30 months too long for care complaint
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.
Elspeth McLean
Sisters vie for A&P show bacon and egg pie glory
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
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
'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
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
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
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
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.
Banning fizzy drinks in schools ineffective: researcher
Banning fizzy drinks in schools ineffective: researcher
Banning sugar-rich fizzy drinks from schools will do nothing to stop the high levels of sugar many children are getting from powdered fruit-flavoured drinks prepared at home, University of Otago researcher Associate Prof Winsome Parnell says.
Fast track to fund other thyroid drug
Fast track to fund other thyroid drug
A publicly-funded alternative levothyroxine drug could be available in New Zealand by late October, Health Minister David Cunliffe said on Thursday.
Mental health services review questioned
Mental health services review questioned
The announcement of another review of mental health services in Otago sounds like a rerun of work already done, Otago District Health Board member Louise Rosson says.
Health board told youth strategy low priority
Health board told youth strategy low priority
Proposed delays to the development of an Otago child and youth strategy were questioned at the Otago and Southland district health boards' community and public health advisory committee this week.
Blokes' guide to fitness
Blokes' guide to fitness
Dr Dave Baldwin might work in Bulls, but he is not a man to mince words, mate.
Why screen time can hurt your child
Why screen time can hurt your child
Parents who think their children are safe because they are watching television or playing computer games may be kidding themselves.
Recognising stroke remains major issue
Recognising stroke remains major issue
While improvements are being made to acute stroke treatment at Dunedin Hospital, getting patients to recognise stroke symptoms and seek urgent help is still a major issue, Dr Brendon Rae says.
Call for pilot rethink unheeded
Call for pilot rethink unheeded
The Government is pressing ahead with plans for a bowel cancer screening pilot expected to start next year, despite calls for a rethink from screening programme authority Associate Prof Brian Cox.
Early diagnosis gets the credit
Early diagnosis gets the credit
When Waikouaiti woman Lis Bartlett was diagnosed with bowel cancer at 62, she took a day off work and struggled to come to terms with the news.
Patient-led cancer fight
Patient-led cancer fight
If a Boeing 737 bound from Dunedin for Wellington crashed every six weeks killing all the occupants, people would be outraged. However, bowel cancer in New Zealand kills that many people and...
Checkups key to glaucoma detection
Checkups key to glaucoma detection
When Pat Saunders' glaucoma was picked up during an awareness week for the condition, she joked with the doctor that if it had been a different "week" he might have suspected a different disease.