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Latest Health Headlines [Page 3]
Health Warning Lifted At Church Bay/Kaioruru
Wednesday, 26 February 2025, 4:02 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
The latest water testing result shows that faecal bacteria levels in Church Bay/Kaioruru are now below guideline values and the health warning issued on 20/02/2025 has been removed with the water at Church Bay/Kaioruru suitable for recreational use. More >>
Heart Attack And Stroke: Bobby's Recovery Thanks To The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter
Wednesday, 26 February 2025, 3:38 pm | Philips Search and Rescue Trust
As a proud supporter of Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, Bobby never dreamed she’d need a helicopter rescue herself. It would’ve taken more than an hour to get her there by car, and with Bobby in critical danger, any delay would put her in worse danger. More >>
Pharmac Close To Finalising Proposal For More Than One Brand Of Oestradiol Patch
Wednesday, 26 February 2025, 2:34 pm | PHARMAC
Pharmac is in discussions with the suppliers of Estradot and Estradiol TDP Mylan patches and Dr Ngawati says these talks have been progressing well. The oestradiol patches currently in use will continue to be available as Pharmac works through this ... More >>
Mum Needing Essential Heart Scan Faced Life-threatening Delays
Tuesday, 25 February 2025, 7:19 pm | Kia Manawanui Trust The Heart of Aotearoa NZ
Māhina Ngāpō is battling stage three breast cancer and needs an echocardiogram every three months to ensure she can undergo life-saving treatment. More >>
Child Cancer Foundation Calls For Support As High Numbers Of Referrals Roll In
Tuesday, 25 February 2025, 5:07 pm | Child Cancer Foundation
Monica Briggs, Chief Executive of Child Cancer Foundation, says the high number of families needing support over summer highlights the urgent need for continued care and resources. More >>
Health Warning – Algal Bloom In The Ōpihi River At Saleyards Bridge
Tuesday, 25 February 2025, 4:19 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
The warning follows finding moderate to high cover of potentially toxic algae (benthic cyanobacteria) in the Ōpihi River. People should avoid the area and animals, particularly dogs, should not be allowed near the water until the health warning has been lifted. More >>
New Report Shows Existing Approach To Dental Care "Not Fit For Purpose"
Tuesday, 25 February 2025, 12:01 pm | Dental for All
Another theme of the report is that people are making impossible choices because of the high cost of dental, and are forced to go into overdraft or face significant pain because of the failings of the current system. More >>
Youthline’s Overnight Helpline Sees Surge In Demand For High-Risk Support
Tuesday, 25 February 2025, 8:46 am | Youthline
Youthline reports 40% of overnight conversations now involve risk situations, including suicide and abuse. This is a worrying 20% rise compared to the same period last year, highlighting a growing demand for urgent youth mental health and crisis support. More >>
Prime Minister Sends Clear Message: Don’t Bother Training As A GP
Tuesday, 25 February 2025, 8:36 am | General Practitioners Aotearoa
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s comments show his lack of understanding of how the primary care sector works.GP clinics are not a prescription disposal service, nor are they simply a stepping stone to hospital care. More >>
Demand On Who FCTC COP11 To Embrace Consumer Voices Intensifies
Monday, 24 February 2025, 3:47 pm | CAPHRA
Despite documented success in nations regulating safer nicotine products, such as vapes and heated tobacco, the WHO FCTC continues to marginalise consumer advocates and disregard real-world outcomes. More >>
Malaghan CAR T-cell Cancer Therapy Trial Expands To Christchurch And Auckland
Monday, 24 February 2025, 1:21 pm | Malaghan Institute
Clinical Director Dr Robert Weinkove says ‘site activation’ in Christchurch and Auckland marks a significant milestone for the clinical trial, and means more patients can be treated, closer to home. More >>
Researchers Tackle Tragic Lung Cancer Outcomes For Māori
Monday, 24 February 2025, 8:57 am | University of Auckland
Māori are hit hardest by lung cancer, an inequity in the sights of University of Auckland senior lecturer Dr Laird Cameron. More >>
A Cook Strait Swim For Ovarian Cancer
Friday, 21 February 2025, 2:34 pm | Nick Edwards
Nick Edwards wants this swim to raise awareness of an often underreported on, underresearched, and underfunded cancer. More >>
The Two Minute Challenge That Could Save Your Sight
Thursday, 20 February 2025, 7:55 pm | Glaucoma New Zealand
This March, Glaucoma New Zealand (GNZ), are asking Kiwis to invest two minutes of their time to understand a little more about glaucoma by taking their free, easy, two-minute challenge. More >>
Health Warning – Unsafe Recreational Water Quality At Church Bay/Kaioruru
Thursday, 20 February 2025, 6:02 pm | Health New Zealand
“Water quality at affected sites is not considered suitable for recreational uses including swimming because of the risk to health from the bacteria and other pathogens,” says Dr Annabel Begg, Public Health Medicine Specialist for the National Public Health ... More >>
Gaps In Access To Medical Oxygen Causing Widespread Suffering And Death
Thursday, 20 February 2025, 3:42 pm | University of Auckland
A key finding shows global access to medical oxygen is highly inequitable. Five billion people, mostly from low and middle-income countries don’t have access to safe, quality, affordable medical oxygen. More >>
New Guide Launched To Help Navigate Medicinal Cannabis And Workplace Safety
Thursday, 20 February 2025, 8:08 am | NZ Drug Foundation
Sarah Helm, Executive Director of NZ Drug Foundation Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri, says the guide was developed in response to regular requests for advice from employers and employees. More >>
Health Warning Lifted For Algal Bloom In Ashley River/Rakahuri At SH1 & Waikirikiri /Selwyn River At Glentunnel
Wednesday, 19 February 2025, 5:00 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
Environment Canterbury’s monitoring of Ashley River/Rakahuri at SH1 and Waikirikiri /Selwyn River at Glentunnel will continue to the end of this summer and then will resume next summer when there is increased likelihood of cyanobacteria growth. More >>
SPOTS Gay Sex Survey Is Back To Help End HIV Transmission In Aotearoa
Wednesday, 19 February 2025, 4:51 pm | Burnett Foundation Aotearoa
Burnett Foundation Aotearoa Interim General Manager Alex Anderson says that this data is critical to eliminating HIV transmission in Aotearoa by 2030. More >>
Decades-old Nutrition Data Leave NZ In The Dark
Wednesday, 19 February 2025, 4:20 pm | Public Health Communication Centre
Briefing co-author Prof Cliona Ni Mhurchu from the University of Auckland warns that without current data, policymakers, researchers, and the food industry are making critical decisions in the dark. More >>
The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter Completes 534 Life-saving Missions In 2024
Wednesday, 19 February 2025, 1:21 pm | Greenlea Rescue Helicopter
The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was involved in 19 rescue missions last year. More >>
Is Private Healthcare The Answer To Public Funding Woes, Or Making It Worse?
Tuesday, 18 February 2025, 9:45 pm | RNZ
The burgeoning private healthcare industry claims its current building boom will "take pressure off the public system". More >>
Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Report Highlights Need For More CPR Training
Tuesday, 18 February 2025, 8:19 pm | Hato Hone St John
The OHCA report shows that 24 percent of people who suffered a cardiac arrest survived to hospital arrival, while only 11 percent survived 30 days post-event. More >>
Consumer NZ Survey Reveals New Zealanders Face Rising Healthcare Concerns Amid Ongoing Financial Uncertainty
Tuesday, 18 February 2025, 9:26 am | Consumer NZ
Healthcare concerns have risen across all age groups, but older New Zealanders remain most vocal, with 65% of those aged 70 years and over identifying healthcare as a top issue, up from 46% in October 2024 and 41% a year ago. More >>
Auckland Clinical Trial Aims To Make Cancer Drug Safer
Tuesday, 18 February 2025, 8:55 am | University of Auckland
Patients are being recruited for a clinical trial that has a long-term goal of uncovering the reasons the chemotherapy drug, 5-fluorouracil (5FU), causes serious side effects in some patients. More >>
HDC Finds Man With Disabilities Failed By Support Services After Being Assaulted By Flatmate
Monday, 17 February 2025, 9:48 pm | RNZ
The man's mother, who is his welfare guardian, made two complaints to the HDC about care he had received. More >>
Stark Contrast In Smoking Reduction Highlights Implications For Asia Pacific
Monday, 17 February 2025, 2:51 pm | CAPHRA
CAPHRA calls on governments in the region to consider adopting risk-proportionate regulations that facilitate adult access to safer nicotine alternatives while implementing measures to prevent youth uptake. More >>
New Waikato Regional Renal Centre Officially Opens
Monday, 17 February 2025, 11:03 am | Health New Zealand
The new centre has been built to modern standards – achieving a Greenstar 5 rating and is fitted out with the latest clinical technology and equipment. Te Pureoranga – Waikato Regional Renal Centre opened for patients on Monday 6 January 2025. More >>
New Zealand Launches Citizen Referendum To Reassess WHO Membership
Sunday, 16 February 2025, 7:05 pm | WHO KNOWS
This initiative aims to give every Kiwi the opportunity to have their voice heard on a critical issue that impacts the country’s sovereignty, transparency, and health policies. More >>
Te Aho o Te Kahu | Cancer Control Agency thanks outgoing Director-General of Health Dr. Diana Sarfati
Friday, 14 February 2025, 12:58 pm | Cancer Control Agency
As a public health physician and researcher, Dr. Sarfati produced groundbreaking research on how cancer disproportionately affects Māori communities. Her pioneering work informed critical policy decisions and played a central role in establishing ... More >>
Director-General Of Health Dr Diana Sarfati Stepping Down
Friday, 14 February 2025, 12:56 pm | Ministry of Health
‘The challenge of restructuring and unifying an entire health system is not to be underestimated. I want to acknowledge the incredible people who I have worked with across the sector who give their all every day,' says Dr Diana Sarfati. More >>
The Meningitis Foundation Urges University Students To Get Vaccinated This O-Week
Friday, 14 February 2025, 11:15 am | Meningitis Foundation
Although this is a decrease on last year’s cases, The Meningitis Foundation board chairman Gerard Rushton said 15-24 yo remain a high risk group who need protection against this disease through vaccination, & many aren’t aware there are funded ... More >>
New Study Exposes Failure Of Australia’s Vaping Regulations
Friday, 14 February 2025, 8:20 am | CAPHRA
The research, titled "Do the differing vaping and smoking trends in Australia and New Zealand reflect different regulatory policies?" reveals a stark contrast in smoking reduction rates between the two nations. More >>
The Aerocool Rescue Helicopter Completes 568 Life-Saving Missions In 2024, 10% Increase On 2023 Missions
Thursday, 13 February 2025, 7:15 pm | Philips Search and Rescue Trust
Among the months, October was the busiest with the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter crew completing 64 life-saving missions, which is approximately two life-saving missions per day. More >>
Groundbreaking App For Maaori Wellbeing
Thursday, 13 February 2025, 3:31 pm | Te Rau Ora
Te Rau Ora Chief Executive, Riki Nia Nia, describes Ao Maarama as “an interactive mobile app that uses the maramataka and Maaori health frameworks to help build awareness, knowledge, and connection with the rhythms of wellbeing”. More >>
Pharmac To Fund Bevacizumab For Ovarian Cancer
Thursday, 13 February 2025, 2:32 pm | Ovarian Cancer Foundation NZ
Jane Ludemann, founder of OCFNZ, welcomes the decision but says it highlights the broader issue of medicine access in New Zealand. More >>
Cold And Flu Medicine: $100m Wasted And 100m Colds. Expert Says Public Should Be Compensated
Thursday, 13 February 2025, 1:18 pm | BlacklandPR
Lead author of the report, BlacklandPR Director Mark Blackham, says moral panic and activism of a new Government, clouded and pressured the judgement of officials and experts. More >>
A Bitter Pill To Swallow: Class Action Targets Sudafed And Codral’s Ineffective Ingredient
Thursday, 13 February 2025, 11:51 am | JGA Saddler
Popular brands including several varieties of Codral Cold & Flu and Sudafed PE - all owned by Johnson & Johnson - contain phenylephrine (or “PE”), a drug the company has marketed and sold as a nasal decongestant for decades. More >>
Life X DNA Offers Rapid Genetic Methylation Testing For New Zealand Customers
Thursday, 13 February 2025, 8:48 am | Life X DNA
Life X DNA offers a simple cheek-swab test, making it easy for individuals to gain personalised insights without the need for invasive procedures. The company provides genetic methylation tests in Australia and New Zealand, ensuring wider access to ... More >>
Hospital Settlement: ‘Where Has Our Money Gone?’
Monday, 10 February 2025, 9:13 pm | Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter
Kieran McAnulty has urged the Government to front up with details of an out-of-court settlement over the defective Wairarapa Hospital. More >>
Walk To Defeat MND: Taking Steps For Research, Care, And Support
Monday, 10 February 2025, 6:46 pm | Motor Neurone Disease Association NZ
This year, MND NZ is committing the first $100,000 raised to research, ensuring that every step taken contributes to greater understanding and better outcomes for people living with MND. More >>
Health Warning – Algal Bloom In Waiau Uwha River, South Bank Tributary Above Waiau Bridge
Monday, 10 February 2025, 4:32 pm | Health New Zealand
People should avoid the area and animals, particularly dogs, should not be allowed near the water until the health warning has been lifted. More >>
Choosing The Best Turmeric Supplements That Actually Work
Monday, 10 February 2025, 2:34 pm | Golden Turmeric Limited
Most Turmeric Supplements Don’t Work Effectively – Here’s How to Find One That Does Turmeric is everywhere - pills, powders, tonics, and fancy lattes all claiming to supercharge your health. But the reality is most of these turmeric supplements ... More >>
PSA Is Right To Be Worried, Say Digital Health Experts
Monday, 10 February 2025, 2:29 pm | Digital Health Association
DHA chief executive, Ryl Jensen, says the PSA is right to be worried. The risks are very real, and these cuts could ultimately have severe consequences for the country’s health system. More >>
PSA Seeks Privacy Commissioner Investigation Into Reckless Cuts At Health NZ Te Whatu Ora
Monday, 10 February 2025, 6:38 am | PSA
Patient information at risk of privacy breach from deep cuts to IT staff. More >>
Top Health Official Threatens To Override Whangārei Fluoridation Refusal
Saturday, 8 February 2025, 8:53 pm | Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter
It comes as ratepayers face the prospect of almost $5 million in potential extra Whangārei District Council costs after councillors voted against adding fluoridation to the water. More >>
Health Conference Aimed At ‘Lighting A Fire’ For Public Services
Friday, 7 February 2025, 9:21 pm | Diane McCarthy - Local Democracy Reporter
Mayor Victor Luca says the downgrade of specialist services at Whakatāne Hospital's gynaecology and obstetrics department is only the tip of the iceberg. More >>
Margie Apa resigns: 'Impossible task' to lead Health NZ with systematic issues - medical workers
Friday, 7 February 2025, 8:58 pm | RNZ
Health NZ's CEO has resigned, but frontline healthworkers are sceptical that installing new leadership will make any difference to a system grappling with problems. More >>
‘Safe, Effective And Affordable’: New Health Minister Backs Fluoridation Stance
Thursday, 6 February 2025, 9:56 pm | Laura Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
It comes as a Rotorua councillor calls for his intervention with the mandate. More >>
New Report Highlights The Need For Culturally Safe Māori Nursing Ratios
Thursday, 6 February 2025, 12:04 pm | New Zealand Nurses Organisation
The report Kaupapa Māori Culturally Safe Staffing Ratios: Māori nursing leaders’ perspectives was released at Waitangi by NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku. More >>
Nepal Leads The World With Largest Pictorial Health Warnings On All Tobacco Products
Thursday, 6 February 2025, 11:15 am | CNS
The global tobacco treaty (World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control or WHO FCTC) Article 11 calls upon governments to implement strong pictorial health warnings and help save lives from deadly tobacco. WHO FCTC is ratified by ... More >>
'Rich Māori Culture': Rotorua To Host Major Indigenous Health Conference
Wednesday, 5 February 2025, 8:31 pm | Laura Smith - Local Democracy Reporter
Rotorua and Hei Āhuru Mōwai Māori will host the World Indigenous Cancer Conference. More >>
Māori And Pasifika Health Equity A Focus In Arthritis NZ’s $420K Research Grants
Wednesday, 5 February 2025, 6:00 pm | Arthritis New Zealand
“These projects demonstrate our unwavering commitment to improving the lives of all New Zealanders living with arthritis,” says Dr Richard Griffiths, Research Manager at Arthritis NZ. More >>
New Health Minister Simeon Brown Meets Tauranga Practices And Urgent Care Provider
Wednesday, 5 February 2025, 5:41 pm | WBOP PHO
During the visit, Brown underscored the importance of keeping the patient at the centre, stating, “it’s all about the patient”. He emphasised primary healthcare as a key focus, and addressed priorities such as ensuring that New Zealanders have ... More >>
People With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Dismayed At Government’s Response To The Rights Of Disabled People
Wednesday, 5 February 2025, 5:04 pm | FASD-CAN
People living with FASD are currently unable to access Disability Support Services (DSS) unless they have a co-existing intellectual disability, which means less than twenty per cent of those with FASD can access support. More >>
Impact Of Industrial Action To Be Widespread
Wednesday, 5 February 2025, 9:56 am | NZ Pathology
Union members will be on strike on 5 and 7 February, which given the public holiday and weekend will mean extended disruption to a range of pathology services. More >>
Health Warning – Algal Bloom In The Hurunui River At State Highway One (SH1)
Tuesday, 4 February 2025, 6:00 pm | Health New Zealand
The warning follows finding moderate to high cover of potentially toxic algae (benthic cyanobacteria) in the Hurunui River at SH1. More >>
Proposal To Fund A New Oral Contraceptive Pill
Monday, 3 February 2025, 1:41 pm | PHARMAC
Pharmac’s Clinical Lead–Medicines Management, Melissa Copland, says about 43,000 people are expected to benefit from desogestrel in the first full year of funding. Public consultation on the funding proposal is now open and will close on 18 February. More >>
COVID-19 Inquiry To Promote Public Submissions On Key Topics From Today
Monday, 3 February 2025, 11:09 am | Covid 19 Enquiry
A focus for this phase of the Inquiry is reviewing key decisions made by the New Zealand Government regarding certain aspects of the COVID-19 response. More >>
Groundbreaking Study Highlights Mental Health Benefits Of Chiropractic Care
Monday, 3 February 2025, 9:03 am | New Zealand Chiropractors' Association
The study, titled Neuroplastic Responses to Chiropractic Care: Broad Impacts on Pain, Mood, Sleep, and Quality of Life, involved 76 participants with chronic low back pain. More >>
