South Island DHBs save $12 million
South Island DHBs save $12 million
By working together, five South Island district health boards have saved $12 million so far this financial year, the South Island Health Alliance has announced.
Ministry of Health
Ministry clears Southern breast-screening programme
Ministry clears Southern breast-screening programme
A Ministry of Health investigation has cleared the Southern District Health Board's breast-screening programme of concerns its rate of "false negatives" was unacceptably high.
Ryall under attack from top doctors
Ryall under attack from top doctors
The honeymoon appears well and truly over between the senior doctors' union and Health Minister Tony Ryall.
Breast-cancer diagnosis review being finalised
Breast-cancer diagnosis review being finalised
The Ministry of Health is finalising its "initial investigation" into possible delays in breast-cancer diagnosis at Southern District Health Board, and expects to have a clearer picture next week, a ministry statement says.
No follow-upon newborn blood spot card consent
No follow-upon newborn blood spot card consent
People who may have forgotten they gave consent for their newborn baby's blood spots to be used in research after screening for metabolic disorders will not be contacted to see if they are still happy with that decision.
NZ breast-screening slated
NZ breast-screening slated
Concerns have been raised in an independent report, and by experts and providers, about the sustainability of a national breast-screening service. Elspeth McLean reports.
Independence of commissioner paramount
Independence of commissioner paramount
Has New Zealand's health watchdog lost its bark, asks Stuart McLennan.
Drug in wine causes concern
Drug in wine causes concern
Drinkers of wine, sherry and port may be unknowingly breaking the law and consuming small doses of the party drug fantasy, an illegal class B drug.
Ambulance response times stretched
Ambulance response times stretched
Ambulances have not met urban response time targets since 2007 because of increased demand, crowded roads, and new housing developments, a Government report says.
Ministry ignored cannabinoid warning
Ministry ignored cannabinoid warning
The Ministry of Health ignored advice from police and Customs that legislation to ban synthetic cannabis products was incomplete and could lead to the re-emergence of near-identical legal highs.
Ministry says more time needed for NHB financial information
Ministry says more time needed for NHB financial information
The Ministry of Health says it needs extra time to respond to a request for the National Health Board financial analysis on Wakatipu Health Services.
Government cool on clinical research
Government cool on clinical research
The Government is not keen to fund district health boards to undertake clinical research as a frontline activity.
Autistic man's carer criticises scheme
Autistic man's carer criticises scheme
A Dunedin woman who left a job looking after an autistic man because she felt unsafe says the Ministry of Health needs to change the way it dishes out money to families who directly employ carers.
SDHB deficit reduced last year
SDHB deficit reduced last year
The Southern District Health Board ended last financial year with a deficit of $1.6 million, but expects to be in the red by $10.5 million this year.
Kronic recall; another likely
Kronic recall; another likely
Health authorities warn the recall of another synthetic cannabis product is imminent, after the removal of a popular Kronic product containing a highly-potent unauthorised prescription medicine.
Newborns' blood collection report still secret
Newborns' blood collection report still secret
The Cabinet may soon consider a report on protocols for the national collection of droplets of newborns' blood, but its contents remain secret.
Ministry names members of panel reviewing radiosurgery
Ministry names members of panel reviewing radiosurgery
The Ministry of Health has named appointees to a panel advising whether Dunedin Hospital remains the sole provider of a special radiation treatment.
Call to proceed with cancer pilot
Call to proceed with cancer pilot
The Ministry of Health should proceed with existing plans for its bowel cancer screening pilot and at this stage it should not include flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS), the Gastroenterology Society says.
No capacity for extra ops
No capacity for extra ops
Southern District Health Board says it will not be taking up funding available for extra gastric bypass operations this year because it does not have the capacity.
Cancer pilot could end early
Cancer pilot could end early
New Zealand's proposed four-year bowel cancer screening pilot could be called off early if participation is much lower than expected.