Karen Brown
Doctors complain of toxic climate at debt-plagued DHB
Senior doctors in the South Island say the Southern District Health Board's obsession with reducing its deficit has created a toxic atmosphere for staff. Audio
Toxic atmosphere at DHB leads to resignations
A senior doctor at the Southern DHB says tight funding is an unwelcome constant preoccupation for staff. Audio
New Health Minister to take greater aim at obesity
The new Health Minister, Jonathan Coleman, is signalling a higher profile for efforts to combat obesity under his watch. Audio
Wgtn DHB lab-testing plan sparks row with senior doctors
A row has erupted between senior doctors and health chiefs in the lower North Island over a major rejig of vital medical testing services. Audio
Doctors, midwives back cautious paracetamol use if needed
Doctors say the painkiller paracetamol has an excellent safety record and women should not be worried about taking it during pregnancy if they need to. Audio
Union calls for more pay to retain vital cancer workforce
The union representing a small but important group of health workers says more pay is needed to stop them leaving the country. Audio
Nurses grill politicians two days from general election
Nurses grilled politicians today about increasing belt-tightening in health, rising stress and a lack of jobs for graduate nurses. Audio
Researchers aim for world's first rheumatic fever vaccine
A leading medical specialist is confident a vaccine for rheumatic fever will be ready to test on patients within three years. Audio
Beauty therapist who burned client ordered to apologise
A beauty therapist who burned a customer so badly she now has permanent scars on her face has been ordered to apologise and retrain. Audio
Home support workers say proposed agreement urgently needed
The woman leading the fight for better pay for looking after elderly people in their own home can't quite believe what's happened after winning a deal today. Audio
Many New Zealanders say the cost of seeing a GP is steep
With the election just two weeks away, GP fees are emerging as an issue for voters. Audio
Technician took drugs then collapsed in operating theatre
An anaesthetic technician shot up a morphine-like drug in a hospital toilet before going back into the operating theatre where she fell off her stool. Audio
DHB sorry over failure to spot problem before man's death
An elderly man was given palliative care rather than further treatment at Dunedin Hospital because doctors hadn't checked an x-ray and didn't realise what was actually wrong. Audio
GP fees bad for health and the economy - academic
A visiting international expert on health systems says GP fees are bad for people's health and for the economy. Audio
Failures at Whanganui Hospital delay vital cancer diagnosis
The public health watchdog says major failures by the Whanganui District Health Board delayed a patient's cancer diagnosis until it was too late. Audio
Is New Zealand an unequal society?
Radio New Zealand's Education, Health and Economics correspondents consider election policies and inequality Audio
Death rates from cancer much higher this side of Tasman
Medical researchers say cancer survival in this country is lagging far behind Australia, and it's costing hundreds of lives each year. Audio
MS patients relieved over proposal to fund better drugs
Multiple sclerosis patients were stunned today at long-awaited news that Pharmac may soon fund better drug treatments for the disease. Audio
Multiple sclerosis patients set to get better drug choices
Hundreds of patients with multiple sclerosis are set to receive faster access to new drugs that work better than their current ones. Audio
Top health appointment put off until after the election
A long international search for a new head of the Health Ministry is to be further delayed, until after the election. The State Services Commission began advertising for a new Director-General of… Audio