Health boards seek pledge on network
Health boards seek pledge on network
Telecom and its troubled XT network has been put on notice by the Otago and Southland district health boards.
ODHB
ODHB not 'heartless' to elderly
ODHB not 'heartless' to elderly
The Otago District Health Board was not a "collection of heartless bastards" abandoning the elderly, but had to stop overspending, chairman Errol Millar told yesterday's board meeting.
Housework plan held up
Housework plan held up
The Otago and Southland District Health Boards have stalled on plans to cut housework help.
Board wants Govt nod for drugs pilot
Board wants Govt nod for drugs pilot
A year-long pilot scheme offering some Dunedin Hospital cancer patients the option of paying for extra drug treatment should go to the Health Minister Tony Ryall for approval, the Otago District Health Board says.
Most supportive employer
Most supportive employer
Otago Southland Regional Employer Support Council chairman Julian Smith congratulates Marty Hughes, of Otago Business Equipment, and his wife, Marian, after Mr Hughes was named regional winner for most supportive employer to an employee in the New Zealand Army Territorial Force or Royal New Zealand Navy Reserve.
Housework providers want more time
Housework providers want more time
Plans to drastically cut housework for elderly in Otago and Southland need to be slowed down, housework providers urged the Otago and Southland district health boards at a special meeting yesterday.
Some day surgery delayed
Some day surgery delayed
Some patients scheduled to undergo day surgery requiring a general anaesthetic at Dunedin Hospital have been put off or sent to other hospitals due to a shortage of anaesthetists.
Rest-home entry gets harder
Rest-home entry gets harder
In another move to cut spending on the elderly in Otago and Southland, people referred to rest-homes in future will be "stood down" for about six months to see if they can be supported at home.
Still $2.3m over budget
Still $2.3m over budget
Despite progress on moves to save money on community care for the elderly, the Otago District Health Board still expects to be over budget in this area by $2.3 million this financial year.
Radical health shake-up mooted
Radical health shake-up mooted
Patients will be assessed before being allowed free access to Queenstown's emergency department under a proposed radical shake-up of Wakatipu healthcare services.
Health boards cut housework help for elderly
Health boards cut housework help for elderly
Housework help for the elderly will be cut, saving about $4 million a year, the Otago and Southland district health boards confirmed yesterday.
Delay linked to poorer outcomes
Delay linked to poorer outcomes
Treatment delays for six rectal cancer patients could result in "poorer outcomes", the audit of 33 referrals to Dunedin Hospital colonoscopy service suggests.
Rural managers not convinced
Rural managers not convinced
Rural hospital managers are not convinced by the Otago District Health Board's insistence that centralising health staff who co-ordinate community care packages for the elderly will improve services.
ODHB rankings slip in two areas
ODHB rankings slip in two areas
While Otago District Health Board has improved or maintained its performance in meeting the Government's six health targets, its ratings against other boards have slipped in two areas.
Physio pool maintenance cost concern
Physio pool maintenance cost concern
Any future upgrading of the Otago District Health Board's therapeutic pool should be paid for by those who use it rather than the board, Richard Thomson says.
Hospital smoking room plan
Hospital smoking room plan
The number of smokers lighting up near Dunedin Hospital's entrance appears to have dropped, Otago District Health Board member Richard Thomson says.
Project report unintelligible: Thomson
Project report unintelligible: Thomson
A report on a business intelligence project has proved unintelligible for Otago District Health Board hospital advisory committee chairman Richard Thomson.
Interim chairman for health board remains unknown
Interim chairman for health board remains unknown
It is not yet known who will chair the new Southern District Health Board from May to the local government elections.
Wakatipu health care report due for release
Wakatipu health care report due for release
A consultation document on a new model of health care for the Wakatipu area is expected to be released next week.
'Top-up' pilot to be recommended
'Top-up' pilot to be recommended
Questions about how payments for private top-up drugs for public cancer patients might be calculated in any pilot scheme dominated discussion at the Otago District Health Board's hospital advisory committee yesterday.