A survey finding that almost half of men under 35 admitted to sometimes blowing their noses by covering a nostril and blowing the mucus on to the ground was no surprise to Otago District Health Board infection prevention and control charge nurse manager Jo Stodart.
Health and welfare organisations have been the major beneficiaries in the latest round of Community Trust of Otago funding, which totals $857,400.
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.
Waitaki Valley patients have a new medical service, after the Kurow Medical Centre successfully lobbied the Rural Otago Primary Health Organisation for funding.
Another junior doctors' strike in the next month could increase the risk to patients waiting for heart surgery at Dunedin Hospital
Although Dunedin Hospital's emergency department was reasonably busy on the first day of the junior doctors' strike yesterday, it still had 39 beds available last night.
Deaf people can do anything but hear.
Calls for the Government to step into the junior doctors' pay talks with district health boards before tomorrow's strike received no response from Health Minister David Cunliffe yesterday.
As the countdown continues to the second junior doctors' strike, Dunedin Hospital has restricted its elective surgery list to ensure most patients are discharged by the time the strike begins on Wednesday.
Further strike action by junior doctors looks unavoidable after negotiations with district health boards (DHBs) broke down yesterday.
Junior doctors have resumed plans for strike action after negotiations with district health boards (DHBs) broke down today.
The organisation representing community doctors and nurses is warning patients to expect growing delays in getting appointments at their local surgery.
Constant ear infections plagued 3-year-old Dessi Lungley last winter, but the preschooler should fare better this year after joining 40 other children for free grommet operations at Dunedin's Mercy Hospital.
More Dunedin and Wakari hospital services will be back in action today after the junior doctors' strike ends at 7am, but elective surgery could be affected by backlogs.
A senior doctors union has rubbished claims that some hospitals are nearing closing point because of a shortage of doctors.
Limited services will be available at Wakari and Dunedin hospitals during the junior doctors' strike which begins tomorrow and, with Anzac Day this Friday, it could be next week before services are fully restored.
Controversy over pay rates for Otago and Southland senior doctors during today's strike abated yesterday afternoon when the union and the district health boards' chief executive, Brian Rousseau, reached agreement.
Doctors capable of working in intensive care in short-staffed New Zealand hospitals are being shut out because of tough registration requirements for such specialists, Dunedin Hospital's intensive care clinical leader, Mike Hunter, says.
Prescribing practices at Dunedin Hospital have been improved since a three-month study in 2002 of medication errors for children in Dunedin Hospital which found 700 errors involving 500 patients.
Concern about the way the meningococcal B mass-vaccination campaign had been suddenly dropped had left medical staff feeling "totally demoralised'', Balclutha GP Dr Branko Sijnja said.
