National Radio Midday Bulletin

National Radio Midday Bulletin

Hepatitis C Compensation - Quality Care Emphasis - - Reform Interference - Wellington Hospital - New Fiji President - Jewish Compensation - Camp David Talks - Rescue Exercise - Matrimonial Property Act - Winz & Student Loans - Varroa Mite

HEPATITIS C COMPENSATION: Hepatitis C victims covered by a group claim look set to reject a Government offer of $40,000 each in compensation. There are about 250 eligible complainants infected by medical misadventure, but 110 group claimnants want $75,000 per person.

- QUALITY CARE EMPHASIS: Health Minister Annette King has promised that health authorities would make an emphasis on quality care after a series of high-profile botch-ups including the situation which resulted in the cervical cancer inquiry.

- REFORM INTERFERENCE: A Wellington pathologist says the country’s new health reforms must not interfere with the countries national cervical screening programme., which he says is a national treasure.

- WELLINGTON HOSPITAL: The quality of care at Wellington Hospital is again under scrutiny at the Coroner’s Court after a death of a 60-year-old man from surgery after he was diagnosed with pneumonia.

- NEW FIJI PRESIDENT: Ratu Josea Iloilo has been sworn in as the new president of Fiji today, with the ceremony witnessed by both the previous president and interim prime minister. George Speight arrived half-way through the ceremony.

- JEWISH COMPENSATION: The New Zealand Jewish Foundation is welcoming German $10 billion international fund for Jews employed in German slave labour camps and victims of war crimes.

- CAMP DAVID TALKS: The US says the Middle East talks at Camp David have intensified within 48 hours of President Clinton leaving the conference.

- RESCUE EXERCISE: The Christchurch police are angry they were not informed of a civil defense emergency involving over 40 skiers trapped by an avalanche which turned out to be an exercise.

- MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY ACT: The first submissions have been heard today about the Matrimonial Property Act which changes the legal relationship between defacto and gay couples. A group of Labour MPs have been pushing for additional wording to the bill which defines “husband”, “wife” and “married couples.”

- WINZ & STUDENT LOANS: A report will be released this afternoon about the widespread problems involved in processing student loans and is expected to blame WINZ, the government department responsible for the changes.

- VARROA MITE: A Canadian bee authority is assuring New Zealand beekeepers that they can survive the Varroa mite, after beekeepers were angered by the Government decision not to eradicate the mite.

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