear on advice it gave

Office of the Ombudsman crystal clear on advice it gave

Dear David, People who know me, realise I am not great with silence. If there’s a pause in a conversation, I just have to overflow into it with whatever is produced by the moths colliding in my head.

In the dark over concerns: Fleming

Concerns about endoscopy services have been raised by Southern District Health Board staff, a...

In the dark over concerns: Fleming

Senior doctors' claims of patient harm, aired in a 2017 internal survey, were not conveyed to him at the time, Southern District Health Board chief executive Chris Fleming says.

Fear review was punitive exercise

Fear review was punitive exercise

The Southern District Health Board is yet to outline its response to the final version of a damning report calling for an urgent overhaul of its management of colorectal cancer.

Risk in limited bowel screening results

A bowel screening test kit. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Risk in limited bowel screening results

Concerned groups say the Bowel Screening Programme’s decision to ignore a recommendation to provide full results to GPs could result in unnecessary deaths. Former Otago Daily Times health reporter...

Colonoscopy referral process change for Southland specialists

Colonoscopy referral process change for Southland specialists

Although the Southern District Health Board has yet to fully consider a damning report on Southland colonoscopy access, a changed referral process has already begun.

Urgent changes needed to fix colorectal cancer care - report

A new way of managing colorectal cancer in the Southern District Health board population must urgently replace competition with co-operation, reviewers say.

Colonoscopy concerns: Review restricted

Colonoscopy concerns: Review restricted

Auditors reviewing cases over concerns about colonoscopy access through the Southern District Health Board limited their review because it was taking too long to get complete clinical records.

Limited colonoscopy access slammed

Limited colonoscopy access slammed

A claim of "inter-service warfare" has emerged in a damning review of Southland access to Southern District Health Board's colonoscopy service.

The gaps in the screen

The gaps in the screen

Our breast screening system has limits that those using it might be best to know, Elspeth McLean reports.

The power of apology

Selwyn and Natalie Yeoman and their 10 grandchildren. Photo: Supplied

The power of apology

Natalie Yeoman is mystified by the failure of a senior Southern District Health Board radiologist to apologise to her.

The scars and the healing

Selwyn and Natalie Yeoman in the garden of the Pine Hill, Dunedin home. Photo: Gregor Richardson

The scars and the healing

Dunedin teacher Natalie Yeoman's breast cancer, missed on two routine breast screens, was incurable by the time she was diagnosed. But that's not all that went wrong

Southland surgeons' frustration evident

Southland surgeons are frustrated by colonoscopy referrals and ‘‘missed cancers’’.PHOTO: GETTY...

Southland surgeons' frustration evident

Frustrations from Southland surgeons about colonoscopy referrals and ‘‘missed cancers’’ are evident in correspondence to the Southern District Health Board, writes Elspeth McLean.

No time frame set

Southern District Health Board is revealing little about the delay to the completion of the external review of colonoscopy referrals at Southland Hospital.

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Elspeth McLean