Elspeth McLean

Staff wage settlements may cost the Otago District Health Board about $4 million more than expected by the end of the financial year in June.

While you might expect to find someone who is a little hoarse in hospital, yesterday it was a little horse that was creating a stir in Dunedin Hospital's children's pavilion.

British author Jill Mansell could have had a very different writing career - as a forger.

Thirteen employees at the Medical Centre at the University of California were recently sacked for snooping into Britney Spears' confidential medical records and more faced disciplinary action. Now it is so easy to store data about us electronically, what do we know about our health information? Do we know what is already held, if it's accurate and who has access to it? Should we care? Health reporter Elspeth Mclean explores some of the issues.

The national disability strategy is receiving attention from the Otago District Health Board, although there is a need to improve disability awareness, chief executive Brian Rousseau says.

Dunedin Hospital's community day programme for mental health patients has continued despite reductions to non-acute mental health services made in April.

A Northeast Valley, Dunedin, dairy owner says a deal allowing her to provide low cost milk to struggling families has turned sour.

An 80-year-old cardiac patient whose surgery was delayed twice, once due to the junior doctors' strike, had to be admitted through Dunedin Hospital's emergency department after her condition deteriorated last week, her husband says.

Just how good are job interviews and CVs at finding the right candidate for a job? Not very, suggests Elspeth MacLean, a veteran interviewee.

Plunket visits in Otago are being delayed for 2-year-olds as the service is stretched trying to cater for an increasing number of new babies.

Hepatitis A vaccinations have been given to about 70 people who were in close contact with a Korean waitress who had the disease while working in Queenstown.

About 35 Dunedin people were among the first people in the world to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Aids Candlelight Memorial when they gathered at St Paul's Cathedral last night.