Ruth Hill
Vaccine hesitancy growing in at-risk communities
A growing number of families living in communities most vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks are refusing to have their children vaccinated. Ruth Hill reporting. Audio
Health experts claim Regulatory Standards Bill will undermine public health system
Health experts claim the ACT Party's red tape-busting Regulatory Standards Bill threatens to harm patients by undermining the public health system. Ruth Hill explains. Audio
Mothers and babies lose beds to ED patients
A leaked memo shows Wellington Hospital is cutting beds from its gynaecology and maternity wards in a trial aimed at making room for patients from the over-crowded Emergency Department. Ruth Hill… Audio
Northland doctors blame colonoscopy wait times on pay cuts
Doctors in Northland are blaming a massive increase in wait times for colonoscopies in the last six months on Health NZ's decision to cut pay rates for locums. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Anorexic teen died alone in motel room
The parents of a transgender teenager who starved to death in a motel room believe the various agencies involved failed to monitor the real threat posed by the 17-year-old's long-standing eating… Audio
Hospice services under threat
Hospices are saving the government millions of dollars a year - but they warn critical services are under threat, with nothing for palliative care providers in the Budget. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Flu and COVID infections rising, GPs already under pressure
ESR data shows flu and COVID infections are on the rise, with a sharp jump in hospitalisations for severe respiratory infections across Auckland in a week. As Ruth Hill reports, GPs warn they're… Audio
Strong winds tear roof off house in Wellington
Strong winds tore the roof of a house in the Wellington suburb of Newlands on Wednesday night. Reporter Ruth Hill spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio
Paediatric palliative care funding left out of Budget
Families of dying children are crushed after yet another Budget has failed to deliver hoped-for funding for paediatric palliative care services. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Health policy expert questions govt's health spending
The Finance Minister Nicola Willis says one in five taxpayer dollars is now going into the health system, with record investment in frontline services. But a leading health policy expert says based on… Audio
Heart patients worse off in Northland than Auckland: Specialist
A leading Northland cardiologist says his patients are much sicker than they would be if they lived in Auckland. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
GPs dissapointed over lack of funding in Budget
Disappointed GPs say the lack of cash for them in the Budget may mean patient fees will have to rise, while the senior doctors union has dubbed it "the departure lounge budget". Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Plenty of interest in health spending in Budget
Health is a perenial issue for governments, and there will be plenty of interest in how Thursday's budget addresses that. Ruth Hill reports on this year's expectations for health. Audio
10,000 NZers may have lost vision to toxoplasmosis
10,000 New Zealanders may have lost vision - sometimes permanently - due to toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by a parasite spread by cats. Otago University researchers estimate 40-thousand people… Audio
Violence 'normalised' in ED departments: Survey
Top emergency department doctors say violence is being normalised in understaffed EDs, forcing experienced staff to quit. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
One in three NZers have high blood pressure: Heart Foundation
One in three New Zealanders over 30 have high blood pressure - but many of them don't even know it. Reporter Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Calls for RSV vaccine to be made available
Child health experts say a vaccine that's available in about 40 other countries could see an 80 percent drop here in the number of babies who end up in hospital with a potentially deadly lung… Audio
Senior doctors to walk off the job over stalled pay talks
About 5000 senior doctors are walking off the job on Thursday for an unprecedented 24-hour strike from 1201am until 1159pm Friday in protest at their stalled pay talks. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Immunisation providers critical of funding shortfalls
Some Māori and Pacific healthcare providers say they're losing money on vital immunisation services for high-need communities due to funding shortfalls. Ruth Hill explains. Audio
Plunket vaccinated fewer than 100 babies in five months
Five months after signing a million-dollar contract to set up its own childhood immunisation service, Whānau Āwhina Plunket has vaccinated fewer than 100 babies. Ruth Hill reports. Audio