Stewart Jessamine
Medical error may have caused Samoa infant deaths
A vaccinologist and senior lecturer at Auckland University says there is a high likelihood medical error was to blame for the deaths of two infants in Samoa following their MMR vaccinations. Audio
Pregnancies safe with first-year midwives - Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health says new research shows mothers using a first-year midwife have no reason to worry about their baby's safety. It commissioned the study after controversial research by the… Audio
Surgical mesh limit long overdue - sufferers
Women who've suffered acute pain from surgical mesh say it should have been banned years ago. Medsafe yesterday announced New Zealand would be the second country to limit the way the mesh is used… Audio
Surgical mesh ban welcomed by campaigners
Women who have been fighting for a ban on surgical mesh for years feel vindicated health officials have finally acted, but wish it had happened years ago. From 4 January, mesh implants will not be… Audio
'System' blamed for Havelock North gastro failings
The Ministry of Health says it doesn't accept all the responsiblity for gastro outbreak in Havelock North. The Ministry's acting director of public health Dr Stewart Jessamine says the system is to… Audio
Health Ministry agrees to further action on surgical mesh
The Ministry of Health has described the harm caused to hundreds of women from surgical mesh as a "tragedy". A senior ministry staffer Dr Stewart Jessamine talks to Kathryn Ryan. Audio
Ministry of Health responds to hospitals struggling to cope
Dr Stewart Jessamine from the Ministry of Health says this is a prety average year for flu cases. He says people should see their GP and say home and only call an ambulance if it is a serious… Audio
Medicinal cannabis petition to Parliament - Part 2
The Ministry of Health responds to a mother's request for law reform on access to medicinal cannabis. Audio
A sliver of relief
Almost two years ago 19-year-old Alex Renton was given special approval to use medicinal cannabis now his mother is fighting for others to have access. Audio
The Science Of... Meth Houses
How safe are meth houses really? And what's it like to go inside? Katy Gosset and Alison Ballance take the plunge and ask how much meth is too much when it comes to setting a national standard? Audio, Gallery
HNZ denies Health Ministry warned it on meth testing
Housing New Zealand has categorically denied it was warned by the Health Ministry that the meth testing it was carrying out on its properties was only suitable for former meth labs. Audio
Drug Foundation demands HNS reverse "unfair" evictions
The Drug Foundation is calling on Housing New Zealand to reinstate the tenancies of those it says were "unfairly evicted" for meth contamination. Ross Bell says there needs to be an apology at the… Audio
Housing NZ warned for misusing meth guidelines to evict tenants
Housing New Zealand is being slammed for its "heartless" misuse of meth contamination guidelines to evict and fine tenants. Audio
Health Ministry says Housing NZ misusing meth guidelines
The Ministry of Health says it has repeatedly told Housing New Zealand its methamphetamine contamination guidelines are only suitable to be applied to former meth labs. The Ministry has just published… Audio
Medsafe responds to concerns over surgical mesh
Over the last year Nine to Noon has spoken in depth to several people reporting horrific side effects from surgical mesh implants. Now a new survey of people who suffered complications from surgical… Audio
Possible Zika-carrying Larvae - Dr Stewart Jessamine
Biosecurity officials at Auckland Airport have found mosquito larvae of the type that can carry Zika. The Ministry of Health said staff found the larvae in a trap near the international baggage area… Audio
Antibiotic drug recalled
Up to a hundred thousand bottles of a common brand of antibiotic has been recalled after glass fragments were found in the medicine. Audio
Ministry of Health has more
A Ministry of Health medical adviser Dr Stewart Jessamine is with us. Audio
Ministry will keep buying tamiflu
The Ministry of Health says it has no plans to stop buying Relenza and Tamiflu, it's spent 32 million dollars on the drugs in the last few years. Audio
Surgeons notifying patients affected by hip replacement recall
The authority that regulates medicines in New Zealand says it's working closely with surgeons to inform patients of a recall of a metal on metal hip replacement. Audio