Latest Health Headlines
Christmas Wish For Better Heart Healthcare In New Zealand
Monday, 16 December 2024, 8:35 am | Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand
At Kia Manawanui Trust - The Heart of Aotearoa, we want to improve heart healthcare for those suffering from heart disease. Many New Zealanders are waiting far too long for the care they need, and we would love your help to change that. More >>
Mental Health Bill: 'No Place For Compulsory Care' In New Law, Academic Says
Sunday, 15 December 2024, 9:06 pm | RNZ
The legislation is "completely inconsistent with expert advice and international law and best practice", associate professor says. More >>
Hospital Chaplaincy Aotearoa: A New Name, Same Compassionate Misson
Saturday, 14 December 2024, 11:00 pm | Hospital Chaplaincy Aotearoa
With over 90 chaplains working in 36 hospitals across New Zealand, Hospital Chaplaincy Aotearoa continues its essential role of providing spiritual care that complements medical treatment, enhances well-being, and strengthens the resilience of patients, ... More >>
New Mental Health Act A 'Potentially Wasted Opportunity' - Healthcare Professionals
Friday, 13 December 2024, 6:14 pm | RNZ
A group of mental health professionals say the new bill is just "the old act, with some new lipstick". More >>
Age Concern Wellington Region Highlighting Loneliness As A Major Issue For Many Seniors This Christmas
Friday, 13 December 2024, 5:37 pm | Age Concern Wellington Region
Research shows that isolation can have serious effects on mental and physical health, with seniors being particularly vulnerable. Age Concern is encouraging the community to take proactive steps to address this. More >>
Another 300 Health Roles Face The Axe
Friday, 13 December 2024, 4:51 pm | PSA
"Community and mental health services, and research, clinical trials, population health, whānau voice and innovation are impacted the most by the proposed cuts," says Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Health Lead ... More >>
Legal Advice Tells Health Ministry To Pause Puberty Blockers
Friday, 13 December 2024, 11:42 am | Family First New Zealand
The consent forms in the appendices to the PATHA guidelines also state: “Blockers are a reversible medication used to stop the physical changes of puberty. It can be started in early puberty (Tanner stage 2–3). More >>
Skin Cream To Treat Infections Becomes Fully Funded
Friday, 13 December 2024, 11:15 am | PHARMAC
“We expect about 780 people to benefit from it being fully funded in the first year. This is a small step to help people treat and heal from their skin infections so they can continue with their daily lives.” More >>
The Village NZ Steps Up To Provide Free Antenatal Classes Nationwide
Friday, 13 December 2024, 9:04 am | Village NZ
Following the announcement of the winding down of Parents Centre Aotearoa Trust, The Village NZ, fully funded by the Wright Family Foundation, is addressing the urgent need for accessible antenatal education. More >>
The Government’s Plan Is To Kill General Practice. Ignorance Or Intention?
Friday, 13 December 2024, 8:46 am | General Practitioners Aotearoa
The purpose of the Plan is to “to strengthen the clinical frontline and deliver on the Government’s priorities”. More >>
Over $18 Million In Holidays Act Remediation Payments Made To Health NZ’s Taranaki Staff
Thursday, 12 December 2024, 4:28 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
The money is expected to be in the bank accounts of 2421 staff owed a remediation payment by tomorrow morning. More >>
Hutt Valley/Rotorua/Tauranga NZNO Members To Strike Tomorrow
Thursday, 12 December 2024, 3:41 pm | New Zealand Nurses Organisation
Tauranga delegate Helena Joyce says she is striking because as a nurse she’s witnessed how dangerous understaffing can be. More >>
Kiwi Makes List Of Top 36 Global CEOs To Watch In 2025
Thursday, 12 December 2024, 10:04 am | Calocurb
Kennedy says she is honoured to be included amongst such remarkable people who are all doing their part to solve the world’s biggest health challenges. More >>
Transforming Māori Health: Iwi Partnership Boards Watchdog Role Vital To Driving Equity & Change
Thursday, 12 December 2024, 9:23 am | Te Tiratu
In a time of sweeping health system transformation, the meeting between Te Tiratū and senior government health officials offered a glimpse of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. More >>
NZ Women In Medicine 2024 Workforce Survey Results
Thursday, 12 December 2024, 8:57 am | NZ Women in Medicine
New Zealand doctors are showing high rates of burnout and dissatisfaction with their day-to-day work. Doctors’ experiences of the health system and their suggestions for immediate improvement are consistent across Primary and Secondary Care. More >>
High Assessment Centre Pass Rate A Welcome Boost For Pharmacist Workforce
Wednesday, 11 December 2024, 10:22 pm | Pharmacy Council
The November AC pass rate is almost 80%, which is an excellent result. This means 144 interns are now eligible to apply and register in the pharmacist scope of practice. More >>
NZ’s First Case Of Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu: Need To Strengthen Surveillance And Awareness
Wednesday, 11 December 2024, 7:49 pm | Public Health Communication Centre
“NZ is fortunate to, so far, remain free of the HPAI H5N1 lineage currently sweeping the world. However the current H7 outbreak serves as a timely reminder of the disruption viral emergence events can cause to agriculture, as well as public and animal health,” ... More >>
Urgent Action Called For After Alarming Increases In Methamphetamine And Cocaine Consumption
Wednesday, 11 December 2024, 7:11 pm | NZ Drug Foundation
National Drugs in Wastewater Testing Programme results released by NZ Police today show methamphetamine consumption in the third quarter of 2024 was over double the average quantity consumed per week over the previous year. More >>
Kjesten Wiig Appointed Director Of Malaghan Institute As Graham Le Gros Steps Into New Role
Wednesday, 11 December 2024, 4:36 pm | Malaghan Institute
Chair Sir Paul Collins says the Trust Board is delighted to appoint such a capable and well-respected leader as Director, whose time at the Malaghan has proven her readiness, ambition and vision for the role. More >>
Counties Manukau/Wairarapa/Whanganui NZNO Members To Strike Tomorrow
Wednesday, 11 December 2024, 4:01 pm | New Zealand Nurses Organisation
NZNO members fear Te Whatu Ora’s plans to pause a key component of its safe staffing programme put patient and whānau safety and wellbeing at risk. More >>
Keeping Kiwi Families Healthy: ProCare Continues To Enhance Support For Practices Over The Christmas And Summer Period
Wednesday, 11 December 2024, 11:24 am | ProCare Health
This initiative will see ProCare provide a significant level of funding to support patients in its network of practices to access virtual healthcare via CareHQ at a subsidised cost, allowing patients with a Community Services Card (CSC) to pay just ... More >>
New Research From Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa Exposes Silent Struggle
Wednesday, 11 December 2024, 10:38 am | Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa
While these struggles are familiar in our clinics, the data highlights the depth of the issue and the sexual wellness gap among Kiwi. More >>
Te Whatu Ora’s Workforce Plan Expects Everyone To Settle For Less
Tuesday, 10 December 2024, 6:02 pm | Association of Salaried Medical Specialists
Te Whatu Ora’s 2024 Workforce Plan is laced with political double-speak which cannot mask the fact our health system is being asked to do more with too few resources. More >>
Health Workforce Plan Focused On Cost Not Patient Need
Tuesday, 10 December 2024, 5:58 pm | New Zealand Nurses Organisation
"It is entirely drawn from operating within a constrained funding environment and repeatedly cites workforce planning around ‘living within our means’ and ‘ensuring more sustainable workforce translates to a more financially sustainable system’." More >>
Smoke-free Environments Amendment Act Marks 20 Years
Tuesday, 10 December 2024, 4:11 pm | Ministry of Health
“New Zealanders advocated for this change, and it brought about a fundamental shift where smoking was no longer socially acceptable inside,” says Deputy Director-General Public Health Agency Dr Andrew Old. More >>
Government Should Agree To End Wage Discrimination On Human Rights Day
Tuesday, 10 December 2024, 11:13 am | New Zealand Nurses Organisation
NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says today is Human Rights Day and it’s is a good time for the Government to do the right thing. More >>
Will Patients Accept AI Brain Scans?
Tuesday, 10 December 2024, 11:06 am | University of Auckland
AI-powered MRIs could cut the potentially toxic dyes used in traditional MRIs by up to 80 percent, but will patients embrace AI-driven brain scans? More >>
Smokefree 2025: A Plan Without A Clear Path For Māori And Pacific Communities
Tuesday, 10 December 2024, 10:09 am | Hapai Te Hauora
Jasmine Graham, Māori Public Health - Tobacco Control Manager says, "If we are serious about achieving Smokefree 2025 then we need a detailed plan with actions targeted at Māori and Pacific populations to address the unacceptably high smoking rates ... More >>
Health Experts Push For Change In Vital Lung Disease Test
Tuesday, 10 December 2024, 9:35 am | Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand
About 615,000 people live with asthma (or 1 in 8 New Zealanders) and about 300,000 (or 15% of New Zealanders) live with COPD. More >>
Resident’s Rights Breached By Residential Care Provider And Three Caregivers 20HDC01116
Monday, 9 December 2024, 8:28 pm | Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner
Aged Care Commissioner Carolyn Cooper found two caregivers breached the Code for failing to treat the man with respect | mana and/or provide services of an appropriate standard | tautikanga. More >>
FASD-CAN Welcomes New FASD Awareness Campaign
Monday, 9 December 2024, 4:47 pm | FASD-CAN
FASD-CAN recognises that prevention of FASD is critical for our future generations. We wholeheartedly tautoko the goals of all those who are committed to enabling hapu māmā, their whānau and communities who support them to become FASD-informed. More >>
No Early Christmas Present For Brain Cancer Patients
Monday, 9 December 2024, 4:41 pm | Brain Tumour Support New Zealand
Pharmac’s decision is also at odds with international guidelines. Two sets of guidelines which are closely followed by NZ oncologists, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN, US) and the EANO both list bevacizumab as a recommended treatment for recurrent ... More >>
New Local Alcohol Policy Paves The Way For A Safer, Healthier Tāmaki Makaurau
Monday, 9 December 2024, 4:23 pm | Hapai Te Hauora
Alcohol-related harm is a public health crisis. Longstanding evidence shows that increased availability and accessibility of alcohol leads to increased incidence of alcohol-related harm. More >>
Pharmac Seeks Feedback To Fund Medicines For Liver And Ovarian Cancer
Monday, 9 December 2024, 2:05 pm | PHARMAC
The proposal also includes widening access to another medicine, atezolizumab (branded as Tecentriq), which is used with bevacizumab for liver cancer that cannot be removed by surgery. More >>
New Clinical Trial Launched To Tackle “Elusive” Lobular Breast Cancer
Monday, 9 December 2024, 10:21 am | NZ Breast Cancer Foundation
Lobular breast cancer is the second most common type of breast cancer, with around 450 women diagnosed in New Zealand each year. More >>
Psychiatrist Shortages Putting Compulsory Patients At Risk, Doctor Warns
Monday, 9 December 2024, 9:19 am | RNZ
Gaps in care mean vulnerable patients may be "at increased risk of harming themselves or harming others". More >>
Enhanced Mental Health Services Available Through Trusted Psychologists In Malvern, Australia
Sunday, 8 December 2024, 6:33 pm | PsychologyCare
PsychologyCare, known for its team of experienced psychologists in Malvern, emphasises a personalised approach to therapy. Each client receives tailored treatment plans based on their specific needs, utilising evidence-based practices to ensure the most ... More >>
Are All Sunscreens Created Equal?
Saturday, 7 December 2024, 7:23 pm | RNZ
Which sunscreen offers the best protection? Are more expensive ones better? More >>
$18m Budgeted For HIV Action Plan Safe From Health System Funding Cuts
Friday, 6 December 2024, 9:29 pm | Burnett Foundation Aotearoa
Burnett Foundation Aotearoa Chief Executive Joe Rich says he is thrilled to see the Government backing a community-led response and acknowledging it as a key to the success of the HIV Action Plan. More >>
Cyanobacteria (Blue Green Algae) Health Warning Raised To ‘Extreme Risk’ For Lake Ngā Roto
Friday, 6 December 2024, 7:17 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
The National Public Health Service is urging people to avoid all recreational water activity at Lake Ngā Roto, due to a significant rise in the cyanobacteria (blue green algae) concentration. More >>
End Of An Era As Last Patients Seen At The Princess Margaret Hospital
Friday, 6 December 2024, 4:45 pm | Health New Zealand
Opened in 1959, the building remains a dominant structure at the foot of the Port Hills in Cashmere, sitting amongst parklike grounds. More >>
Cape To Cape Boys Set To Finish In Cape Egmont Tomorrow In Support Of Child Cancer Foundation
Friday, 6 December 2024, 3:03 pm | Child Cancer Foundation
The 17-year-olds set off from the East Cape on the 20th of November and have been travelling by foot, bike and kayak while their Givealittle page racks up critical donations for a cause they hold dear. More >>
Newly-funded Drugs Will Save Lives, Particularly Babies
Friday, 6 December 2024, 2:42 pm | Asthma and Respiratory Foundation
Pharmac has announced that, from January 1 2025, it will fund palivizumab - a medicine that prevents serious illness from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in high-risk babies and young children - as well as a new triple inhaler for people with COPD ... More >>
The Only Nationwide Rainbow Mental Health Service May Shut Its Doors After 50 Years In January
Friday, 6 December 2024, 10:44 am | OutLine Aotearoa
As an organisation, OutLine Aotearoa has 8 full time kaimahi who serve rainbow communities across the entire country. More >>
Breast Cancer Charities Overjoyed By New Drug Funding Decision
Friday, 6 December 2024, 9:31 am | NZ Breast Cancer Foundation
Pharmac has today announced Enhertu (also called trastuzumab deruxtecan or T-DXd) will be publicly funded from 1 January 2025 for people with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer. More >>
Kiwis Living With HIV Need More Support To Meet Govt’s 2030 Elimination Goal - Advocate
Friday, 6 December 2024, 8:45 am | GSK New Zealand
Advocates are also calling for more support for those ageing with HIV with research showing many have concerns around financial security, housing and health care for their unique needs. More >>
Smoke From Fire At Bridge Hill – Public Health Warning
Thursday, 5 December 2024, 7:14 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
Air around this location is smoky and there is potential that people who are sensitive to smoke – such as those with heart or lung conditions, people who are pregnant, young children and the elderly – may experience symptoms like coughing, shortness ... More >>
Health Warning – Algal Bloom In Ashley River/Rakahuri Gorge Bridge
Thursday, 5 December 2024, 5:34 pm | Health New Zealand
There are also other access points along the Ashley River/Rakahuri at the Gorge Bridge that may have benthic cyanobacteria present. People are advised to treat every low-flowing river cautiously, check for the presence of benthic cyanobacteria and avoid contact. More >>
New Zealanders Invited To Help Turn The Page On Cervical Cancer
Thursday, 5 December 2024, 1:23 pm | Cancer Society New Zealand
The campaign calls on Government action with three specific requests to: extend free cervical screening; fully fund an equitable Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy; and urgently increase access to the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. More >>
High Pathogenic Bird Flu Found On Chicken Farm: What You Need To Know
Wednesday, 4 December 2024, 8:29 pm | RNZ
Explainer - Can we still eat NZ eggs? And are our native birds safe? As 80,000 birds are to be killed on an Otago farm, here's what we know so far. More >>
NZVA Myth-buster Returns To Explore Responsible Antibiotic Use In Animals
Wednesday, 4 December 2024, 7:58 pm | New Zealand Veterinary Association
People are encouraged to keep their animals’ vaccinations up-to-date, have good hygiene practices, and ensure top-notch care to help reduce the chance of animals becoming sick and needing antibiotic treatment. More >>
Cyanobacteria Health Warning Issued For Lake Ngā Roto
Wednesday, 4 December 2024, 6:01 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
This new health warning is in addition to those already in place at Lakes Rotoroa (Hamilton Lake), Hakanoa, Waikare, Rotokauri, Whangape and Kainui. More >>
Directions To Fluoridate Water Supplies Reconfirmed Following Director-General Of Health Assessment
Wednesday, 4 December 2024, 2:45 pm | Ministry of Health
On Wednesday, the Director-General, Dr Diana Sarfati, wrote to 14 local authorities confirming she had reconsidered the directions in light of section 11 of the Act and considers that each is a justified limitation on the right. More >>
76% Of Disabled Māori Forced Into Non-Māori Care: Crown’s Bias Exposed At Waitangi Tribunal
Wednesday, 4 December 2024, 9:42 am | Te Kohao Health
The Managing Director of one of Waikato’s largest Whānau Ora partners, PHO and Hauora Māori service provider and employer of 420 staff has offered the Waitangi Tribunal a case study for the whole disability system. More >>
University Of Auckland PhD Students Awarded Scholarships Worth Nearly $500K By Neurological Foundation
Tuesday, 3 December 2024, 4:26 pm | Neurological Foundation
Each scholarship is worth $166,174. This means a total of nearly $500,000 is being injected into pushing vital research forward. The three recipients are: Mikayla Chetty (Alzheimer’s disease); Jean Yu Lim (dementia); and Benjamin Watkin (glioblastoma) More >>
Santas Take Christmas Wish To Parliament
Tuesday, 3 December 2024, 10:07 am | Dunedin City Council
Twenty Santas will visit Parliament today to deliver a Southern Christmas wish-list to Minister of Health Shane Reti. More >>
A Model For Tobacco Control Disinformation
Tuesday, 3 December 2024, 8:24 am | CAPHRA
CAPHRA criticises the political focus of advocacy groups that prioritise ideology over public health. More >>
Opposition To Proposed Changes To Genetically Modified Organisms Regulation
Monday, 2 December 2024, 10:15 pm | NZAMH
Medical Herbalists raise concern about proposed changes to the regulation of genetically modified organisms More >>
Helen Baxter And The Importance Of A Consistent HRT Provider
Monday, 2 December 2024, 8:12 pm | RNZ
Smart, beautiful and confident, Helen was a woman in complete control of her own life, until perimenopause plunged her into depression five years ago. More >>
Consumers’ Rights Under The Code Breached By Massage Therapist 22HDC01056, 22HDC01963, 22HD02711
Monday, 2 December 2024, 7:04 pm | Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner
The three complainants each alleged inappropriate behaviour and communication by the therapist during their sessions when they visited his clinic for massage therapy. All three complainants reported feeling discomfort or a lack of safety because of ... More >>