Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Latest Health Headlines
$6 Million Boost From Government To I Am Hope: Enhancing Youth Mental Health Care In New Zealand
Wednesday, 29 November 2023, 2:27 pm | I am Hope
In a significant development, the New Zealand government has pledged $6 million to New Zealand’s leading youth mental health charity I Am Hope. This investment is a major step in reinforcing the coalition government’s commitment to improving ... More >>
Advance Build Prefab Homes Collaborates With Starship Foundation And Northland Rescue Helicopters To Bolster Support
Wednesday, 29 November 2023, 10:36 am | Advance Build
In a significant move towards community well-being, Advance Build Prefab Homes is pleased to announce its partnership with the Starship Foundation, a staunch supporter of the renowned Starship Children's Hospital, and its silver sponsorship of Northland ... More >>
Stefan Crooks - A Visionary Leader Combating Diabetes And Nurturing Health In Our Communities
Tuesday, 28 November 2023, 3:07 pm | Diabetes New Zealand
In a transformative partnership aimed at raising awareness about the critical importance of reducing sugar consumption, VIBE and Diabetes New Zealand have forged a collaboration. As a key partner to Diabetes NZ, VIBE, under the leadership of Managing Director ... More >>
Tobacco And Vaping Law Changes Show Shocking Lack Of Commitment To Health Of New Zealanders
Tuesday, 28 November 2023, 2:26 pm | Royal NZ College of General Practitioners
Smoking is the largest cause of preventable death and disease in Aotearoa and kills around 5,000 people every year. The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners has joined its health sector colleagues to express disbelief over the announced changes ... More >>
Smokefree Taskforce Challenge Incoming Government's Move To Repeal Key Smokefree Reforms
Tuesday, 28 November 2023, 11:13 am | Hapai Te Hauora
The Smokefree Taskforce, established by the Ministry of Health to guide Aotearoa towards a smokefree future by 2025, is expressing deep concern over the incoming Government's plans to repeal crucial amendments to the Smokefree Environments and ... More >>
Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury Pānui Monday 27 November 2023
Tuesday, 28 November 2023, 9:27 am | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
This week we mark the karakia whakamoemiti (blessing) of Tū Waka-Waipapa – the new public car park located near Christchurch Hospital. We also celebrate the success of a new pilot Wāhine Ora Colposcopy Community Clinic for wāhine Māori and Pacific ... More >>
CEPHRA Calls For Greater Transparencey And Engagement From FCTC Officials
Tuesday, 28 November 2023, 8:48 am | CAPHRA
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) is expressing deep concern over the lack of response and willingness to engage with civil society and consumer advocacy groups by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Framework ... More >>
Don’t Undermine Advances To End Tobacco Harm, Public Health Experts Urge
Monday, 27 November 2023, 2:59 pm | College of Public Health Medicine
‘Rolling back legislation to prevent harm from smoking is a mistake’, says NZCPHM President Sir Collin Tukuitonga. ‘Smoking is the single biggest commercial risk factor for preventable disease and premature death in Aotearoa New Zealand and is ... More >>
Failures In Care By Registered Midwife During Pregnancy And Birth
Monday, 27 November 2023, 1:54 pm | Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner
Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Rose Wall has found a registered midwife breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights (the Code) for her care of a woman during pregnancy and birth. Following a period of labour, ... More >>
Pharmacists Make Dispensing Error In Providing Excess Medication To Woman With Mental Health Difficulties
Monday, 27 November 2023, 1:52 pm | Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner
A registered pharmacist and a pharmacy manager breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights (the Code) by giving a woman the incorrect strength of medication. The woman, who has a history of mental health difficulties, was prescribed ... More >>
Te Whatu Ora Southern Breaches Code For Unacceptable Delays In Care
Monday, 27 November 2023, 1:50 pm | Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner
The Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner has found Te Whatu Ora Southern breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights (the Code) for unacceptable delays in referrals for the treatment of a man’s abscesses. Deborah James found ... More >>
Kiwis At Risk By New Coalition’s Smoking And Vaping Changes
Monday, 27 November 2023, 10:13 am | Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand
The heart and lung health of New Zealanders are at risk if the changes proposed by our new Government go ahead. While the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ welcome news of a ban on all disposable vapes and harsher penalties for those selling to ... More >>
Too Hot To Handle - Meet The Kiwi Firefighters Stripping Down For Men's Mental Health
Monday, 27 November 2023, 9:02 am | The Movember Foundation
Half a decade since its departure, firefighters across New Zealand have set out to satisfy demand for the return of the traditional firefighters calendar. The inaugural Kiwi Firefighters Calendar features 12 former and current serving firefighters from ... More >>
ASH is shocked by new government’s plan to repeal New Zealand’s Smokefree Act
Saturday, 25 November 2023, 1:27 pm | ASH Action For Smokefree 2025
24 November, 2023 ASH is dismayed at the new coalition government’s announcement today that it will repeal the country’s Smokefree laws, removing requirements for denicotinisation and halting a reduction in retail outlets selling tobacco. ASH says ... More >>
Repeal Of Smoke-free Laws - A Massive Set Back For Health
Friday, 24 November 2023, 3:00 pm | Health Coalition Aotearoa
Health Coalition Aotearoa (HCA) is extremely disappointed the new coalition Government plans to repeal world-leading Smoke-free laws, including de-nicotisation of cigarettes, a reduction in retailers and banning cigarettes for the next generation. HCA calls ... More >>
ProCare Announces Winners Of 2023 Quality Awards
Friday, 24 November 2023, 2:20 pm | ProCare Health
Leading healthcare provider, ProCare, announced the winners of its 2023 Quality Awards at its Annual General Meeting last night. These awards recognise the excellence and quality of care that general practice teams provide to improve the health and ... More >>
The Future Of Health Care: Harnessing Digital For Proactive Wellness
Thursday, 23 November 2023, 11:48 am | Manage My Health
Our New Zealand health system stands at a precipice due to funding constraints, nurse and doctor shortages, and the rising cost of medicines. Finding a fix may not be as complicated as some think, thanks to the rapidly evolving potential of making ... More >>
New Research Examines Structural Disadvantage In Rangatahi Māori Mental Wellbeing
Thursday, 23 November 2023, 10:28 am | Growing Up in New Zealand
Research published today by Growing Up in New Zealand has identified patterns of structural disadvantage experienced by rangatahi Māori, and looks at mental wellbeing and cultural connectedness. According to Growing Up in New Zealand ’s Research ... More >>
New Survey Reveals Significant Gender Gap In Cancer Wellbeing
Thursday, 23 November 2023, 9:04 am | Look Good Feel Better
The wellbeing of New Zealand women living with cancer is significantly worse than that of Kiwi men diagnosed with the same life-threatening disease. <img src="https://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/2311/2ca9d5f8879323bb8ab7.jpeg" width="720" height="518"> Look Good Feel Better general ... More >>
AUCKLAND – Fashion Meets Health: Pacific Cervical Screening Retail Pop-up A Great Success
Thursday, 23 November 2023, 1:45 am | Bright Sunday
In the first of its kind, fashion retailers, a gallery, community providers, and a health ministry collaborated on a Cervical Screening pop-up shop. The Hibiscus Room, a private and vibrant temporary space where women could complete the new HPV ... More >>
Ipsos Releases Its Fourth Survey Into How New Zealanders Feel About Mental Health.
Wednesday, 22 November 2023, 3:16 pm | Ipsos
Significantly more New Zealanders now believe that the NZ healthcare system treats mental health as being equally important as physical health, putting New Zealand on par with the global country average. Ipsos has released its fourth report into ... More >>
Asbestos Prosecutions Highlight Room To Improve
Wednesday, 22 November 2023, 11:55 am | WorkSafe NZ
WorkSafe New Zealand says two recent court cases show Aotearoa still has a long way to get asbestos management right. Asbestos remains the country’s number one work-related killer, with about 220 people dying each year from preventable asbestos-related ... More >>
Whānau Ora Lessons In Resilience Celebrated In The Rebuild Back From COVID & Cyclones
Tuesday, 21 November 2023, 5:50 pm | Te Kohao Health
A contingent of Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency partners and up to 250 kaiārahi navigators from across the northern region are gathering in Kirikiriroa for a regional two-day wānanga at Te Whare Maui o Te Kōhao. The partners attending include Te ... More >>
NZMTS: Visiting Medical Team In Tonga Provides Specialist Surgical Support To Vaiola Hospital
Tuesday, 21 November 2023, 5:10 pm | Pasifika Medical Association Group
The Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) recently deployed a Paediatric Surgical Team of specialists to Vaiola Hospital in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, providing specialist surgical support under the New Zealand Medical Treatment Scheme (NZMTS), funded by the Ministry ... More >>
Health Warning – Algal Bloom In Hae Hae Te Moana River At Gorge
Tuesday, 21 November 2023, 4:36 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health has issued a health warning for Hae Hae Te Moana River at Gorge. The warning follows finding moderate to high cover of toxic algae (benthic cyanobacteria) in the Hae Hae Te Moana River. People should avoid ... More >>
New Survey Shows The Need To Remove Barriers To Sexually Transmitted Infection (STIs) Prevention For Women And Girls
Tuesday, 21 November 2023, 8:49 am | Family Planning
A new survey from Family Planning shows that in a health system under pressure, we need to remove barriers for people getting STI tests and information and ensure women and girls are not overlooked in STI prevention initiatives. The survey of over ... More >>
Healthcare Workers In Aotearoa Call For An Immediate Ceasefire In Gaza
Tuesday, 21 November 2023, 1:28 am | Aotearoa Healthcare Workers For Palestine
A letter demanding a ceasefire in Gaza signed by over 1,500 healthcare workers will be presented to the caretaker and incoming governments outside Parliament on Tuesday 21 November at 4:30 pm. Doctors, nurses, dentists, social workers, healthcare assistants, ... More >>
Farewells at Lincoln
Monday, 20 November 2023, 2:48 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
There were a couple of significant farewells last week. The pororporoaki (farewell) for Lincoln Maternity Hospital held on Saturday, 11 November, was attended by many past staff, parents, and people born in the unit; and much-loved Māori Chaplain ... More >>
Telehealth Service Geared At Protecting Hospital Emergency Departments Wins Two Business Awards
Monday, 20 November 2023, 2:19 pm | Emergency Consult
Emergency Consult, and it’s CEO Jenni Falconer, went home winners from Friday night’s Waikato Business Awards gala dinner at Claudelands Event Centre in Hamilton. The telehealth service took out two awards – the business won the Innovation Award ... More >>
Commissioner Initiated Investigation Finds GP And Clinic Breached Code For Actions During COVID-19 Pandemic
Monday, 20 November 2023, 2:13 pm | Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner
Health and Disability Commissioner Morag McDowell today released a report from a Commissioner Initiated Investigation into care delivered by a GP (Dr A) and a clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr A consulted with patients in-person while unvaccinated ... More >>
Te Whatu Ora Breaches Code In Care Of Man With Severe Lung Condition
Monday, 20 November 2023, 2:11 pm | Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner
The Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner has found Waitematā District Health Board DHB (now Te Whatu Ora Waitematā) breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights (the Code) in its care of a man with a severe and progressive ... More >>
World Antimicrobial Awareness Week A Timely Reminder Of Serious Threat
Monday, 20 November 2023, 10:39 am | Veterinary Council Of New Zealand
Within the next 30 years, resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial products is anticipated to kill more people around the world than cancer, according to the World Health Organisation. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top 10 global ... More >>
Record Numbers To Start Specialist GP Training In 2024
Monday, 20 November 2023, 10:08 am | Royal NZ College of General Practitioners
In January 2024, 239 medical graduates will start their three-year training programme to become specialist general practitioners through The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. College President Dr Samantha Murton says, "This is ... More >>
New Zealand’s First Quit Vaping Guidelines For Youth Released
Saturday, 18 November 2023, 3:40 pm | Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand
FRIDAY 17 NOVEMBER The first New Zealand guidelines to support youth to quit vaping have been released at the New Zealand Respiratory Conference in Wellington. ‘ A reference guide: To support rangatahi to quit vaping’ - written and published by ... More >>
NZNO Calls For Gaza Ceasefire And Protection Of Health Workers
Friday, 17 November 2023, 7:25 pm | New Zealand Nurses Organisation
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says it is gravely concerned by the escalating loss of life among health care workers and other civilians in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. NZNO Kaiwhakahaere ... More >>
Superbugs: How You Can Help Fight Back
Friday, 17 November 2023, 10:14 am | New Zealand Food Safety
New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) is fighting back against superbugs – antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – and we need your help. “The World Health Organization has identified AMR as one of the top 10 global health threats facing humanity,” says ... More >>
First Pacific Mental Health And Addictions Service To Open In Hawke’s Bay
Thursday, 16 November 2023, 3:45 pm | Mapu Maia
Hawke’s Bay is set to see its first pacific mental health and addictions service open this week, offering support to devastated communities across the region. The service is run by Mapu Maia, a national Pacific health provider that supported ... More >>
Pharmac Celebrates Pacific Excellence At SunPix Pacific Peoples Awards
Thursday, 16 November 2023, 3:39 pm | PHARMAC
Te Pātaka Whaioranga – Pharmac is honoured to have been able to help celebrate leadership and excellence in Pacific communities at the 2023 SunPix Pacific Peoples Awards in Auckland. This annual event is the largest Pacific people's awards ceremony ... More >>
Asian Alcohol And Drug Survey Shows More Use Than Previously Thought
Thursday, 16 November 2023, 9:36 am | NZ Drug Foundation
Asian Family Services and the New Zealand Drug Foundation Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri are calling for more services that cater to Asian New Zealanders, following the release of a new report (PDF, 1.2 MB) showing higher levels of drug use and harm ... More >>
Public Abuse Causing Mental Health Issues For Contact Centre Staff
Thursday, 16 November 2023, 9:21 am | Customer Contact Network NZ
The abuse of contact centre staff by callers has reached unprecedented levels, threatening both the mental health of workers and potentially future access to personalised customer service, industry body Customer Contact Network New Zealand (CCNNZ) is warning. "If ... More >>
Counsellor Named After Failing To Meet HDC Recommendations
Wednesday, 15 November 2023, 12:25 pm | Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner
The Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) has taken the unusual step of naming an Auckland counsellor who has failed to carry out any of the recommendations made in a June 2022 decision. In that decision Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner ... More >>
Patient COPD Handbook Released For World COPD Day
Wednesday, 15 November 2023, 10:36 am | Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand
A new handbook to help those living with a severe respiratory condition has been released to mark World COPD Day. COPD - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - is an umbrella term for the conditions emphysema, chronic bronchitis and long-standing ... More >>
MR - The Gift That Keeps On Flowing
Tuesday, 14 November 2023, 4:27 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
Recently, a patient, Chris Pickering, donated a water cooler to the Jim Carney Cancer Treatment Centre for patients, whānau and staff to use on the treatment floor. Chris, who used to work for Water4u, thought the patients could benefit from an in-line ... More >>
Tertiary Students Encourage Rural Health Careers In Bay Of Plenty And Hawkes Bay
Tuesday, 14 November 2023, 10:36 am | Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network
In a bid to tackle the severe lack of health professionals in rural communities, two teams of tertiary students are heading to Hawkes Bay, Gisborne, and Bay of Plenty to promote rural health careers to high school students. They are trying to inspire ... More >>
More Than Two In Three People With Diabetes Already Have Complications At Diagnosis
Tuesday, 14 November 2023, 9:07 am | Diabetes Federation
Global research from the International Diabetes Federation reveals that 72% of people living with diabetes only received their diagnosis because they had at least one of the related complications – such as loss of vision, nerve damage or heart disease. More >>
Hundreds Of Thousands Of Kiwis With Diabetes At Risk Of Going Blind Overnight
Tuesday, 14 November 2023, 9:03 am | Diabetes New Zealand
A leading ophthalmologist and medical retina specialist is calling for New Zealanders with diabetes to have regular eye checks to reduce the risk of living with blindness. Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness in New Zealand. According ... More >>
World Diabetes Day 14 November 2023 – Access to Diabetes Care
Monday, 13 November 2023, 5:53 pm | New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes
Issued by the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD) In recognition of World Diabetes Day 2023, Aotearoa New Zealand, led by the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD), joins the global community in raising awareness ... More >>
Raglan and Tūrangi Noho Marae Visits Inspiring Health Students and Rural Rangatahi
Monday, 13 November 2023, 5:43 pm | Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network
Thirty tertiary students from around Aotearoa New Zealand will travel to Raglan and Tūrangi in mid-November for two Noho Marae visits as part of Hauora Taiwhenua’s Rural Health Careers Programme. Noho Marae is a significant aspect of the programme, ... More >>
Shortcomings In Care For Man Undergoing Chemotherapy
Monday, 13 November 2023, 2:11 pm | Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner
The Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Deborah James has issued a number of recommendations to a private outpatient oncology clinic, a registered nurse and an oncologist following their care of a man in his 40s who was having chemotherapy. ... More >>
Failures In Hospital Level Care For Woman With Parkinson’s Disease
Monday, 13 November 2023, 2:08 pm | Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner
Aged Care Commissioner Carolyn Cooper today issued a report finding Remuera Rise Ltd (trading as Remuera Rise Care Home) breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights (the Code) for their care of woman in her sixties living ... More >>
Care Provided By Te Whatu Ora Colonoscopy Services 21HDC00481
Monday, 13 November 2023, 2:06 pm | Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner
This case concerns the care provided by Te Whatu Ora to a woman who requires five-yearly surveillance colonoscopies. The results of a surveillance colonoscopy noted that four polyps were removed, and two biopsies were carried out, all of which were reported ... More >>
Pharmac Calls For Applications For Medicines For Rare Disorders
Monday, 13 November 2023, 11:00 am | PHARMAC
Te Pātaka Whaioranga – Pharmac is calling for applications for medicines to treat rare disorders. These will be considered at the next meeting of the Rare Disorders Advisory Committee meeting in May 2024. “We are encouraging funding applications ... More >>
Tobacco And Vape “Mystery Shopping” Operation Shows Crack-down On Underage Illegal Sales Is Paying Off
Friday, 10 November 2023, 3:50 pm | Northland DHB
A recent Controlled Purchase Operation (CPO) of 20 tobacco and vape retailers throughout the Far North and Whangārei districts shows public health efforts to educate retailers and prevent underage sales are paying off. During the operation, underage trained ... More >>
Health Threat From Vaping Reaches ‘epidemic’ Levels Among Youth - Doctor
Friday, 10 November 2023, 10:07 am | Joint Press Release
Regulators’ attempts to create a smoke-free New Zealand have allowed vaping to emerge as a public health threat which has now reached “epidemic” levels among youth, an anaesthesia conference has been told. Taranaki-based anaesthetist Dr Trent ... More >>
Mental Health And Addictions Initiative Launches In Pharmacies
Friday, 10 November 2023, 9:16 am | Equally Well
Pharmacies act on the campaign to advocate for health equity for people experiencing mental health and addiction challenges. Equally Well Collaborative Aotearoa, a leading advocate for addressing unmet physical health needs of people with lived experience ... More >>
One In Three Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Deaths Linked To Working Outdoors
Thursday, 9 November 2023, 7:02 pm | UN News
Nearly one in every three deaths from nonmelanoma skin cancer is caused by working under the sun, according to a joint report released on Wednesday by the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). Nonmelanoma ... More >>
2022 Maternity Survey Shows Positive Results In Face Of Under-funding And Covid-19
Thursday, 9 November 2023, 1:43 pm | New Zealand College of Midwives
The 2022 Survey of Whānau and Families’ Experience and Perceptions of the Maternity System has shown positive experiences amongst women and whānau accessing maternity care in Aotearoa. The survey, usually carried out every three years, was last published ... More >>
United Nations And World Health Organisation Pandemic Treaties And Their Effect On Human Rights
Tuesday, 7 November 2023, 5:25 pm | Keri Molloy
December 1 deadline looms New Zealanders are raising real concerns about the World Health Organization’s (WHO) bid for global control of future outbreaks of an infectious pathogen it considers a potential health risk. A group of concerned citizens is drawing ... More >>
More Opportunities To Donate Blood In The Auckland And Northland Regions
Tuesday, 7 November 2023, 3:36 pm | New Zealand Blood Service
New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) has added a second mobile blood drive team to service more communities in the Auckland and Northland regions. It comes as the demand for blood has been increasing by four percent every year and is forecast to keep growing. ... More >>
Drug Foundation Urges Public To Check Drugs As Highly Potent Opioid Spreads
Saturday, 4 November 2023, 3:03 pm | NZ Drug Foundation
A group of powerful synthetic opioids that were first detected in the country just a year ago may have already been linked to several deaths. A notification released by High Alert late yesterday is just the latest in a series of warnings about nitazenes, ... More >>
