Elspeth McLean

Legal expenses and costs related to protecting assets have added another $1.3 million to the fraud bill incurred by the Otago District Health Board so far.

Dunedin stroke survivor Warren Palmer was able to share notes with former Dunedin woman Kate Adamson about his experience of locked-in syndrome yesterday.

Concern at the lack of consultation over the appointment of an Otago-Southland regional chief nursing and midwifery officer has been expressed by two union leaders.

Otago District Health Board chairman, Richard Thomson is used to dealing with heavy agenda items on the board's financial position, but today, Elspeth McLean writes, he will also have to grapple with his emotions as he chairs what he expects to be his last board meeting.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said yesterday Mr Key had no concerns about Health Minister Tony Ryall's handling of the possible dismissal of Otago District Health Board chairman Richard Thomson.

Health Minister Tony Ryall may have to sack all district health board chairmen, former health minister and Dunedin North MP Pete Hodgson says.

Figures presented to Health Minister Tony Ryall suggesting information technology spending rose substantially in the two years before the establishment of the first Otago District Health Board were incorrect, board chairman Richard Thomson said yesterday.

The Otago District Health Board's version of how the Swann-Harford frauds took place and were undetected for so long includes a suggestion that Audit New Zealand auditor Bruce Robertson was warned off doing a full audit of the information technology department.

Otago District Health Board chairman Richard Thomson will wait longer to hear his fate, after Health Minister Tony Ryall extended the deadline for the board to respond to his plans to remove Mr Thomson as chairman.

Otago District Health Board chairman Richard Thomson will have to wait at least a week to find out his fate.

Otago District Health Board chief medical officer Richard Bunton came out strongly in support of beleaguered board chairman Richard Thomson yesterday.

Seventeen stunning stained-glass windows surround the pews in Dunedin's All Saints Anglican Church, but the view is marred by steel rods spanning the ceiling.

Patients reading poetry cards in Dunedin doctors' waiting rooms may be surprised to find they are sponsored from the United Kingdom.

Otago District Health Board chairman Richard Thomson expects to be sacked, following his refusal last night to resign when asked to do so by Health Minister Tony Ryall.

In the end I couldn't stop him. He insisted. It wasn't his fault really.