Much work behind scenes in cancer treatment
Many things in cancer are precious, and so is radiation oncologist David Anderson’s time.
Mike Houlahan
Students’ wellbeing at centre of new code
Students’ wellbeing at centre of new code
Last Friday, with whatever fanfare it might have received drowned out by the Howl of a Protest farmers rally, the Government released a new code of practice for the pastoral care of tertiary and...
Captain, two crew taken off ship
Captain, two crew taken off ship
The captain of the Covid-19-stricken container vessel Mattina and two of his crew have been evacuated from the ship’s Bluff mooring.
Waiting time of seven hours at Urgent Doctors explained
Waiting time of seven hours at Urgent Doctors explained
Dunedin Urgent Doctors has been swamped with patients, people reporting waits of as long as seven hours.
Pandemic played role in staff concerns: SDHB
Pandemic played role in staff concerns: SDHB
Fear of change and uncertainty driven by Covid-19 lie behind many of the concerns raised in the latest Southern District Health Board staff satisfaction survey, it believes.
Crew to ED then released
Crew to ED then released
Fourteen months after the South’s last case of Covid-19 recovered, local doctors yesterday again donned protective equipment to treat patients with the pandemic disease.
Kiwi comes home to job as medical officer of health
Kiwi comes home to job as medical officer of health
The irony of having left pandemic-stricken Sydney to work for the SDHB, just as two new cases of Covid-19 arrive in the region on board a container ship, has not escaped newly appointed medical officer of health Prof John Eastwood.
Vaccinations pass 100,000 mark
Vaccinations pass 100,000 mark
Cupcakes and balloons were rolled out yesterday as southern medical staff marked the region passing the 100,000 Covid-19 vaccinations mark.
Count numbers harmed, cancer campaigner says
Count numbers harmed, cancer campaigner says
Cancer campaigner Melissa Vining has called for district health boards to establish exactly how many people have suffered ill-effects while waiting for treatment.
RSV drug plentiful in the South
RSV drug plentiful in the South
Stocks of prednisolone, a drug used to treat the respiratory illness RSV, are in plentiful supply in Otago and Southland.
‘Negative press’ prompts data review
‘Negative press’ prompts data review
The Southern District Health Board, concerned about negative headlines regarding its management of cancer treatment, asked staff to review if cases were being counted correctly.
Mercy Hospital plans 20% service increase
Mercy Hospital plans 20% service increase
Mercy Hospital plans to increase its services by 20% and chief executive Richard Whitney has no doubt the demand is there.
Seeking to right prescribing anomaly
Seeking to right prescribing anomaly
An apparent legislative oversight may be righted if MPs heed a petition presented in Dunedin yesterday.
Lack of first appointments delaying cancer treatment
Lack of first appointments delaying cancer treatment
Cancer treatment at Dunedin Hospital is being held up because not enough patients are getting first specialist appointments, the essential first step before they receive radiation treatment.
Vaccinator plan hit by stalemate
Vaccinator plan hit by stalemate
Desperately needed vaccinators cannot be officially trained at the University of Otago’s School of Pharmacy because of a technical stand-off with the Ministry of Health.
Small tumour detected, became terminal after delay
Small tumour detected, became terminal after delay
Invercargill nurse Kathryn Harper had great faith in the health system, but was ultimately let down by it.
Labour cannot afford to ignore rural concerns
Labour cannot afford to ignore rural concerns
For something set up as an apolitical organisation, farmer advocacy group Groundswell is having a heck of a political impact.
Midwifery ‘clinical coach’ plan underwhelms
Midwifery ‘clinical coach’ plan underwhelms
A new Government proposal to replenish a dwindling midwifery labour force may do some good but is unlikely to entice many women who have quit the profession to return, southern midwives say.
Chief medical officer leaving in November
Chief medical officer leaving in November
Southern District Health Board chief medical officer Nigel Millar has resigned.
30 cases include RSV patients
30 cases include RSV patients
Southern hospitals were yesterday treating 30 cases of respiratory illness, which include the highly infectious disease RSV.