Aspartame fears 'not well founded'
Aspartame fears 'not well founded'
Controversial claims about dangers from the artificial sweetener aspartame are not well-founded, a visiting authority on the substance said in Dunedin yesterday.
Elspeth McLean
Health board recruiters looking for staff in UK
Health board recruiters looking for staff in UK
Blue lollies, kiwi stickers and a bookmark which folds out to show a map of Otago are among the giveaways the Otago and Southland district health boards will hand out during their United Kingdom recruitment campaign next month.
Few vacancies
Few vacancies
While many hospitals struggle to recruit junior doctors, Dunedin and Wakari Hospitals have few vacancies for the coming year.
Hospital aims for shorter wait times
Hospital aims for shorter wait times
Patients have come to expect long waits at Dunedin Hospital, but if they had to wait for three hours because staff were busy when they went to bank a cheque, would they complain?
Home kids' celebrate a bond
Home kids' celebrate a bond
Life at Glendining Presbyterian Children's Homes in the 1940s was more a piece of bread and dripping than a bowl of cherries, but Edith and Walter Connor are thankful for their time there.
Spring clean will be first noticeable step
Spring clean will be first noticeable step
A spring clean in the emergency department will be the first noticeable step in a project which it is hoped will ultimately make Dunedin Hospital a much happier place for patients and staff.
Hearing damage may destroy career
Hearing damage may destroy career
It might not be considered cool to wear earplugs to parties, but drummer Samdrub Dawa (20) no longer cares.
Hospital moves to save energy, money
Hospital moves to save energy, money
Moves to increase energy efficiency at Dunedin Hospital are expected to save $324,000 a year.
ODHB head wants more detail on aged care
ODHB head wants more detail on aged care
Otago District Health Board chairman Richard Thomson wants to know what the board's planning and funding team can do to address the shortage of long-stay hospital beds for the elderly.
ODHB unable to deliver extra elective surgery
ODHB unable to deliver extra elective surgery
Dunedin Hospital will not be able to deliver the extra 10% elective surgery being sought by the Ministry of Health as it struggles to meet a backlog of cases following the norovirus outbreak.
Greater use of Regent seen as vital
Greater use of Regent seen as vital
If use of the Regent Theatre is not increased, its viability could be at risk, the outgoing chairwoman of the Otago Theatre Trust, Bronwyn Powell, says.
National would write off some student loans in health sector
National would write off some student loans in health sector
Although several health practitioner groups have welcomed a National Party policy on voluntary bonding for some recently qualified health professionals, they caution that such a move should not be seen as a total solution to workforce shortages.
Paeony growers to begin spray programme
Paeony growers to begin spray programme
Paeony growers are expected to begin trials of a new spraying programme next week as negotiations continue with the United States Department of Agriculture over restrictions on cut flower imports from New Zealand.
Young voters not appearing on roll
Young voters not appearing on roll
Thousands of the young people eligible to enrol to vote in the Dunedin North electorate have not yet done so.
Luxury units for sale
Luxury units for sale
Recently built apartments at the historic Crown Roller Mills building in Manor Pl, Dunedin, are being offered for sale.
Secret's out for young med student
Secret's out for young med student
If Dunedin student Sam Taylor (22) had not decided to pursue a medical career, some staff at the University of Otago physics department, where he completed a degree, might still be unaware he was deaf.
Ward shift before next year unlikely
Ward shift before next year unlikely
Work to relocate Dunedin Hospital's outdated 16-bed acute psychiatric ward to Wakari Hospital, which was planned to start last financial year, is unlikely before January.
Thyroid drug alternative here
Thyroid drug alternative here
An unsubsidised alternative to a controversial thyroid drug went into pharmacies throughout the country yesterday, on the eve of a Medsafe announcement on its progress in finding a replacement medicine.
From one hockey mom to another
From one hockey mom to another
Travelling team supporter Elspeth McLean cooks scones and muses on the business of being a vice-presidential candidate.
Researching ways of controlling chlamydia
Researching ways of controlling chlamydia
A vaccine may eventually be developed to combat the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia, but it may not involve an injection.