With home help, heart patient 'good as gold'
With home help, heart patient 'good as gold'
Nearly a month after he went public complaining about a lack of help at home following a heart attack, life has improved for Cliff Rodger.
Eileen Goodwin
Boost for kidney transplants
Boost for kidney transplants
Anything that enables more kidney transplants is a good thing, Southern District Health Board nephrologist Dr John Schollum says.
Clark critical of scheme
Clark critical of scheme
GP referral scheme in southern emergency departments is designed to skew ED waiting times to make Government health statistics look better, Dunedin North Labour MP David Clark says.
Book helps to turn next page
Book helps to turn next page
In the 12 years since her partner's death, it has become easier to talk about suicide, Mosgiel woman Nikki Cockburn says.
Much interest in stroke treatment
Much interest in stroke treatment
A Dunedin man believed to be the first New Zealander to undergo innovative stroke therapy in the United States may have become a trailblazer.
Doubts GP referral will make difference
Doubts GP referral will make difference
Dunedin emergency department nurses are uncomfortable with a new GP referral system they have to implement from next week, ED specialist John Chambers says.
Some nurses unwilling to wash uniforms
Some nurses unwilling to wash uniforms
Some emergency department nurses fought a change that has them laundering their uniforms, Dunedin Hospital ED specialist John Chambers says.
Power cost seen in health
Power cost seen in health
The electricity market is maximising profit at the cost of people's health, even while demand is declining, energy analyst Molly Melhuish says.
Musician preparing for Denver role
Musician preparing for Denver role
Dunedin musician Bevan Gardiner is reprising the role of John Denver in a production that rehearsed in Mosgiel last week to prepare for a New Zealand and Australia tour.
'Thought I was going mad' with pain
'Thought I was going mad' with pain
A North Taieri woman says she became suicidal because of the ''excruciating pain'' caused by surgical mesh complications.
Issues to be faced over surgical mesh
Issues to be faced over surgical mesh
Patients harmed by surgical mesh are demanding action from the Government. Health reporter Eileen Goodwin spoke to a doctor, a politician, and a patient about the issue.
GP voucher scheme for emergency departments
GP voucher scheme for emergency departments
GP vouchers will be doled out in emergency departments in a bid to reduce patient numbers.
Radiology job offers still open, Pacific says
Radiology job offers still open, Pacific says
Job offers for mammographers who have opted to stay employed by the public sector remain open, Pacific Radiology Group chief executive Lance Lawler says.
Workers' relief at screening decision
Workers' relief at screening decision
Breast-screening mammographers are shocked yet relieved by the surprise decision they will continue to be employed by the Southern District Health Board, union spokesman Rhys Walters says.
Low demand at odds with board stats
Low demand at odds with board stats
Figures showing just 27% of southern health patients are getting a routine colonoscopy within six weeks seem ''at odds'' with the lack of interest in a free colonoscopy programme, gastroenterologist Associate Prof Michael Schultz says.
Advice sought on enrolments
Advice sought on enrolments
The New Zealand Aged Care Association is seeking legal advice on whether its members have to assist dementia and psychogeriatric residents to enrol to vote.
Nurses fear impact of cost-cutting on patients
Nurses fear impact of cost-cutting on patients
The nurses' union is sceptical of claims Southern District Health Board cost-cutting will not affect patient care.
Rising to the challenge of a stroke
Rising to the challenge of a stroke
A stroke doesn't have to mean the end of everything Stroke survivor Dave Griffin and his wife Brenda travelled to Los Angeles for treatment that has given his rehabilitation a big boost. Reporter Eileen Goodwin spoke to the couple recently.
GP letter fast-track plan slammed
GP letter fast-track plan slammed
A plan to fast-track patients with GP letters through southern hospitals will exacerbate health inequalities, Labour's Dunedin North MP Dr David Clark says.
Cost-cutting decisions scrutinised
Cost-cutting decisions scrutinised
Just who is driving urgent cost-cutting at the Southern District Health Board was under scrutiny yesterday as the board mulled its parlous financial position.