Majority representation for locals
Majority representation for locals
Wingatui residents intent on retaining control over the governance of Wingatui Hall were successful last night in approving a rule guaranteeing majority local representation.
Eileen Goodwin
Drug decision 'no great leap forward'
Drug decision 'no great leap forward'
Pharmac's decision to fund a non-Herceptin drug as a first-line treatment for advanced Her-2 positive breast cancer has been criticised by the Breast Cancer Foundation.
Call for diabetes changes
Call for diabetes changes
It is not good enough that Dunedin will not host a consultation meeting on "absolutely huge" proposed changes to diabetes management tools, Diabetes Otago office manager Noeline Wedlock says.
Restaurateur plates up for charity
Restaurateur plates up for charity
He describes himself as a "crazy Indian wearing a pink shirt" at the cricket test at the University Oval in Dunedin.
GP practices get support from PHO
GP practices get support from PHO
Southern Primary Health Organisation has appointed extra staff to help Otago and Southland GP practices finding it "tough going" to get enough patients through the doors, PHO chief executive Ian Macara says.
Aged-care workers on picket line
Aged-care workers on picket line
The aged-care industry seeks more "flexibility" from workers, although Ports of Auckland-style casualisation is unlikely, Service and Food Workers Union (SFWU) Dunedin organiser Ann Galloway says.
Concern about Isis bed cuts
Concern about Isis bed cuts
A Dunedin brain haemorrhage survivor is questioning cuts to the specialist rehabilitation service he describes as on par with the best in the world.
New CEO ready to 'listen and learn'
New CEO ready to 'listen and learn'
The new chief executive of the Southern District Health Board says negative media attention she attracted after her last job reflects public ire against large-salary earners in England.
Sawyers Bay memorial to be moved
Sawyers Bay memorial to be moved
The Dunedin City Council has recommended moving the Sawyers Bay War Memorial because it has been found to be on private property, a report to tomorrow's Chalmers Community Board meeting says.
Rest-home workers strike
Rest-home workers strike
Redroofs Rest Home workers and their supporters picket outside the Oceania Group facility in Dunblane St, Dunedin, during their two-hour strike yesterday morning.
Nurses accept 4.5% pay rise
Nurses accept 4.5% pay rise
Nurses have ratified a 4.5% pay rise staggered over two years, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation announced yesterday.
Praise for mental-health plan
Praise for mental-health plan
A draft mental-health plan promises a new start for mental-health patients still "languishing" in wards, Corstorphine Baptist Community Trust chief executive Wendy Halsey says.
'Blowout' in cost of medical wages
'Blowout' in cost of medical wages
A medical wages "blowout" in January must not be repeated or it will affect Southern District Health Board's year-end financial performance, board chairman Joe Butterfield told the hospitals' advisory committee in Invercargill yesterday.
Question over rise in expected deficit
Question over rise in expected deficit
Southern District Health Board member Richard Thomson has asked whether there was a "cunning plan" to spend almost up to the board's approved deficit unnecessarily.
EDs perform better; SDHB still 17th
EDs perform better; SDHB still 17th
Dunedin and Southland emergency departments' (ED) performance in the latest DHB league tables improved, although the Southern District Health Board remained 17th of the 20 DHBs, the same as in the first quarter.
New unit live by midyear
New unit live by midyear
The observation unit under construction at Dunedin Hospital will be operational in June or July, although final sign-off was not expected until August, acting chief operating officer (Otago) Megan Boivin told the board meeting in Invercargill yesterday.
Rest-home workers striking
Rest-home workers striking
After 32 years of looking after the elderly, the most Dunedin caregiver Vicki Taylor can hope to be paid is $16.22, the top hourly rate for health-care assistants at Redroofs Rest Home.
Passengers put push on ED
Passengers put push on ED
Increasing numbers of cruise-ship passengers are adding to Dunedin Hospital emergency department's workload, Southern District Health Board operations manager (Otago) Megan Boivin told the hospitals' advisory committee in Invercargill yesterday.
Seismic risk looks terminal
Seismic risk looks terminal
Three Southern District Health Board buildings have been earmarked for possible demolition because of the prohibitive cost of strengthening them, a report to tomorrow's hospitals' advisory committee meeting says.
Proposal to reduce services at Isis centre
Proposal to reduce services at Isis centre
Bed numbers and nursing staff at Wakari Hospital's specialist rehabilitation service (Isis) will be cut to deal with a funding shortfall, a Southern District Health Board staff consultation document says.