Mike Houlahan

Female vote empowered generations

A photo captioned ‘‘Women vote at their first election, Tahakopa’’, shows a horse-drawn carriage...

Female vote empowered generations

On November 28, 1893, New Zealand women lined up to vote in a general election for the first time. Mike Houlahan looks at the day’s events, plus the historical and contemporary influence of the...

Heroic woman doctor succumbed to flu

A memorial to Dr Margaret Cruickshank in Waimate’s Seddon Sq. Photo: Supplied

Heroic woman doctor succumbed to flu

The 1918 influenza pandemic killed 9000 New Zealanders, as well as several of the doctors and nurses who tended them. One of those was Margaret Cruickshank — the first woman to be registered as a...

'Gentle soul, full of kindly feeling' brought down by ill-timed venture north

Roman Catholic Bishop of Dunedin Michael Verdon in 1909, with graduates of Holy Cross College in...

'Gentle soul, full of kindly feeling' brought down by ill-timed venture north

The 1918 influenza pandemic was no respecter of rank and on November 22, 1918 it claimed its most notable Dunedin victim — Roman Catholic Bishop of Dunedin Michael Verdon. Mike Houlahan looks back...

Flu pandemic lessons heeded

Lessons from the 1918 influenza pandemic have been applied to Government planning for any future disease outbreaks, health reporter Mike Houlahan writes.

No reduction in service: SDHB

Information given to Central Otago residents about interim changes to after-hours medical care may have been ''over-complicated,'' the Southern District Health Board conceded yesterday.

Medical appointment prompts lift attendance

A trial aimed at cutting the number of southern hospital patients who do not attend appointments has been hailed a success.

SDHB trying to catch up on procedure backlog from nurses’ strike in July

SDHB trying to catch up on procedure backlog from nurses’ strike in July

The Southern District Health Board is still trying to work out how to catch up on operations postponed because of the strike by nurses in July.

Midwives ready for strike action

Health authorities say maternity and birthing facilities will operate normally, despite nationwide industrial action by midwives.

Problems ahead as number of gastro specialists dwindles

Problems ahead as number of gastro specialists dwindles

Demand for gastroenterology services has reached a record high but New Zealand lacks the specialists to treat those patients, a new report says.

Two lead midwives recruited under plan

Two lead midwives recruited under new plan

New midwives have been recruited for Queenstown and Wanaka, as the Southern District Health Board's controversial maternity plan is rolled out.

Measles case confirmed in South

A Milford Sound woman has been confirmed as having measles - the first case of the highly infectious illness in New Zealand since May.

Gastroenterology conference to open

Gastroenterology conference to open

Gastroenterology has a high-profile thanks to the national bowel screening programme but the discipline is far wider, New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology president Michael Schultz says.

Colour-coded dog leads’ aim to protect wildlife

Department of Conservation community ranger Jesikah Triscott and a penguin mascot (aka Alex...

Colour-coded dog leads’ aim to protect wildlife

The latest fashion accessory for dogs will mean little to them as they have limited colour vision, but colour-coded leashes may mean plenty for endangered wildlife.

Young dance students to join RNZB on big stage

Dunedin dancers Lucy Woodhouse (14), Harry Easton and Victoria Avery (both 13) amid the costumes...

Young dance students to join RNZB on big stage

Christmas is coming early for 30 Dunedin dance students, as they take to the stage with the Royal New Zealand Ballet this weekend in its touring production The Nutcracker.

SDHB to institute privacy safeguards after loss

A range of privacy safeguards are to be instituted by the Southern District Health Board (SDHB) in the wake of the embarrassing loss of a document containing the personal details of 23 breast cancer patients.

Virtual rural health school plan unaffected by Govt move

Virtual rural health school plan unaffected by Govt move

A proposal by the University of Otago and other providers to create a virtual school for rural health remains very much alive despite the Government killing off an alternative school of rural medicine this week.

Security of personal health information questioned

Many New Zealanders take too long to seek medical attention, research shows.

Security of personal health information questioned

A Southland man is questioning how secure personal health information is after an unsuccessful complaint to the Privacy Commissioner.

Virtual health campus plan still afloat

Virtual health campus plan still afloat

A mooted new virtual school for rural health remains a live proposition despite Health Minister David Clark yesterday rejecting a bid to set up a school of rural medicine.

'They have no bloody idea': Nursing call centre slammed

Mosgiel couple Mike and Marjorie Beath share their frustrations about issues with the district...

'They have no bloody idea': Nursing call centre slammed

Without the district nursing system, Mike and Marjorie Beath literally cannot live their lives.

First stage of new Dunedin ICU opens

The 20 DHBs serve a population of 4.8 million, compared to New South Wales in Australia which has...

First stage of new Dunedin ICU opens

Stage one of Dunedin hospital's new intensive care unit (ICU) has had its official opening and an official name change, to Te Puna Wai Ora-Southern Critical Care.

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Mike Houlahan