Treatment of overweight patients by the Otago District Health Board is primitive and there needs to be co-ordination between community and hospital services, professor of paediatrics and child health Barry Taylor says.
The first quarterly reports showing how well district health boards are performing against six national health targets will be published today - but some of the data may not be accurate.
One Dunedin Hospital emergency department clerical worker was called back to work during an hour-long strike yesterday afternoon.
Concerns both that some elderly were getting unnecessary home-help while others were in situations where they were stretched to the limit were expressed at the Otago and Southland district health boards' disability support committee meeting this week.
While two Shona McFarlane works of art depicting Marinoto House have been restored, the project for the house itself is yet to begin.
Two obese patients remained in hospital for weeks because there was no way to transport them home, a report calling for action to improve the safety of obese patients in Otago District Health Board facilities says.
Patients of an Invercargill private urologist, Sajan Bhatia, treated since February 2007, are being advised to have their care reviewed as claims about his practice are investigated.
Bulls general practitioner and author/illustrator Dave Baldwin wants people to take seriously his health messages about obesity, but says they need to keep their sense of humour about his illustrations too.
The consultation process over the possible Otago-Southland district health boards merger was criticised at the boards' disability support advisory committee meeting in Invercargill this week.
A special meeting of Stop the Stadium group yesterday, attended by about 80 people, voted to change its name and its purpose, but not without some opposition.
Nominations are being sought for the transition board for the Otago Southland primary health organisation (PHO) which should hold its first meeting in early December.
Patients using Otago District Health Board physiotherapy services from Monday will not be charged, as the board awaits a Ministry of Health decision about whether it can impose a part-charge.
Disability access to Otago's four school mobile dental clinics is not expected to become an issue in the south, although it has caused concern in some other areas.
A paper considered in secret by Otago and Southland district health boards in October recommended the boards begin joint meetings before the outcome of consultation on a possible merger.
A day after announcing it would introduce a part-charge for ACC physiotherapy cases, the Otago District Health Board has had to back down.
Integrated health centres could be considered for Queenstown, Gore, Oamaru, Balclutha and the Maniototo.
A decision on the outcome of a request for funds to upgrade outdated facilities at Dunedin Hospital can be expected in the next month or so, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.
The audit of up to 32 referrals to Dunedin Hospital's colonoscopy service has begun and a report is due on November 30, acting lead chief executive for the Southern Cancer Network David Meates confirmed last week.
When Tony Ryall celebrates his birthday on Thursday, he will also be marking the end of his first year as Minister of Health.
Health Minister Tony Ryall has refused to release the cost to the Government of the 12-month Herceptin programme because he says it is not in the public interest.
