Return of B4 School funds doubted
Return of B4 School funds doubted
Otago and Southland district health boards are not expecting to have to return any of the $488,000 allocated by the Government for B4 School checks.
Elspeth McLean
Menu with a message
Menu with a message
Restaurareur Steve Richardson is expecting the speakers at the University of Otago's 44th foreign policy school to be be more concerned about the taste of his food than totting up the dishes' food miles when he serves them tonight.
Pigs to help in trial
Pigs to help in trial
Invercargill piglets will contribute to the xenotransplantation diabetes research which received approval from Minister of Health Tony Ryall this week.
Survey to investigate dental health in NZ
Survey to investigate dental health in NZ
About 60 Otago people are expected to respond to the call to "open wide" as part of a national survey designed to provide a snapshot of the prevalence and severity of New Zealanders' oral health problems.
Need for postnatal depression service
Need for postnatal depression service
The interest shown in the Plunket Society's service for Dunedin women with postnatal depression, which began in February, shows there is a need for the service, Otago-Southland operations manager for the society Barb Long says.
Researcher claims disease overtreated
Researcher claims disease overtreated
Many men in New Zealand are suffering side effects after radiotherapy and surgery for prostate cancer which would never have killed them, and a screening programme would increase this, University of Otago public health researcher Dr Brian Cox says.
New clinic should be kept busy
New clinic should be kept busy
The Dunedin Urgent Doctors and Accident Centre in Hanover St has spent $50,000 upgrading its fracture clinic, a move which it hopes will allow it to treat almost 200 extra patients every month.
Snow causes delay in HPV vaccinations
Snow causes delay in HPV vaccinations
Last week's snow caused a minor delay in the completion of the second round of school-based vaccinations for the human papillomavirus (HPV) in Otago.
No cases of swine flu in South – yet
No cases of swine flu in South – yet
The South's low population and a smaller volume of international air travel may be the reasons why there are no confirmed cases of swine flu in Otago and Southland, deputy director of public health Dr Darren Hunt said yesterday.
Fencing of Harbour Cone block to protect bush
Fencing of Harbour Cone block to protect bush
Fencing to protect remnants of native bush on part of the Dunedin City Council's Harbour Cone block in the Peggy's Hill area started this week.
Review of processes not yet public
Review of processes not yet public
A Deloitte report reviewing the planning and funding processes and cost structure of mental health services in Otago and Southland has been released to both district health boards, but is not being made public at this stage.
Elderly care problem
Elderly care problem
A brief about a project which would look at how services for the elderly in Otago and Southland might be provided within national funding available was considered in closed session this week by the two district health boards' disability support committee.
Dunedin bus drivers wearing flu masks
Dunedin bus drivers wearing flu masks
While some Dunedin bus drivers are wearing surgical masks as a protection against swine flu, some bus companies consider such action premature.
No Hide inquiry into stadium
No Hide inquiry into stadium
Local Government minister Rodney Hide says he will be "keeping an eye" on issues around Forsyth Barr Stadium, but he will not be calling for a government inquiry.
Is system about proof or truth? I'm not encouraged
Is system about proof or truth? I'm not encouraged
Not enough of the cold Wellington morning had gone when I joined the boarding-pass queue for the Tranzscenic.
Policy on beds for elderly unchanged
Policy on beds for elderly unchanged
No recommendations for changing the Otago and Southland district health boards' approach to solving the shortage of long-stay beds for the elderly are contained in a report on the issue to go before the disability support advisory committee today.
'Shambolic' B4 School scheme faces axe
'Shambolic' B4 School scheme faces axe
Health Minister Tony Ryall is questioning the future of the B4 School Check programme, saying its delivery has been patchy and its implementation almost "shambolic".
ING final offer and conditions anger investors
ING final offer and conditions anger investors
The Dunedin meeting between ING chief executive Helen Troup and about 200 upset investors on Friday has been described as a huge public relations exercise which did nothing to address the concerns of those who attended.
Clinic to offer live-in addiction programme
Clinic to offer live-in addiction programme
A 10-week live-in programme for up to eight drug, alcohol or gambling addicts will be offered by Dunedin's Ashburn Clinic from next month at a cost of $34,000.
Medical diagnosis from afar
Medical diagnosis from afar
Dunedin consultants provided advice by video yesterday as part of a demonstration of live remote medicine to 170 people at a rural health symposium in Wellington.