Health

GP funds own cancer treatment

A Dunedin doctor who has chosen to pay $50,000 for her own 12-month Herceptin treatment believes more money could be found in Pharmac's budget for the breast cancer drug if it took a closer look at what it is spending on medicines for gut problems such as indigestion.

Call for voluntary error reporting

Patient deaths or ‘‘near misses'' caused by serious mistakes by health professionals should not just be reported in hospitals but in the primary health sector as well, Balclutha doctor Branko Sijnja says.

More delays seeing GPs expected

The organisation representing community doctors and nurses is warning patients to expect growing delays in getting appointments at their local surgery.

Board's lab move to save $1m

Board's lab move to save $1m

In a move expected to save about $1 million, the Otago District Health Board in a split vote yesterday decided it should stop paying for laboratory tests ordered by specialists for private patients.

Otago and Southland health boards share CEO

Brian Rousseau's appointment yesterday as chief executive of the Otago and Southland health boards is a first for district health board management.

New regional health model suggested

Integrated health centres could be considered for Queenstown, Gore, Oamaru, Balclutha and the Maniototo.

Top health official to step down

The country's top health official is quitting. Ministry of Health director-general Chai Chuah said yesterday he would leave early next year, less than three years into a five-year term.

Vaccine of limited benefit to over-18s

Nationwide vaccination programme for 12 to 18-year-olds aimed at preventing cervical cancer is attracting the attention of older women as well, says an Otago District Health Board member.

Surgeon says system failing patients

Many people are spending thousands of dollars on private surgery in Otago because the public system is failing them, Dunedin ear, nose and throat surgeon Martyn Fields says.

Midwives hit back at criticism

The midwifery industry has hit back at comments about the state of the sector after what they say are unprecedented attacks over the last few days.

Nurses seek mandatory safe staffing

Student Ruby Mills (19) discusses a petition calling for mandatory safe staffing in the aged-care...

Nurses seek mandatory safe staffing

Union representatives collected about 200 signatures in an hour yesterday in Dunedin for a petition asking the Government to make safe staffing mandatory in the aged-care sector.

Research, training at risk – doctors

Increased spending on health research is urgently needed to stop more doctors moving overseas and protect doctor training, the country's two medical schools say.

Greymouth community infected by norovirus

There has been an outbreak of the highly infectious gastro-intestinal norovirus in parts of the Greymouth community, the West Coast District Health Board says.

Researching ways of controlling chlamydia

Researching ways of controlling chlamydia

A vaccine may eventually be developed to combat the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia, but it may not involve an injection.

Paramedics to treat people in their homes

Paramedics to treat people in their homes

A proposal to allow paramedics to treat people in their homes would be of "significant benefit" to rural communities and the elderly, a St John spokesman says.

New system working well at medical centre

Balclutha GP Dr Branko Sijnja is happy with how the new extended GP service has been accepted in...

New system working well at medical centre

If Balclutha general practice were a patient two years ago, it would probably have been classed as terminal, and not given long to live.

Blind patient went hungry; not told meals there

A blind hospital patient did not receive meals because nobody told them their the meals were there, the Otago and Southland District Health Board's disability support advisory committee meeting heard yesterday.

Health camp board sets funds deadline

The Children's Health Camps Board has asked the Government to clarify its funding by 9.30am today before it decides whether to close one or more of its seven camps.

New mother not told of norovirus outbreak

A woman, who was in Dunedin Hospital after giving birth, is concerned she and other new mothers were not advised of last week's norovirus outbreak in other wards.

Migrants may squeeze services

Health services in the South will come under pressure from migrant workers who might not be able to pay, Venture South settlement support co-ordinator Sue Morrison-Bailey says.

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