Health
Research finds one in ten use opioids three months after surgery
Auckland University researchers says it's alarming that one in ten people continue to use opioids three months after surgery.
They say use of the drugs for that long brings a range of risk factors.
… Audio
Survivors doubt mental health system can step up
People who have suffered acute mental breakdowns fear the health system will not be ready to fill the gap when police withdraw from crisis callouts.
One in 10 still using opioids three months after surgery
The research also highlighted an increasing rate of opioid prescribing among older adults, particularly women and those over 85.
Greater cooperation needed to fight synthetic drugs: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called for greater international cooperation to fight synthetic drugs, like Fentanyl, while Colombia has announced its support for a public health-focused… Audio
'Administrative error' could have delayed building consent for Dunedin Hospital
A square of land barely bigger than a car park briefly threatened to hold up building consent for Dunedin's new hospital, ministerial documents have revealed.
Malnutrition 'reaching unprecedented levels in Gaza' - UN
The main UN aid agency operating in Gaza says that acute malnutrition is accelerating in the north of the Palestinian enclave.
Ali Hill: The Nutrition Edition
Dr Ali Hill from Otago University's Department of Human Nutrition is back. She looks at the different types of salt available and assesses their nutritional benefits. Audio
Add three years to your life by walking just 15,000 steps a week
There has been such a lot of talk about steps in the last decade… but how many should we take for health? Audio
Funding continues for children with cancer, but others left out
Pharmac announced it will continue blanket funding for all child cancer medicines but will not extend the funding to other medicines for children.
Long Covid no worse or more likely than other post-viral syndromes - study
The term "long Covid" should be scrapped, according to Queensland's chief health officer, because it creates unnecessary fear - and is "probably harmful".
Freebirth: Why women are choosing to birth alone
There is a global rise in women choosing to have freebirths - without medical assistance. Why is it happening? Audio
Freebirth: Why women are choosing to birth alone
Concerns about the rising practice of "freebirth" escalated last month, following the death of premature twins in Byron Bay. Freebirthing, also known as unassisted birthing, is when women choose to… Audio
Pacific governments fights sugar with tax
Several Pacific Island governments have brought in taxes on a variety of processed foods. Audio
Much-needed heart sonography course launched at University of Auckland
Until now, students have had to go overseas for training, since the previous course closed down in 2019.
Hōkai Tahi and its role helping families
Rebecca Vergunst was the winner of our Soundbite competition earlier this week, and in speaking with Jesse she also shared a bit about the incredible work she does with Hōkai Tahi. Today we learn… Audio
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.
Disclosure scheme for pharma payments 'falls short of best practice'
Analysis - Growing evidence shows industry payments to doctors play a key role in unethical pharmaceutical marketing. New Zealand's disclosure scheme fails to capture all companies and payment types…
Too many people diagnosed with cancer at ED - specialist
A cancer specialist says the scarcity mentality pervading the government's approach to funding healthcare is contributing to high rates of people being diagnosed with cancer after an emergency… Audio
New study shows impact of rugby on brain disease
A brain researcher says anyone who's experienced repeated head injuries, or knocks, is at risk of developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.
The family of Billy Guyton, a former Blues and… Audio
Dental charity in need of more volunteers to keep up with demand
A dental charity working in some of the motu's poorest communities desperately needs more volunteer dentists to keep up with demand. It's a nationwide problem, but its being acutely felt on the east… Audio