SDHB patients may have surgery in Timaru Hospital
Orthopaedic patients could find themselves being operated on at Timaru Hospital, as the Southern District Health Board tries to clear a lengthening waiting list.
Mike Houlahan
New CT scanner and extra shifts to reduce backlog
New CT scanner and extra shifts to reduce backlog
Dunedin Hospital’s new CT scanner will hopefully be up and running in 20 weeks.
Budget huge task for SDHB
Budget huge task for SDHB
Health Minister Andrew Little has demanded that the cash-strapped Southern District Health Board break even in the next financial year.
Beach restoration news celebrated
Beach restoration news celebrated
The party was for the Te Rauone community but all of Dunedin should celebrate approval to restore the beach at the peninsula hamlet, local identity Des Smith says.
Early days worrying times for critical care director
Early days worrying times for critical care director
In February last year, as he watched TV footage of Italian doctors working in field tents, SDHB critical care director Craig Carr wondered and worried what would happen if Covid-19 overwhelmed the region’s hospitals.
Heroic efforts reined in rampant illness
Heroic efforts reined in rampant illness
Covid-19 has, to date, been a success story for the southern health system, but it could have been much, much worse. Mike Houlahan talks to officials about the scale of the challenge the pandemic has posed them.
New ventilation system proposed for unused ICU
New ventilation system proposed for unused ICU
A year after it was due to open, stage two of Dunedin Hospital’s intensive care unit upgrade may be a step closer to receiving patients.
From joyful wedding to weeks of illness
From joyful wedding to weeks of illness
On the anniversary of Covid-19 arriving into New Zealanders’ lives, health reporter Mike Houlahan begins a series in which we talk to Southerners with first-hand experience of what a global pandemic which has killed 2.5million worldwide so far entails.
Bill an important part of recompense,healing
Bill an important part of recompense,healing
If visiting the New Zealand Parliament is on your "must do" list, there are few better days to pick than when the House is dealing with Treaty of Waitangi settlement Bills.
School bombshell meant action stations
School bombshell meant action stations
On March 6 Logan Park High School co-principals Kristan Mouat and Peter Hills were among a group of Dunedin school leaders given a briefing about a potential pandemic disease.
Intense tracing effort recalled
Intense tracing effort recalled
Mandy Murphy normally only has one colleague for company in her role as a communicable diseases nurse for Southland and Queenstown Lakes.
Pain of loss endures for grieving family
Pain of loss endures for grieving family
Will Finlayson watches and understands as New Zealanders celebrate hopefully beating Covid-19.
‘They don’t know if I am going to be like this forever’
‘They don’t know if I am going to be like this forever’
Wanaka couple Roy Rose and Leanne Taylor-Rose no longer have active cases of Covid-19, but that does not mean the disease has released them from its clutches.
Retiring medical director’s arrival by helicopter causes a stir
Retiring medical director’s arrival by helicopter causes a stir
An earthquake or terrorist event would probably overwhelm southern hospitals, outgoing Southern District Health Board trauma services director Mike Hunter says.
Dame Julie Christie buys majority stake in NHNZ
Dame Julie Christie buys majority stake in NHNZ
Award-winning film company NHNZ will stay in Dunedin, after confirmation late yesterday that it had a new majority shareholder.
Healthy debate proof parties can work together
Healthy debate proof parties can work together
It did not take long for Covid-19 to make its malign presence felt in the political debate of 2021, as the reappearance of the pandemic disease in the community dominated proceedings this week.
Importance of GPs highlighted
Importance of GPs highlighted
Outgoing WellSouth medical director Stephen Graham has overseen a period of more change for general practice than he could ever have imagined, Mike Houlahan reports.
Dunedin disabilities advocate scores win
Dunedin disabilities advocate scores win
Procedures for building access ramps and altering bathrooms to make the homes of disabled people easier to live in will change, after a successful petition from a Dunedin man.
Catching rogue ewe good rugby training
Catching rogue ewe good rugby training
Front-rowers Mahonri Auva’a and Steve Salelea have a pre-season rugby training story none of their mates back in Auckland can tell — the day they tried to catch an oversized sheep.
WellSouth GP clinic not a competitor, it says
WellSouth GP clinic not a competitor, it says
Invercargill medical centres have been assured a planned new WellSouth general practice in their city will not poach their staff.