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Social worker suspended over dodgy Covid vaccine exemption
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Social worker suspended over dodgy Covid vaccine exemption
A Dunedin-based social worker who issued a shonky Covid-19 vaccine exemption has been suspended for a year.
Health
Group shows confidence in hospital plan
Group shows confidence in hospital plan
A privately owned public hospital for the Central Otago-Queenstown Lakes area is not quite a done deal — but one might be forgiven for thinking so after a show of confidence from southern leaders.
‘Marked improvement’ in mental health shown
‘Marked improvement’ in mental health shown
The South is showing "marked improvement" in most of its mental health targets, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says.
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Shuffles continue at top of hospital project
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Shuffles continue at top of hospital project
A fast-rising bureaucrat brought in to helm the government’s reset of the new Dunedin hospital project has been dumped from the inpatient build, the Otago Daily Times understands.
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Concerns aired over miscommunication
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Concerns aired over miscommunication
Angst-ridden internal government memos about the new Dunedin hospital’s inpatient build reveal concern about miscommunications and failures to work together and follow command lines.
Obituary: strove to improve rural medicine
Obituary: strove to improve rural medicine
Rural healthcare workers and other first responders had always done their best when dealing with medical emergencies in extremely trying circumstances.
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HIV fears as needle exchange to close
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HIV fears as needle exchange to close
The impending closure of the Dunedin-run needle-exchange service could lead to a rise in HIV cases throughout the city, advocates fear.
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Wakari ward plan worries patient's mother
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Fears for son over Wakari ward plan
The mother of a Wakari Hospital patient is worried the redevelopment of a problematic ward may lead to her child becoming homeless.
Govt and construction giant reach agreement on hospital build
Govt and construction giant reach agreement on hospital build
Australian construction giant CPB is set to build the new Dunedin hospital inpatient building after years of fraught negotiations and government dithering.
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One-way system speed reductions canned
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One-way system speed reductions ‘not proposed for now’
Speed reductions for Dunedin’s one-way system appear to be off the table after the government unveiled proposed traffic changes for the roads around the new hospital.
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Staff fears over children's wing at new hospital
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Staff fears over children's wing at new hospital
Staff are concerned the children’s wing and paediatrics department at the new Dunedin hospital will not have enough space to carry out some of its functions.
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Delays add $40m to build cost: Hodgson
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Delays add $40m to build cost: Hodgson
A year of government dithering has added $40 million to the cost of the budget-squeezed new Dunedin hospital project, a former boss says.
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Number of beds ‘unethical’
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Number of beds ‘unethical’
The number of mental health for older people beds proposed for the new Dunedin hospital is at a level which is "unethical" and potentially dangerous, a consultant geriatrician says.
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Change in leadership team: Another project boss back
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Change in leadership team: Another project boss back
Yet another former boss of the new Dunedin hospital has swung back into the revolving door of its leadership team, sources say.
Signing of build contract edges closer
Signing of build contract edges closer
After years of delay, the government is finally edging closer to a contract with an Australian construction giant to build the new Dunedin hospital, the ODT understands.
Hospital stall due to contract
Hospital stall due to contract
The government bungled the opportunity to crack on with the new Dunedin hospital’s in-patient building last year by blowing up contract negotiations in sight of the finish line, sources say.
Bid to help families results in discovery
Bid to help families results in discovery
A journey to help 10 New Zealand families get answers for rare brain disorders affecting their children has led to the discovery of the genetic cause.
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New hospital build boss to get $2.5k a day
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New hospital build boss to get $2.5k a day
A corporate troubleshooter is being paid $2500 a day to lead the new Dunedin hospital’s build due to ministerial claims the project could drag down Health NZ without his leadership.
Effectiveness of suicide prevention action plan questioned
Effectiveness of suicide prevention action plan questioned
Whether the new suicide prevention action plan will be effective with a workforce struggling to retain numbers is being questioned by a Dunedin-based mental health charity.
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Spread of fake cures worrying oncologist
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Spread of fake cures worrying oncologist
A Dunedin oncologist is concerned about the rampant spread of misinformation among medical practitioners and wellness gurus about coffee enemas, juices and vitamin C as "cancer cures".