Latest Health Headlines
CCS Disability Action Pleased with Expansion of Service
Friday, 24 May 2013, 9:17 am | CCS Disability Action
CCS Disability Action is pleased that an extra 110 students will now have access to the Intensive Wrap-Around Service. More >>
Update on Varilrix vaccine supply
Thursday, 23 May 2013, 5:25 pm | GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) confirmed today that normal supplies of the Varilrix vaccine for the chickenpox virus will be available again within two weeks. More >>
Listening is first step on path to improving health system
Thursday, 23 May 2013, 5:15 pm | West Coast DHB
Listening to patients’ experiences to determine how to improve the health system is the aim of two consumer representatives on West Coast District Health Board’s Clinical Board. More >>
MP’s boost cancer fundraiser
Thursday, 23 May 2013, 5:14 pm | Te Wero
Labour MPs have banned together to give a significant boost to a local cancer charity by donating 20 percent of its Flight Against Cancer dinner and auction event sales to Wellington community groups. More >>
Vulnerable families need counselling support
Thursday, 23 May 2013, 4:47 pm | New Zealand Association of Counsellors
Vulnerable families and children are increasingly being denied access to much-needed counselling services, the New Zealand Association of Counsellors is warning. More >>
Gluten Free More than a Diet Fad for the Undiagnosed
Thursday, 23 May 2013, 3:33 pm | Coeliac New Zealand
Going gluten-free is more than just a diet fad for coeliac disease sufferers, who have a permanent intolerance to gluten and can suffer long term health problems if not diagnosed. More >>
Northtec Students Gold and Silver: Maori Student Hui
Thursday, 23 May 2013, 1:09 pm | NorthTec
NorthTec student nurses scored big at the recent annual National Council of Student Māori Nurses Hui in Nelson, with Kaitaia’s Caroline Snowden winning gold and Whangarei’s Aniwaniwa Mahanga taking out silver for their exemplar presentations. More >>
China Grants Patent For Detection of Gastric Cancer
Thursday, 23 May 2013, 12:49 pm | Pacific Edge Limited
China, with one of the highest incidences of stomach (Gastric) cancer in the world, has granted Pacific Edge Limited (the Company) its patent, ‘Detection of Gastric Cancer’. This patent defines technology that can be used for the diagnosis of gastric ... More >>
National Accounts Manager Appointed For USA
Thursday, 23 May 2013, 12:44 pm | Pacific Edge Limited
Michael Maltby has joined Pacific Edge Diagnostics USA (PEDUSA) as the new Director of National Accounts and Payer Relations. More >>
USP Vice-chancellor’s Contract Renewed
Thursday, 23 May 2013, 12:25 pm | University Of The South Pacific
At its 76th Meeting in Nuku’alofa, Tonga from 15 to 16 May, 2013, the USP Council unanimously agreed to renew the current Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of the South Pacific, Professor Rajesh Chandra’s contract for a further term of ... More >>
Introducing Find Your Midwife
Thursday, 23 May 2013, 12:22 pm | NZ College Of Midwives
Find Your Midwife is a new website service that enables pregnant women to find a midwife with just a few taps on a screen or clicks of a mouse. More >>
NZ ready for healthy drug law
Thursday, 23 May 2013, 12:07 pm | NZ Drug Foundation
The overwhelming result in favour of decriminalisation on last night’s The Vote, shows New Zealand is ready to ditch our outdated drug laws and move to health-focused solutions, the New Zealand Drug Foundation said today. More >>
Waitemata Residents Among the Healthiest In New Zealand
Thursday, 23 May 2013, 10:48 am | Waitemata District Health Board
People living in the Waitemata district are among the healthiest in the country, a new report has found. More >>
Asthma Awareness Week
Thursday, 23 May 2013, 9:16 am | Asthma Foundation
What is 52? In New Zealand at least 52 people will die from asthma this year. More >>
Whānau to Lead Change On Alcohol Policy In Auckland
Wednesday, 22 May 2013, 4:29 pm | Hapai Te Hauora Tapui
Whānau and Māori communities are leading change to address alcohol harm in Auckland starting with an alcohol policy forum on Thursday 23rd May 2013. The forum will give attendees an insight into the Auckland alcohol policy. Community health worker, Hemi ... More >>
Potential Outcome Disappointing For Patients
Wednesday, 22 May 2013, 4:22 pm | Medicines New Zealand
Medicines New Zealand shares patients’ disappointment that they will potentially miss out on a new medicine for a rare blood disorder known as Paroxysmal Nocturnal Heamaturia (PNH). We are however encouraged that for the first time PHARMAC has decided ... More >>
Health Insurer Applauds Angelina Jolie’s Decision
Wednesday, 22 May 2013, 2:36 pm | Accuro Health Insurance
The decision by Angelina Jolie to go public about her double mastectomy surgery has been applauded by health insurer, Accuro. Accuro has praised Angelina Jolie for taking a proactive approach to looking after herself and her family and for setting an example ... More >>
Wheatgrass Saves Boys Life
Wednesday, 22 May 2013, 11:55 am | Wheatgrass NZ Ltd
This month Tony Hodge of Wheatgrass New Zealand wants to tell the world about the wonders of wheatgrass by relating the amazing story of how wheatgrass spray saved a little boy’s life, as told to him by Dr Chris Reynolds, M.B., B.S. who has been ... More >>
Ban Smoking In Public Places, UC Researcher Says
Wednesday, 22 May 2013, 10:56 am | University of Canterbury
A University of Canterbury (UC) health sciences researcher has called for public places such as bus stops, train stations, ferry terminals, streets, urban centres and beaches to be declared smoke-free. More >>
University of Otago receives Grand Challenges Grant
Wednesday, 22 May 2013, 9:27 am | University of Otago
The University of Otago announced today that it is a Grand Challenges Explorations winner, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr Stephen Sowerby, Director of the Applied Science Programme at the University, will pursue an innovative ... More >>
Medical Council Corrects Misconceptions
Wednesday, 22 May 2013, 9:07 am | Medical Council of New Zealand
The Medical Council today corrected misconceptions regarding its role following the review of the Teachers Council. More >>
All Abortions are Violence Against Women
Wednesday, 22 May 2013, 8:55 am | Right To Life
It is disappointing that ALRANZ is using this tragic Gosnell case to promote the decriminalisation of abortion in New Zealand on the grounds that our abortion laws are restrictive. This is absurd as ninety-nine per cent of women who request an abortion ... More >>
Health Professionals Mobilise to Treat Climate Health
Tuesday, 21 May 2013, 5:02 pm | New Zealand Climate and Health Council
OraTaiao: The New Zealand Climate and Health Council has created a way for health professionals to reduce their carbon footprint by growing trees in a dedicated carbon forest in Wellington. More >>
Ex Dental Association President Fronts Fluoridation Tribunal
Tuesday, 21 May 2013, 11:46 am | Fluoride Action Network
Dr Andrew Harms, former president of the South Australian branch of the Australian Dental Association will be joining New Zealand doctors and dentists in a bid to inform Hamilton councillors of the need to stop adding harmful fluoride chemicals to the ... More >>
Autism New Zealand New Chief Executive Dane Dougan
Tuesday, 21 May 2013, 11:29 am | Autism NZ
Dane has worked at the New Zealand Rugby Union as the Provincial Union Support Manager and most recently as general Manager of Softball New Zealand. His experience in membership organisations has given him a heightened understanding of the needs of the member ... More >>
Increased Funding For Diabetes Control Welcomed
Tuesday, 21 May 2013, 10:10 am | Diabetes New Zealand
The New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes and Diabetes New Zealand welcome the increased funding of $48 million for diabetes and other long-term conditions programmes recently announced in the budget. More >>
Announcement of Ministry of Health Chief Advisor
Monday, 20 May 2013, 1:43 pm | Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand
The Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand (the Guild) is pleased to hear of the creation of a pharmacy-focused Chief Advisor at the Ministry of Health, and the appointment of Andi Shirtcliffe into the role. More >>
College of GPs celebrates World Family Doctor Day
Monday, 20 May 2013, 12:07 pm | Royal NZ College of General Practitioners
The fourth World Family Doctor Day was celebrated around the globe on Sunday 19 May, providing an opportunity to recognise the importance of family doctors and the work they do. More >>
Three million calls to Healthline
Monday, 20 May 2013, 11:11 am | Healthline
The free health information and advice phone service Healthline – 0800 611 116 – has just chalked up its three millionth call. More >>
New services for GPs aimed at enhancing rehabilitation
Monday, 20 May 2013, 10:49 am | ACC
An evolution is happening in doctors’ surgeries across New Zealand, aimed at making better use of work-based rehabilitation to help people recover from injuries. More >>
Pacific Peoples Making Progress Despite Increasing Adversity
Monday, 20 May 2013, 9:38 am | Salvation Army
The Salvation Army’s first State of the Nation report on Pasifika people in New Zealand reveals communities making modest progress in the face of great adversity. More >>
Vitamin C does not alleviate gout as previously thought
Friday, 17 May 2013, 4:45 pm | University of Otago
Latest research from the University of Otago, Christchurch, has shown vitamin C does not significantly lower uric acid levels in gout patients, despite previous studies touting its benefit. More >>
What Makes Canterbury Feel All Right? Look At a Bus Shelter!
Friday, 17 May 2013, 4:26 pm | Canterbury District Health Board
Bus shelters across Christchurch are this month promoting the little things people do in our city to feel good. More >>
Pink Ribbon Breakfast 2013
Friday, 17 May 2013, 4:08 pm | Wairarapa Community Centre
The Wairarapa Community Centre is teaming up with Iberia Restaurant in hosting a Pink Ribbon Breakfast from 8am on Friday 31st May to raise money for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation. More >>
Canterbury DHB Welcomes National Patient Safety Campaign
Friday, 17 May 2013, 4:04 pm | Canterbury District Health Board
Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) is committed to its goal of zero harm to patients and pledges support to the Health Quality and Safety Commission (HQSC) for its leadership in announcing its National Patient Safety Campaign today. More >>
Meningococcal Meningitis: A Terrifying Illness
Friday, 17 May 2013, 3:32 pm | Auckland Medical Research Foundation
The Auckland Medical Research Foundation is to hold a free public lecture on a topic of growing interest Meningococcal Meningitis . More >>
Waikato DHB on Board with National Patient Safety Campaign
Friday, 17 May 2013, 2:48 pm | Waikato DHB
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) today (17 May) joins Associate Minister of Health Jo Goodhew and each of the four DHB regions – Northern, Midlands, Central and South Island - to launch a national patient safety campaign aimed at saving lives and reducing ... More >>
Deaf Aotearoa Supports the Use of Video Remote Interpreting
Friday, 17 May 2013, 2:25 pm | Deaf Aotearoa
Deaf Aotearoa believes increased access to frontline services via a new video remote interpreter service will greatly benefit the Deaf community. More >>
New campaign encourages health sector to be Open
Friday, 17 May 2013, 1:06 pm | Health Quality and Safety Commission
A national patient safety campaign focusing on reducing harm in the areas of falls, surgery, healthcare associated infections and medication is being launched in Auckland today. More >>
Waitemata Hits New High in Hand Hygiene
Friday, 17 May 2013, 12:47 pm | Waitemata District Health Board
17 May 2013 Waitemata Hits New High in Hand Hygiene Waitemata District Health Board’s drive for continuous improvement in patient care has seen it hit a new high in hand hygiene compliance. Audit results recently released for the period ending March 31 ... More >>
IDAHO a perfect time to deliver new resource
Friday, 17 May 2013, 10:10 am | Family Planning Association
Family Planning has just released a new resource for young women thinking about their sexual identity. More >>
Cantabrians keen to tackle flu this winter
Friday, 17 May 2013, 10:02 am | Canterbury District Health Board
More Cantabrians are making sure they don’t get influenza this year by getting their flu shot. More >>
UC researches hearing and speaking of ageing population
Friday, 17 May 2013, 9:32 am | University of Canterbury
As the Baby Boomers start to reach retirement age the number of those over 65 is quickly rising. More >>
Health Shortfall Has Serious Implications
Friday, 17 May 2013, 9:23 am | Association of Salaried Medical Specialists
“An estimated $150 million funding shortfall in the health budget has serious implications for public hospital medical specialists, who are already stretched to the limit because of entrenched workforce shortages,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the ... More >>
Workforce training cash surplus should be re-directed
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 8:52 pm | Rural General Practice Network
A $10 million under spend in health workforce training coupled with a $2 million top-up to training announced in the Budget, clearly indicates that more incentives could be put into attracting doctors and nurses to hard to staff rural areas, says ... More >>
China Grants Patent For Detection of Gastric Cancer
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 5:30 pm | Pacific Edge
China, with one of the highest incidences of stomach (Gastric) cancer in the world, has granted Pacific Edge Limited (the Company) its patent, ‘Detection of Gastric Cancer’. This patent defines technology that can be used for the diagnosis of gastric ... More >>
Where Does Budget Leave Innovative Medicines?
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 3:29 pm | Medicines New Zealand
Media Release For Immediate Release Where Does Budget Leave Innovative Medicines? On Tuesday the Australian Government committed AU$691 million Dollars ($832 million NZ) over 5 years for new pharmaceutical investments - a forecast growth of 4.9%. ... More >>
Food Week Targets Young ‘Kitchen Strangers’
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 1:07 pm | NZ Nutrition Foundation
Food Week kicks off for a third year on Monday. The New Zealand Nutrition Foundation’s (NZNF) annual campaign is about building confidence in the kitchen and teaching Kiwis that cooking at home can be affordable and delicious. More >>
Employment and mental health
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 10:15 am | Wise Group
Wondering about work? New tool helps patients and their doctors talk about employment and mental health More >>
Social factors contribute to emergence of coronavirus
Wednesday, 15 May 2013, 4:15 pm | Massey University
A number of social factors make the emergence of viruses such as the new coronavirus more likely to recur a Massey specialist in the spread of infectious diseases says. More >>
Allergy epidemic impacts over one-third of New Zealanders
Wednesday, 15 May 2013, 1:31 pm | Alergy NZ
At least one-third of New Zealander’s health is impacted by allergies and one in ten babies born in New Zealand today will develop a significant allergy related health issue. More >>
Starship Foundation: ‘Bids For Kids’ Auction on Facebook
Wednesday, 15 May 2013, 12:57 pm | Starship Foundation
The Starship Foundation launched ‘Bids for Kids’ today – and it is the first charity in New Zealand to hold a live auction inside of Facebook. Every Monday for the next six weeks people from all over the world will have the opportunity to bid ... More >>
Starship Foundation Announces ‘Bids For Kids' Auction
Wednesday, 15 May 2013, 12:10 pm | Starship Foundation
The Starship Foundation launched ‘Bids for Kids’ today – and it is the first charity in New Zealand to hold a live auction inside of Facebook. More >>
Physios mourn passing of legend
Tuesday, 14 May 2013, 4:55 pm | Physiotherapy New Zealand
The physiotherapy profession is mourning the loss of one of its legends after Robin McKenzie passed away yesterday. More >>
HRV nails allergies with new partnership
Tuesday, 14 May 2013, 3:23 pm | Allergy New Zealand
HRV is pointing the finger at allergies this Allergy Awareness Week – 13th to 19th May – partnering with Allergy New Zealand to help raise awareness for those who live with allergies. More >>
Mother warns parents of the risks of synthetic cannabinoids
Tuesday, 14 May 2013, 1:43 pm | New Zealand Police
A mother dealing with the fallout of having a son addicted to so-called legal highs says many young people are under the false belief that because the items were able to be sold legally, they must be safe. More >>
Te reo Māori now part of online sign language dictionary
Tuesday, 14 May 2013, 12:59 pm | Victoria University of Wellington
Te reo Māori now part of online sign language dictionary Deaf New Zealanders now have access to te reo vocabulary in the Online Dictionary of New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), thanks to Victoria University’s Deaf Studies Research Unit. Dr Rachel McKee, ... More >>
PSS welcomes Government attention to dementia needs
Tuesday, 14 May 2013, 11:43 am | Presbyterian Support
Presbyterian Support is pleased to note that in announcing an additional $70m allocated to aged care and dementia services in its Budget, the Government acknowledges the coming tidal wave of senior citizens. In the next 15 years the number of New Zealanders ... More >>
2013 Asthma Information
Tuesday, 14 May 2013, 11:21 am | Asthma Foundation
Asthma Awareness Week is on the 20-26 May, with Balloon Day, our main fundraising event, on Friday 24 May. New Zealand has some of the highest rates of childhood asthma in the world. One in four New Zealand children has asthma. This is over 296,000 children. More >>
With asthma, sometimes you need to make a fuss!
Tuesday, 14 May 2013, 11:13 am | Asthma Foundation
Asthma Awareness Week, on 20-26 May, aims to raise awareness of the high number of children, particularly Māori children, who are affected by and end up in hospital with asthma. More >>

