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Latest Health Headlines [Page 4]
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 >>
Man’s Rights Breached Under The Code For Prescription Error 22HDC00897
Monday, 2 December 2024, 7:02 pm | Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner
Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Deborah James found the supervising pharmacist breached the Code for failing to provide services of an appropriate standard | tautikanga. The breach covered several failings. More >>
Woman’s Rights Under The Code Breached During And After Labour And Birth 20HDC01761
Monday, 2 December 2024, 7:00 pm | Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner Rose Wall found the registered midwife breached Right 4(1) of the Code for failing to provide the woman with a reasonable standard of care. More >>
Health Warning – Algal Bloom In Lake Pegasus
Monday, 2 December 2024, 6:41 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
People should avoid the Lake and animals, particularly dogs, should not be allowed near the water until the health warning has been lifted. More >>
Bird Flu Found On Egg Farm In Otago – Expert Reaction
Monday, 2 December 2024, 6:28 pm | Science Media Centre
A ‘high pathogenic’ type of bird flu was confirmed in an Otago egg farm over the weekend. More >>
My Sore Throat – Demystifying Medical Laboratory Science For Children
Monday, 2 December 2024, 4:33 pm | Manu Scripts
My Sore Throat is a charming children's book, with a poetic narrative that follows Small Bear as he gets poorly with a sore throat and visits the doctor for a throat swab. More >>
Brain-damaging Pesticide Has To Go!
Monday, 2 December 2024, 9:43 am | Safe Food Campaign
The Safe Food Campaign presented a petition to parliament in February 2023, asking for the insecticide to be banned and to use a provision in the HSNO Act for an immediate ban while the insecticide is being reassessed. More >>
Full Force Of Volunteers Needed To Fight Heart Disease: Become A Big Heart Appeal Street Collector
Saturday, 30 November 2024, 10:46 pm | The Heart Foundation
The Heart Foundation is calling on New Zealanders to gift a couple of hours of their time on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 February 2025 by volunteering as a Big Heart Appeal street collector and raising funds for heart research. More >>
Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge Joins Child Cancer Foundation Board
Friday, 29 November 2024, 9:12 pm | Child Cancer Foundation
Personally moved by the stories and families he has met through Crusaders’ fundraising efforts for Child Cancer Foundation, Colin decided it was time to raise a hand and contribute his depth of skill and expertise to the charity at their recently held ... More >>
Genspect NZ Welcomes The Long-Awaited Evidence Brief On Puberty Blockers
Friday, 29 November 2024, 12:01 pm | Genspect NZ
‘There must be accountability. For too long the Ministry and Health NZ have relied on supposed experts from PATHA who have pushed medical interventions and unsupported claims. The Ministry has finally taken steps to restore scientific integrity over ... More >>
Learning From NZ’s Response To Covid-19 – Expert Reaction
Friday, 29 November 2024, 11:53 am | Science Media Centre
The over 700-page report was delivered to the Internal Affairs Minister and made publicly available this afternoon (28 Nov 2024). The report lists 39 recommendations to the government and its agencies, saying these recommendations should be “considered ... More >>
Whau Foundation To Help Meet Rising Need For Mental Health Research
Friday, 29 November 2024, 9:20 am | Whau Foundation
Over the past 57 years the Whau Mental Health Research Foundation, previously known as the Oakley Mental Health Research Foundation, has invested around $2.5 million in almost 200 research projects addressing a wide range of mental health issues in ... More >>
Free Surgery Days Change The Lives Of 71 Waikato People - A Record Outcome For Waikato Trust
Thursday, 28 November 2024, 9:43 pm | Braemar Hospital
The success of this programme has been thanks to the many surgeons and anaesthetists who have freely given their expertise and time, Braemar Hospital staff who have volunteered or worked on a Saturday, and other volunteer supporters including four current and ... More >>
Emerging Researchers Seek Answers To Pressing Infectious Diseases Issues
Thursday, 28 November 2024, 9:23 pm | Te Niwha
This year Te Niwha has awarded Scholarships to seven researchers to enable them to undertake postgraduate study in vital infectious diseases-related research. More >>
Impactful 20 Years For Employment Support
Thursday, 28 November 2024, 9:16 pm | Workwise
This milestone marks the 20-year anniversary of one of the first formal integrations of IPS employment support in Aotearoa New Zealand. The collaboration has come a long way since the service was first piloted in 2004. More >>
Marae-based Health Researcher Receives Medal For Transformative Work In Māori Communities
Thursday, 28 November 2024, 8:46 pm | Health Research Council Of New Zealand
HRC Chief Executive Professor Sunny Collings says Cheryl Davies and Tu Kotahi’s research has led to tangible health gains through the delivery of effective and timely health services. More >>
Groundbreaking EIT Teenage Vaping Research Set To Give Insight Into Scope And Triggers Of Problem In Hawke’s Bay
Thursday, 28 November 2024, 8:07 pm | EIT
The project is being funded by EIT (Research Innovation Centre), the Health Research Foundation Hawke’s Bay and the Health Research Council. The team has surveyed more than 2000 students – both vapers and non-vapers – in Hawke’s Bay about the ... More >>
Update On Oestradiol Patches Supply Issues
Thursday, 28 November 2024, 5:00 pm | PHARMAC
“It’s been very challenging to get an ongoing supply of oestradiol in the midst of a global shortage and we’re hoping that the combination of the oestradiol gel and the new patches will solve the shortages here in New Zealand.” More >>
Cuts To Māori And Pasifika Health Services Will Harm Communities
Thursday, 28 November 2024, 4:14 pm | PSA
The proposals to cut 246 roles comes as Health NZ undertakes major change following a government directive to cut health budgets. Just this week, this has already seen the potential loss of more than 1500 health roles, some of which have remained vacant. More >>
Organ Donation Recipients Express Gratitude On Thank You Day
Thursday, 28 November 2024, 3:08 pm | Organ Donation NZ
One organ and tissue donor has the potential to transform the lives of up to ten others, and sometimes more, so this simple act of communication can have a profound impact, Clinical Director at ODNZ Dr Joanne Ritchie says. More >>
Fertility NZ Research Shows Māori And Pacific People Face Barriers To Treatment
Thursday, 28 November 2024, 1:21 pm | Fertility NZ
The study shows that the cultural expectations of having children, areas of silence around Māori and Pacific sexuality and reproduction, and feelings of whakamā (shame), mean that people facing fertility challenges can feel isolated and unsupported on ... More >>
Radioactive Waste Storage In NZ – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 27 November 2024, 5:22 pm | Science Media Centre
The Ministry of Health redesignated a section of Defence Force land for the facility, which became operational earlier this year. The facility stores low-level and intermediate-level waste from agricultural, research, education, and health sectors. More >>
Health Warning – Algal Bloom In Lake Forsyth/Te Roto O Wairewa
Wednesday, 27 November 2024, 5:10 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
People should avoid the Lake and animals, particularly dogs, should not be allowed near the water until the health warning has been lifted. More >>
DHA Responds To Latest Health NZ Cuts: More Health New Zealand Funding Cuts Could Cripple The Health System
Wednesday, 27 November 2024, 3:23 pm | Digital Health Association
DHA chief executive Ryl Jensen expressed significant concern following today’s announcement of 1,120 redundancies within Health New Zealand’s data and digital teams—representing 47 per cent of its workforce. More >>
National Prevention Service Cuts - A Body-Blow To Health
Wednesday, 27 November 2024, 2:01 pm | Health Coalition Aotearoa
"It’s just one body blow after another for the dedicated professionals who have worked tirelessly to keep our population safe and healthy," Health Coalition Aotearoa (HCA) co-chair Professor Boyd Swinburn said. More >>
