Adverse events fall to eight in 2017-18
Adverse events fall to eight in 2017-18
Six Southerners suffered vision loss in 2017-18 due to administrative shortcomings in the Southern District Health Board’s ophthalmology department.
Mike Houlahan
SDHB begins emergency planning after news of doctors' strike
SDHB begins emergency planning after news of doctors' strike
The Southern District Health Board (SDHB) is in emergency planning mode after resident doctors chose the middle of the holiday period to give notice of strike action.
Surge in SDHB six-figure salaries
Surge in SDHB six-figure salaries
There has been a big jump in the number of Southern District Health Board employees who earn six-figure salaries.
The pointy edge of medical invention
The pointy edge of medical invention
Mike Houlahan looks at the story of the disposable hypodermic syringe - a true New Zealand icon.
Kiwi icon: Edmonds' recipe for success
Edmonds' recipe for success
Mike Houlahan looks at the story of the Edmonds cook book - a true New Zealand icon.
DHBs must support overseas doctors
DHBs must support overseas doctors
District health boards have an obligation to take reasonable steps to ensure overseas-trained clinical staff are fit for jobs in New Zealand hospitals, the Health and Disability commissioner says.
Medication errors prompt calls for electronic systems
Medication errors prompt calls for electronic systems
Electronic systems to prevent medication mistakes seem likely to be implemented in the South in the wake of two serious adverse events.
Ownership issue pales in light of hat's common sacrifice
Ownership issue pales in light of hat's common sacrifice
Mike Houlahan looks at the story of the slouch hat - a true New Zealand icon.
Rural Health Alliance revitalised
Rural Health Alliance revitalised
Reports of the Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand's demise have proved premature and the advocacy organisation has restructured and refocused on its work to improve the wellbeing of people living outside major cities.
Outsourced services over budget for struggling SDHB
Outsourced services over budget for struggling SDHB
The Southern District Health Board slashed its spending on consultants and contractors by more than $700,000 in the past financial year.
Maori health directorate appointed
Maori health directorate appointed
A new Maori health directorate has been appointed by the Southern District Health Board to try to turn around the region's dismal Maori health statistics.
Board acts to boost stop-smoking advice
Board acts to boost stop-smoking advice
Initiatives have been introduced to try to improve the Southern District Health Board's substandard statistics in offering stop-smoking advice to expectant mothers.
The koru - arguably the best-known Maori symbol
The koru - arguably the best-known Maori symbol
Mike Houlahan looks at the story of the koru - a true New Zealand icon.
Nurses' accord concerns rural hospitals
Nurses' accord concerns rural hospitals
Otago rural hospitals are bracing for possible industrial action next year, as the implications of the Government's much heralded nursing safe staffing accord begin to affect them.
Will 2019 be the year of Curran's comeback?
Will 2019 be the year of Curran's comeback?
The decline and fall of Dunedin South MP Clare Curran was the southern political story of 2018 - but might her return to grace be a story for 2019?
Hospital on itinerary for passengers
Hospital on itinerary for passengers
Dunedin has many tourist attractions, but almost daily a cruise ship passenger misses out on the Royal Albatross Centre or Larnach Castle and spends their day in Dunedin Hospital's ED instead.
Isolation room keeps new ICU closed
Isolation room keeps new ICU closed
An independent engineering assessment is being carried out to determine what needs to be done to open Dunedin Hospital's new $14.8million critical care facility.
More people wait too long
More people wait too long
A sudden drop in people seeing specialists and receiving elective surgery in the recommended time frame has the Southern District Health Board searching for causes and a solution.
Fight over bag of chips firing may not be over
Fight over bag of chips firing may not be over
A Dunedin woman wrongly fired over a $1 bag of chips is considering further legal action after being left out of pocket because of the cost of taking her case.
SDHB seeks Govt help following $21m deficit
SDHB seeks Govt help following $21m deficit
The Southern District Health Board has asked the Government for a bailout after running up its second successive $21 million-plus budget deficit.