A woman, who was in Dunedin Hospital after giving birth, is concerned she and other new mothers were not advised of last week's norovirus outbreak in other wards.
AS 2.9 million EasyVote cards go out to those who have enrolled for the general election on November 8, more than 50 enrolment forms a day are still coming in for the two Dunedin electorates.
A 10-person regional executive management team below the chief executive has been suggested for Otago and Southland district health boards in a consultation document sent to staff and unions this month.
Otago and Southland's public health system is threatened. If the two district health boards are to provide quality services they must pool resources regionally.
The Ministry of Health is taking a close look at the sustainability of Otago and Southland's mental health services, as both health boards' district annual plans expect ongoing deficits in this area.
Equipment loaned to patients and not returned cost the Otago District Health Board at least $24,811 in the past year, management says.
The junior doctors' recent wage settlement helped boost the Otago District Health Board services' overspending last month by about $200,000.
In an attempt to reach more of the population it covers, the Otago Southern Region primary health organisation has carried out free health checks at two shearing quarters.
Dunedin and Wakari Hospital's month-long norovirus outbreak cost the Otago District Health Board at least $276,000.
Dunedin Hospital management was not issuing any statements yesterday about norovirus or the number of beds it had available.
It would be horrible if increased genetic knowledge were used to railroad people into a particular way of behaving in the future, world-renowned neurologist Prof Anne Buckingham Young says.
Early reports indicate the health professionals recruiting event in London which drew criticism for offering a free beer to those attending has been a worthwhile event, Otago District Health Board chairman Richard Thomson says.
A Port Chalmers woman who became unable to work while she was having chemotherapy questions the adequacy of assistance to people in her position.
Concern that about 10% fewer Otago people received public elective surgery last financial year compared with the previous year was expressed by National Party health spokesman Tony Ryall in Dunedin yesterday.
No more patients or staff have become ill with suspected norovirus at Dunedin Hospital , but the orthopaedic ward remains closed.
When one of her readers wanted to launch her into politics, Elspeth McLean laughed like a drain. Then she thought of all the good reasons why not.
The availability of long-stay hospital beds for the elderly in Otago and Southland is tight and demand is increasing, but private providers are not queueing up to install new beds.
Seven applications have been received for four community representative positions on the Otago and Southland district health boards' disability support advisory committee.
More than a hundred sets of Dunedin Hospital crutches were returned last week, but many have been away so long they are beyond repair.
Some specialist positions with the Otago District Health Board have remained unfilled for more than two years, figures released to the Otago Daily Times show.