Health

Construction of the new acute mental health ward at Wakari Hospital could begin in about eight weeks.

About 300 cleaners and orderlies at hospitals in five centres nationwide will strike tomorrow.

The Southern Health Board expects to spend $705,935 next financial year on B4 school checks for 3050 children.

An arrangement allowing for some patients requiring radiation treatment for cancer to be transferred between Christchurch and Dunedin services is expected to be formalised by the Southern District

Energy "shots" and energy drinks which contain high levels of caffeine are not suitable for children, young teenagers, pregnant women and people sensitive to caffeine, food safety officials say.

Ron Paterson has used one of his final reports as Health and Disability Commissioner to hit out at inadequate rest home care.

Concerns educated parents in New Zealand were developing a form of "white flight" over immunisation of children against disease were aired at a Parliamentary select committee today.

Extra money for high-tech scans for cancer allows greater access to a procedure that gives more detailed information, says Southern District Health Board chief medical officer Richard Bunton.

Progress on improving software used by doctors to compile prescriptions has been "glacial", New Zealand Pharmacy Guild chief executive Annabel Young says.