Elspeth McLean

Comment from SDHB on audit of colonoscopy

An audit of 767 people who may have had delayed or declined access to surveillance colonoscopy in Otago between 2007 and 2011 found eight had died of bowel cancer or its complications.

Detailed history has links to Otago

The Maheno at Port Chalmers in 1915. Photo by Ian Farquhar.

Detailed history has links to Otago

This history of New Zealand's World War 1 hospital ships is much more than an account of caring for 47,000 casualties in difficult and dangerous conditions.

Celebrity is a cock-eyed concoction for our times

Celebrity is a cock-eyed concoction for our times

Hooray for the Old School Mate from Feilding for setting me straight. The great thing about a true friend is their ability to bring you abruptly down to earth when you have been inhaling too many cleaning products and thinking longingly of the Christmas trifle sherry.

Moves to blacken ex-wife's name highlight an ironic lack of focus

Dear Charles, as a mega-rich chap, you are probably not used to getting advice for nothing. Trouble is, pay enough money and the people shelling out the words of wisdom are likely to tell you exactly what you want to hear.

Rich kids get most exam help

Rich kids get most exam help

Pupils from high decile schools continue to get special NCEA exam support at a far higher rate than their decile 1 counterparts, this year's figures show.

Millions remain in dispute

Millions remain in dispute

The Auditor-general's office expects the Southern District Health Board to resolve its long-running multimillion-dollar wrangle with South Link Health ''without further delay''.

SDHB internal report is of 'public interest'

The Southern District Health Board should not have refused to release the report which sparked an urgent review of some breast cancer diagnoses last year, ombudsman Ron Paterson says.

Healthy debate on boards would be welcome

Local body election year is a good time for greater political scrutiny and debate about the merits and shortcomings of elected membership of district health boards.

Otago, Canty pupils ahead in SAC support

Special assessment conditions for sitting NCEA exams can be provided for pupils who require them....

Otago, Canty pupils ahead in SAC support

Pupils in Otago and Canterbury are more likely to get special support in NCEA exams than those in other areas, a new report says.

Blood spot complaint not upheld

Blood spot complaint not upheld

The Ombudsman has not upheld a complaint about consultation on the future management of two million newborn baby blood spot cards, but says more could have been done to keep the public informed.

Colonoscopy services concerns remain

Southern District Health Board chief executive Carole Heatly.

Colonoscopy services concerns remain

A Central Otago woman who complained about the failure of Southern District Health Board doctors to find her bowel cancer says improvements to colonoscopy services have been too slow.

30 months too long for care complaint

Health and Disability Commissioner Anthony Hill says his office took too long to complete an investigation into a complaint from a woman with secondary cancer.

Sisters vie for A&P show bacon and egg pie glory

Those who know my competitive nature is roughly the same as that of a dead slug may be surprised to know serious competition has been on my mind this week.

All this spin, and talent, too

Alert readers will have noticed there has been a flurry of documents about Novopay released recently under the Official Information Act.

Sharp rise in cost of NCEA exam support

Sharp rise in cost of NCEA exam support

The cost of providing special support to pupils sitting NCEA external exams rose by almost $159,000 last year, mainly due to the recognition of dyslexia.

'Sleepover' issue set to return to court

The issue of minimum pay for ''sleepover'' time is expected to go before the Employment Court again next year, this time involving workers in school boarding houses.

Dancing, punning and origami all part of the season's festivities

On this day after Christmas I have decided it is only right for me to be frank, incensed and more.

Is the doctor good enough, asks former commissioner

After 10 years as New Zealand's health and disability commissioner, Prof Ron Paterson knows better than most of us that doctors are not perfect.

No more 'mucking around', BSAAG tells ministry

Difficulties in the relationship between the National Screening Unit and the independent advisory group for BreastScreen Aotearoa were made public in December in Australian screening specialist Jennifer Muller's hard-hitting review of the national screening programme. Information released under the Official Information Act suggests tension and frustration continue. Elspeth McLean reports.

Keeping the customers happy

The scene at Etrusco restaurant, Moray Pl, Dunedin, in the Savoy Building. Photos by Peter McIntosh.

Keeping the customers happy

Restaurants in Dunedin come and go but a few have withstood the competition and changing economic times. In the first of this series Elspeth McLean talks to the Gianone family about their popular eatery Etrusco.

« first
‹ previous
…
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
…
next ›
last »

Search form

Search form

Elspeth McLean