Health board confident over nursing numbers
Health board confident over nursing numbers
The Southern District Health Board said last night it was confident its nursing numbers in Dunedin were adequate.
SDHB
Health fraud suspicion
Health fraud suspicion
The Southern District Health Board was told in 2010 its multimillion-dollar dispute with South Link Health (SLH) might be fraud, but the dispute was not referred to police, board chairman Joe Butterfield has revealed.
Health fund millions get murky
Health fund millions get murky
Who knew what and when? Questions are being asked since it was revealed recently the Southern District Health Board has known about the possibility of a health funds fraud for more than three years. Health reporter Eileen Goodwin examines the issues.
Former health board head speaks out over funds dispute
Former health board head speaks out over funds dispute
Former Southern District Health Board chief executive Brian Rousseau has spoken out about the South Link Health (SLH) dispute, providing a list of people he says knew about legal advice the row could involve fraud.
Health board problems raised at meeting
Health board problems raised at meeting
Growing problems with the Southern District Health Board's ''ageing infrastructure'' and the negative effects of population-based funding were highlighted at a public meeting yesterday.
Board not yet releasing IT findings
Board not yet releasing IT findings
The Southern District Health Board will not release preliminary findings about what caused this week's hospital IT crash for several weeks.
Critics slam Ryall in SLH funds issue
Critics slam Ryall in SLH funds issue
Health Minister Tony Ryall's relationship with the head of the organisation locked in dispute with the Southern District Health Board has been criticised by a health board member.
Fraud possibility not disclosed
Fraud possibility not disclosed
Stuart McLauchlan, the man charged with monitoring the Southern District Health Board, says he was not told of legal advice in 2010 that the South Link Health (SLH) funds dispute might involve fraud.
Forensic accountant news shock
Forensic accountant news shock
South Link Health (SLH) says it found out through reading the Otago Daily Times that the Southern District Health Board had called in a forensic accountant over what the Dunedin-based independent practitioner association believed until this week was a commercial dispute.
Comment from SDHB on audit of colonoscopy
Comment from SDHB on audit of colonoscopy
An audit of 767 people who may have had delayed or declined access to surveillance colonoscopy in Otago between 2007 and 2011 found eight had died of bowel cancer or its complications.
Hundreds of DHB workers on less than 'living wage'
Hundreds of DHB workers on less than 'living wage'
About 8% of Southern District Health Board staff are paid less than the amount deemed a ''living wage'' by fair pay advocates, new figures show.
Extra 88 operations
Extra 88 operations
The surprise $10 million boost for elective surgery nationwide announced this week will pay for 88 extra operations in Otago and Southland.
Funding must follow devolution
Funding must follow devolution
A genuine conversation is needed when changes to mental health services are proposed, writes Max Reid.
Contrary views on mental health cuts
Contrary views on mental health cuts
Some long-term Wakari Hospital mental health inpatients face an uncertain future in the community, which does not appear equipped to care for them if they are discharged in the coming months, Dunedin North MP David Clark says.
Plans to cut mental health beds
Plans to cut mental health beds
A proposal to reduce the number of mental health beds in ward 11 at Wakari Hospital is still ''under development'', the Southern District Health Board says.
Board's bed cuts seen as 'foolish'
Board's bed cuts seen as 'foolish'
A health professional is questioning the wisdom of the Southern District Health Board cutting bed numbers last year, as Southland Hospital and Dunedin Hospital near capacity.
South's hospitals at capacity
South's hospitals at capacity
Hospitals throughout Otago and Southland are almost at capacity and some patients are being shuffled around wards as staff deal with a seasonal increase in admissions.
Health academic welcomes new role
Health academic welcomes new role
Leading part of the health sector, rather than just critiquing it, is a new-year challenge for Dunedin health academic Prof Robin Gauld.
Encouraging more high-fliers
Encouraging more high-fliers
The pay figures of University of Otago and Southern District Health Board staff published by this newspaper last weekend provide good news for the city, particularly given the recent focus on job losses, restructuring and the resulting uncertainty.
Dual roles for Butterfield
Dual roles for Butterfield
The Timaru-based chairman of the Southern District Health Board will also head a new-look hospital advisory committee, it has been confirmed.