Stories by Rowan Quinn
News
Half of lung cancers not diagnosed until after ED admission
More than half of all lung cancers are not diagnosed until after an emergency department visit - when it is often too late, a new report by the Cancer Control Agency shows.
Pharmacists get all clear to vaccinate children under 5
Approval for the changes has been granted by Pharmac.
Te Whatu Ora slashes number of comms staff
Te Whatu Ora/Health NZ is slashing the number of communication staff it employs - but there will still be 125 of them.
'Not a toy': pigs' airgun injuries shock surgeons
The doctors - who often treat people with chest injuries caused by air rifles - are calling for tighter restrictions on their sale.
Doctors concerned as extra funding for security guards ends
The Health Minister says Health NZ can reprioritise funds now the extra money given as part of the governments 100 day plan has come to an end.
Vaccinators fear for their safety after their names were leaked
A nurse says she will be looking over her shoulder for years after her name was published on a US website.
Covid-19 wastewater levels rise for three weeks in a row
There has been a small sting in the tail of the Covid-19 Christmas wave, with an apparent rise in cases this month.
Thousands of NZ nurses register to work in Australia
More than 9000 New Zealand nurses have registered to work in Australia in the past 10 months - about 12 percent of the active workforce.
Vaccinators feel under threat after data leak
Vaccinators whose names were published on a US website after a Te Whatu Ora data leak are feeling nervous and under threat, says a nurses' union.
Bid to force14 councils to fluoridate heads back to court
The Health Ministry is appealing a High Court decision that found its order forcing 14 councils to fluoridate was unlawful.
Ministry's admission about handling of contracts for firm linked to Henare
The concession is a big shift from six months ago when the Ministry of Health said it was generally satisfied it had followed procedures.
World-first gene editing treatment life changing, patient says
Bev Tanner's entire body used to swell up during attacks from a rare disease. Not any more.
Significant measles outbreak almost certain to happen, public health expert says
"No expert I know says we're going to get through the next outbreak without seeing some tragic deaths of babies," says Otago University epidemiology professor Michael Baker.
60,000 waiting too long to see specialist - nearly double last year
The number of patients facing lengthy waits has doubled in some regions in a year.
Prosecutors want ADHD expert Tony Hanne to never work again
Hanne has been before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal that will decide his punishment for prescribing drugs like ritalin without the required approval of a specialist.
Hospital contingency plans start as Covid wave hits staff
Hospitals are putting contingency plans into action as the latest Covid wave hits staffing numbers.
Medsafe reviewing new versions of Covid-19 vaccine
The organisation said it had accepted applications for the latest updates of the Pfizer and Novovax vaccines which cover the XBB 1.5 strain of Omicron.
Senior doctors renew plea for dedicated ED security
Emergency department doctors at two Auckland hospitals are warning someone could be killed or seriously injured if security is not improved in the face of rising rates of violence and aggression.
Staff at two Auckland hospitals hit panic buttons, called security thousands of times
Violence and abuse by patients and visitors have forced staff at North Shore and Waitākere hospitals to call security or hit panic buttons thousands of times within a seven-month period.
'Very disturbing for patients' - Wait times of up to 18 months for cardiac scans
Patients are regularly having to wait a year and a half for heart scans that could tell them whether they have a serious or life-threatening condition.
'Not good enough' - Doctors give Te Whatu Ora a fail mark for its first year
It is now the biggest employer in the country with 220,000 staff, but many of them say it needs to do better.
Covid-19 royal commission to seek public's views after election
They fear the public engagement stage could get caught up in electioneering if it was held sooner.
Call for extra syphilis test for pregnant women after increase in baby cases
Alarmed public health experts are calling for pregnant women to be tested twice for syphilis as cases in newborns and unborn babies increase.
National Party calls on government to release Māori Health Authority report
National is accusing the government of blocking the release of a report into the performance of the Māori Health Authority/Te Aka Whai Ora.
Police admit forgetting to tell nurse her attacker had been charged
The nurse had accused police of not taking violence against health staff seriously, believing no charges had been laid.