Review highlights issues over ‘legal high’ laws
The law governing synthetic cannabis and other "legal highs" has not achieved its purpose of protecting health and minimising harm, the Ministry of Health says.
Dunedin
Critical care work ongoing
Critical care work ongoing
Dunedin Hospital’s new $14.8 million critical care facility remains closed almost two months after it was due to open to patients.
Middle ground needed for cannabis law reform: study
Middle ground needed for cannabis law reform: study
New Zealand should steer a middle course between strict prohibition and complete legalisation when and if it overhauls cannabis laws, University of Otago researchers say.
Life alone ‘pretty tough’
Life alone ‘pretty tough’
There are twin armchairs in the Keene family lounge, his and hers. Tom Keene sits in his — Joan Keene’s chair is empty.
Dementia expected to double in South
Dementia expected to double in South
The number of South Islanders with dementia will double within 20 years, but the country is far from ready from being able to cope, health reporter Mike Houlahan finds.
Dunedin junior doctors protest for better conditions
Dunedin junior doctors protest for better conditions
Dunedin resident doctors have staged a small but noisy protest this afternoon, as part of a two day nationwide strike which began at 7am.
Resident doctors' strike under way
Resident doctors' strike under way
Dunedin resident doctor James Anderson and many of his colleagues walked off the wards this morning, as a 48-hour strike began at 7am.
Doctors to strike again in ‘bitter’ dispute
Doctors to strike again in ‘bitter’ dispute
Hopes that discord between resident doctors and district health boards might be settled quickly took a blow yesterday after the union announced a second strike.
$1m pay packets for four Auckland surgeons
$1m pay packets for four Auckland surgeons
Top district health board pay last year went to four Auckland surgeons with packages topping $1 million.
Eight DHB bosses on $500,000-plus
Eight DHB bosses on $500,000-plus
Eight district health boards had pay packages for their chief executives of $500,000 or more last financial year.
High-fibre diet healthier than thought: study
High-fibre diet healthier than thought: study
Your parents didn’t know how right they were - vegetables are even better for you than was previously believed.
Doctors set to strike after talks break down
Doctors set to strike after talks break down
Talks between resident doctors and district health boards have broken down, meaning thousands of patients face having their operations postponed next week when doctors walk off the job.
Mediation between DHBs, doctors may prevent strike
Mediation between DHBs, doctors may prevent strike
Mediation beginning tomorrow may avert a planned strike by resident medical officers which threatens to disrupt hospitals across New Zealand.
Researchers recommend enhanced mental health crisis options
Researchers recommend enhanced mental health crisis options
New ways of helping people faced with a mental health crisis need to be explored, University of Otago research says.
Most doctors against unnecessary tests: survey
Most doctors against unnecessary tests: survey
About three-quarters of doctors would likely advise against a patient having a medical test they did not need and would probably not provide it if asked, a recent survey shows.
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.
16 more nurses employed to manage safety
16 more nurses employed to manage safety
The Southern District Health Board has employed 16 new nurses as it moves towards meeting safe staffing requirements.
Patient complaints rise
Patient complaints rise
Patient complaints to the SDHB have jumped sharply in the past year, up more than 20%.
SDHB rates poorly for investor confidence
SDHB rates poorly for investor confidence
The Southern District Health Board has been rated the lowest of any government agency yet assessed in the Treasury's investor confidence ratings.
66 harm-related incidents reported by SDHB
66 harm-related incidents reported by SDHB
Spine and neck injuries, post-surgery complications and a bad bleed suffered by patients in southern hospitals were caused by overseas-trained surgeons' lack of technical expertise, a new report says.