Sadly, oak no substitute for living son
Sadly, oak no substitute for living son
Dear Mrs Porter,
Elspeth McLean
Solar panels keeping the work site going
Solar panels keeping the work site going
Solar panels positioned on a hillside in Blanket Bay have overcome the need for a noisy generator to power up tools being used for a house build.
Time to prevent rodent issues
Time to prevent rodent issues
Rats and mice are abundant in the South this autumn after two summers where they have had access to ‘‘enormous'' amounts of food, Pest Management Association of New Zealand executive Bill Paynter says.
Using criminal process doomed deal with DHB
Using criminal process doomed deal with DHB
The Southern District Health Board called it quits on its long-running multimillion-dollar dispute with South Link Health this month, but many details about the stoush have been kept under wraps. Former Otago Daily Times health reporter Elspeth McLean reports on the outcome of her attempts to get official information on the dispute.
Archives NZ looking at board’s record-keeping
Archives NZ looking at board’s record-keeping
Concerns about the Ministry of Health and Southern District Health Board's ability to keep track of some documents related to a multimillion-dollar dispute have been raised with Chief Archivist Marilyn Little.
Let’s flag the important stuff now
Let’s flag the important stuff now
Dear John, Easter is a time for forgiveness.
Health agencies’ dispute costly
Health agencies’ dispute costly
The unresolved long-running multimillion-dollar dispute between the Southern District Health Board and South Link Health has cost both sides several hundred thousand dollars.
Call to stop child abuse risk modelling study
Call to stop child abuse risk modelling study
Documents released under the Official Information Act illustrate the breadth of opinion about the controversial use of predictive risk modelling to identify those at risk of child abuse. They show Social Development Minister Anne Tolley was not alone in opposing an observational study of 60,000 babies. Elspeth McLean reports.
Push for talks in multimillion-dollar row
Push for talks in multimillion-dollar row
When the Serious Fraud Office decided in winter not to pursue a complaint about the spending of millions of dollars by South Health Link, some thought that was the end of the matter. But, as Elspeth McLean reports, the Southern District Health Board says it is still not resolved.
We worm farmers will risk all for success
We worm farmers will risk all for success
Dear Michael, The recent furore over the dangers of worm farming has been disconcerting for me.
So much to review, so little to count on
So much to review, so little to count on
Two reviews of public health funding should be completed in a few months, but whether we can expect major changes or tinkering is unclear.
Health board confident in IT capability
Health board confident in IT capability
The Southern District Health Board is managing the risk of computer outages ''very well'' in the lead-up to joining a national information technology infrastructure, its IT director, John Simpson, says.
Easier reporting
Easier reporting
Southern District Health Board staff reporting concerns about patient safety should find it easier once a new electronic risk management system is introduced this month.
Health board to fill in reporting gap
Health board to fill in reporting gap
The public will soon be better informed when things go seriously wrong at the South's hospitals, Elspeth McLean writes.
Backs turned, patient fell off table
Backs turned, patient fell off table
A Southern District Health Board patient who fell from an operating table after a hip operation did not require further surgery, information released on the 2012-13 incident shows.
Audit scrutinises board
Audit scrutinises board
Audit New Zealand has strong recommendations for the SDHB, Dunedin writer and former ODT health reporter Elspeth McLean documents them.
`Significant risk' found in state of SDHB's IT disaster recovery plans
`Significant risk' found in state of SDHB's IT disaster recovery plans
The Southern District Health Board's lack of up-to-date disaster recovery plans for its computer systems is exposing it to significant risk, Audit New Zealand says.
Newborns' bloodspot cards being used in research
Newborns' bloodspot cards being used in research
The first use of New Zealand newborn baby bloodspot cards for research has now been approved. Elspeth McLean, who has been following developments surrounding the 46-year-old national card collection for several years, updates the story.
Funding review to be completed by June
Funding review to be completed by June
The long-awaited review of the formula used to allocate more than $11.36 billion to district health boards should be completed by June.
Transparent public service remains a rarity
Transparent public service remains a rarity
Research and change have been on my mind as I have blithered into the new year.