Karen Brown
Southern DHB failed to prioritise patients - commissioner
Health and Disability Commissioner Anthony Hill says the Southerm District Health Board couldn't cope with demand and failed to prioritise patients, after Southland farmer Kobe Brown's eye appointment… Audio
DHBs struggle to give bowel cancer tests on time
Some district health boards are struggling to provide a key bowel cancer test on time. Colonoscopies are needed to diagnose bowel cancer, which kills more than 1200 people a year. DHBs are expected to… Audio
Doctors blame hospital deficit blowout on underfunding
Senior doctors say under-funding is to blame for a ballooning projected deficit by district health boards. Latest figures released by the Health Ministry show DHBs will be in the red to the tune of… Audio
First bowel screening results show at least 8 lives saved
The lives of eight people have been saved in the first eight months of bowel screening in Hutt Valley and Wairarapa. These are the first results from the first areas to begin screening under a… Audio
Bowel cancer screening saves lives in Hutt, Wairarapa
The lives of eight people have been saved in the first eight months of bowel screening in Hutt Valley and Wairarapa. Bowel cancer kills 1200 people a year in New Zealand - one of the highest rates in… Audio
Nurses, employers meet in new bid to resolve pay dispute
Nurses and their employers will meet today in a new bid to resolve a deep dispute and prevent strike action.Twenty seven thousand nurses and midwives employed by district health boards yesterday… Audio
Nigel Murray's spending 'an affront' to New Zealanders
A major investigation has slammed unauthorised and unjustified spending by the former CEO of the Waikato DHB, and says the board and chair at the time did not provide reasonable oversight of his… Audio
Nurses near end of pay deal vote, outcome uncertain
Hospital nurses are nearing the end of meetings and voting on a proposed pay deal with their employers. District health boards have offered nurses and midwives two pay rises of two percent, a lump-sum… Audio
Tired, stressed nurses considering strike action
Nurses have been offered a backdated 2 percent pay deal, a lump sum payment of $1050, pay equity from next year, and a commitment to better staffing, but for many that's not good enough. Audio
Doctors press ahead to roll out bowel screening programme
Doctors working overtime to roll out bowel screening are confident a serious problem with keeping track of patients has now been fixed. Health Correspondent Karen Brown reports. Audio
Health Ministry had been warned of bowel screening botch-up
The Health Ministry was warned four years before it raised the alert over a serious failure involving bowel screening. The new Health Minister, David Clark, revealed last month that 2500 Waitemata… Audio
Secret Counties-Manukau DHB inquiry nears end
An investigation shrouded in secrecy into spending at the Counties Manukau District Health Board is almost finished. The highly contentious review is being done for the Health Ministry at the DHB's… Audio
Nurses' choice: Accept pay deal or go on strike
Twenty-seven thousand hospital nurses throughout the country will begin voting today whether to approve a last-ditch pay deal or go on strike. Nurses are angry over short-staffing and low pay, and… Audio
Doctors push to reduce wait time for mental health patients
Doctors are demanding help for mental health patients who face long waits in overcrowded hospital emergency departments. The Australasian College of Emergency Medicine says these patients tend to wait… Audio
DHBs warn funding crisis may worsen
Counties-Manukau DHB is hoping for a $50 million cash injection, but in the meantime, its $13 million deficit last year is expected to hit $20 million this year. Audio
2500 kiwis would survive from cancer if in Australia
Cancer patients have a better chance of survival in Australia than they do in New Zealand, a new study has found. Cancer patient Jess Spence says that's just not good enough. Video, Audio
NZ cancer care falling behind Australia - Cancer Society
The Cancer Society says adult cancer care has stalled and a gap with Australia will widen unless more is done. Based on the latest international cancer survival results, the society adds that 2,500… Audio
Cancer Society calls for major changes to save lives
The Cancer Society is calling for major changes to cancer services to save lives. It says 2,500 more New Zealanders would have survived cancer if they'd lived across the ditch. The claim is based on… Audio
More people caught up in bowel screening bungle
Eight people developed cancer and three died after they missed out on bowel screening due to a computer glitch. It could be months before its known just how many of the 2500 people who missed out have… Audio
Growing wait times delayed bowel cancer screening programme
Growing wait times have contributed to delays in rolling out a national bowel cancer screening programme. Only three dhbs screen for the disease, which kills 1200 people a year. Audio