Podcasts about health nz

More than 11 years after the deaths of two patients at Palmerston North Hospital's mental health ward triggered damning reviews into the facility, a replacement has been opened. But the families of Erica Hume and Shaun Gray who died in 2014, and families of patients who have died since, were absent at the official ceremony today. Health NZ says they'll get a chance to look through the new ward and has apologised if they wanted to attend the opening. A warning, this report from Jimmy Ellingham mentions suicide.

6000 senior doctors and dentists have today walked off the job, in a 48-hour strike that began at midnight. Union members are taking part in protests across the motu as drawn-out collective agreement negotiations stall. Health Minister Simeon Brown has criticised the strike action, which Health NZ says will affect thousands of patients. It's now taking unprecedented legal action to end the industrial dispute, but the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists says government officials aren't coming to the negotiating table with any meaningful offers. Jessica Hopkins reports.

Here's some things we can do to help the economy through jobs. Firstly, compulsory arbitration. I'm sick and tired of teachers and nurses and doctors striking. The current strike this week by doctors, they claim, has been a result of more than a year of negotiation. Surely at some point —and Health NZ have finally pulled the trigger— it becomes apparent that two sides aren't going to cut a deal, and some heads need to be banged together. So, Health NZ have asked for arbitration. A simple law that is time-lined would save the hassle. Whether it's time, or meetings, offers and counteroffers, it doesn't matter. Give it your best shot – if it doesn't work, let a mediator do the business and make it binding. Secondly, the migration pathways announced yesterday. It seems to have taken an age to realise that the simple truth, rightly or wrongly, for this country is we need a shed load of people. Yesterday's settings were hardly for rocket scientists. But that's the sad truth about our economy – a lot of the issues around jobs are the bread and butter of daily life. The Chocolate Fish Café in Wellington has written to the Minister. They need a pathway for people to work in hospitality. Should they? No. Should jobless be keen to fill the gaps? Of course. But that's our lot – a bunch of lazy people more interested in skiving than working. So migration is the answer. They took an age on foreign houses as well, but we got there. I'm big on immigration. People bring skills and culture, and they generally work hard, they earn money and pay taxes. There is growth in numbers. The other truth for now we can't ignore is that too many really good New Zealanders have bailed. We need a skill and talent reset. The world is a competition. Everywhere is a landing spot. The previous Government made us a place to leave. The current lot may change that. I pray they do, but for now talent is still an issue and good people are still hard to find. The 'here and now' answer is immigration. Find those that like the look of us and make them a deal. Residency is a deal. Yes, some may go to Australia, so Peters is technically correct. But if we are good some may not, so we win. We need all levers, all ideas, more productivity, more pace, less mucking around, fewer strikes, more attitude, more determination, more deals and more pathways. It's not hard. You just have to want to do it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of senior doctors are on strike until midnight, after walking off the job yesterday. Their long-running pay dispute with Heath New Zealand continues, with doctors saying the latest offer represents a ‘real pay cut’ when recruitment and retention is critical. Meanwhile, Health Minister Simeon Brown claims they’re putting pay and politics ahead of patients, after thousands of elective procedures and appointments have been postponed. So, what will end this cycle of disputes and strikes? And how do we fix our health system that’s been in crisis for decades? Today on The Front Page, ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton is with us to break down the latest in talks, and what we can do in future. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The senior doctor's union is criticising Health New Zealand's decision to call in the Employment Relations Authority to sort out pay talks. Around 6000 doctors and dentists are walking off the job nationwide tomorrow and Wednesday. The ERA's been requested to fix the terms and conditions of a collective agreement - in a move unprecedented for the public sector. Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive Director Sarah Dalton says they've done some work with the ERA in the past. "We were not happy with the way the ERA authority members applied themselves to the task, and we didn't find them to take an independent view." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Negotiations between Health New Zealand and senior hospital doctors have hit a wall - Health NZ has asked the Employment Relations Authority to come up with a settlement. Health NZ's acting chief executive Richard Sullivan spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

In today's episode, in a blow for the Government, the economy has had a much larger slump than expected which the Finance Minister's blaming in part on Donald Trump's trade tariffs, negotiations between Health New Zealand and senior hospital doctors have hit a wall - Health NZ has asked the Employment Relations Authority to come up with a settlement, Contact Energy says it's seeking fast-track approval to adjust Lake Hawea's minimum operating level in a bid to help generate more renewable energy and keep the region's power supply reliable, we're joined by our sports panel - One News Sports Editor Abby Wilson and former All Black captain Taine Randell, and we cross the ditch to Canberra to talk to our correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh.

Negotiations between senior doctors and the Government have broken down. They've rejected a $160 million offer and are set to strike for 48 hours next week. The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists had put a proposal which would have cost about $300 million. Executive Director Sarah Dalton told Mike Hosking doctors are playing catch up. She says doctors haven't had pay increases lower than inflation since the pandemic. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data shows hospitals were, on average, 587 nurses short every shift last year. A Nurses Organisation Infometrics report analysed Te Whatu Ora data from 1.69 million shifts from 2022 to 2024 in 59 public hospitals. Last year saw a slight improvement on 2023, when the shortage averaged 684 nurses per shift. Former Health New Zealand Chair Rob Campbell told Mike Hosking it confirms that issues facing the health system are dire. He says nurses have had to face people telling them they're wrong about the issues, but now it's clear they aren't. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health NZ is considering whether to backtrack on a new policy to allow nearly every hospital patient to have a support person stay overnight. Morning Report has heard plenty on the issue, and Rowan Quinn caught up with some of those who've been in touch.

Relief from the nurses union over Health New Zealand's decision to review a hospital visitor hours expansion. The agency was intending to introduce a policy allowing nominated family members to support patients in hospital 24/7, outside visiting hours. It will now review this following feedback. Healthcare Assistant and Nurses Organisation delegate Al Dietschin says there are no restrictive policies around family support currently. "While it's good to have family support, we shouldn't be doing it at the expense of a shortage of HCAs." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! What do we make of Health NZ's new proposed 24/7 visitor policy? No one seems to be a fan of it - is it a terrible idea? The All Blacks got thoroughly trounced over the weekend and suffered a historic defeat to the Springboks in Wellington. Are some new changes needed? Does the team need a new captain - or new coach? The Government has launched an inquiry into Eden Park - and whether current rules are holding the venue back from reaching its full potential. Do we think this is the way to go? Can we do anything about the e-scooters? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 15 September 2025, Health NZ is backtracking its 24/7 visitor policy after a huge backlash. Al Dietschin from the nurses union is welcoming the review. Looks like Eden Park could start to host even more events in the future. The Government has launched a review into the current consenting rules. Anglican Vicar Mel McKenzie explains why she has chained herself to Nicola Willis' electorate office. Plus, the Huddle debates whether coach or captain should be blamed for the All Blacks' miserable loss. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If the amount of money spent on ACC claims over the past five years for e-scooter injuries doesn't convince you that tighter laws are needed, I don't know what will. And if the amount of money spent on ACC claims over the past five years for e-scooter injuries doesn't convince you that NZTA made a big mistake deciding not to make e-scooters subject to the road rules - again, I don't know what will. The figure relates to injuries all over New Zealand. But it appears that us lot in Canterbury have copped it the worst. Or maybe we're the most reckless. The flatness of the place probably has something to do with it. Because, Christchurch especially, is brilliant for riding anything. Which is maybe why new data out today shows that, in the past five years, there have been more e-scooter injury claims in Canterbury than anywhere else in the country. Here, there have been 1,761 ACC claims lodged by Health NZ. Compared to 1,378 in Auckland, which has way more people - they've had claims. The $55.6 million in claims between September 2020 and now has the AA saying - again - that there aren't enough rules around e-scooters. Saying it's crazy, for example, that it isn't illegal to ride an e-scooter drunk. And it wants alcohol restrictions for e-scooter riders. No argument from me on that one. It is crazy. The AA also thinks it's crazy that there's no age limit and no mandatory helmets. No argument from me on both of those, either. But it's going to be very tricky to do anything about any of those things as long as e-scooters aren't considered or treated as vehicles. Which is the big mistake NZTA made, when it gave e-scooters this dispensation. Just so the private e-scooter operators could get their way and operate without any consideration for the road rules. No licence required; no obligation to follow the same rules as other road users; no previous experience required; no helmet required. There's not even a speed limit enforced. Plus, you can ride anywhere and everywhere. The other thing about this $55.6 million in ACC claims, is that e-scooter owners and e-scooter companies don't pay ACC levies. People bang on all the time about people coming here from overseas and getting free ACC cover - the reason being that you can't sue in this country and so we have to provide cover for people from overseas. The exact same thing is happening with e-scooter users. Private owners and people who use the hire scooters get free ACC cover. which, over the past five years, has cost us $55.6 million in claims. The AA says time's up and tougher rules are needed. I'm saying that isn't going to happen until we classify e-scooters vehicles. That's the nub of the problem and that's what needs to change. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health NZ is planning to remove restrictions on visiting hours at hospitals. The change would allow family members to visit patients at any hour of the day, a move that has led to mixed responses. Health NZ National Chief Nurse Nadine Gray told Kerre Woodham that the change is part of a patient support policy. ‘It's part of the code of patients' rights to have support.' LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health officials have outlined the dire state of Wellington Hospital's overcrowded emergency department as reports show a third of patients are being treated in corridors. The information was revealed in a detailed business case for the refurbishment of the ED, published by Health New Zealand, which said the ED was 'clinically and culturally unsafe'. Health NZ's Jamie Duncan says the staff working in those areas are required to stay vigilant and keep an eye on people. "They're always taking observations as well and that's standard practice and standard care that you'd expect in any emergency department." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The senior doctors' union says the Health Minister's proposal of arbitration, would've taken away their members right to decide. Simeon Brown wanted Health NZ and the union to let a third party decide the terms of the contract. The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists rejected this and called his proposal a breach of employment law. Executive Director Sarah Dalton told Heather du Plessis Allan that there were a lot of unknowns around the proposal. She says the minister signalled they didn't see the pot of money as being any different and that's a situation they didn't want to enter into. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Health Minister has written to Health New Zealand and the senior doctors' union calling on them to urgently enter binding arbitration. Health Minister Simeon Brown spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Health Minister wants the senior doctors' union to put patients first and enter binding arbitration. Simeon Brown has given Health NZ and the union until 4pm today to respond to his urgent request to let a third party decide the terms of the contract. Health NZ's agreed to participate in an effort to resolve 12 months of collective agreement negotiations. Brown told Mike Hosking he's doing what he can to find a way forward. He's trying to persuade both parties to come to the table and agree to the process, which is in the best interest of patients. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Tired, sick and absolutely devastated by a system that is not allowing us to do our jobs." That from one of the 36,000 nurses on strike today - as the lengthy negotiations between Health NZ and the Nurses Organisation stall once again. Nurses picketed outside Minister of Health Simeon Brown's Auckland office, and at the Wellington Hospital. Health NZ says the strike has disrupted more than 13,000 surgeries and appointments. Felix Walton has more.

More than 36-thousand Nurses' Organisation members nationwide went on strike yesterday, and they will walk off the job again tomorrow. Health New Zealand says the action could disrupt treatment, services and care over the entire week - especially for patients with non-urgent needs. It’s while the Health Minister, Simeon Brown, has criticised the strikes – saying they’ll disrupt more than 13,000 surgeries and appointments. All this, after a year of deadlocked negotiations between the union and Health NZ. Today on The Front Page, union delegate and health care assistant at Christchurch Hospital, Al Dietschin will tell us what it’s like on the ground, and at the picket line. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thirty-six-thousand nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants have walked off the job on Tuesday morning, as they strike for better staffing levels. Health NZ chief clinical officer Dr Richard Sullivan spoke to Corin Dann.

A leaked document reveals Health NZ is planning to employ more graduate nurses on part-time hours and cut the amount of on-the-job training they receive. Ruth Hill reports.

Health New Zealand will not say how much it's paying private hospitals to carry out elective surgeries under a new national contract. Investigative reporter Anusha Bradley spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Auckland emergency department nurses say this winter is the busiest they've seen. Health NZ Northern acting deputy chief executive Dr Vanessa Thornton spoke to Corin Dann.

Questions to Ministers Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Minister for Pacific Peoples: Does he stand by his statement, "We absolutely have endeavours to get Pasifika people into employment"; if so, why? TEANAU TUIONO to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Does he agree with the Prime Minister that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has "lost the plot"; if so, why? CATHERINE WEDD to the Minister of Finance: What reports has she seen on COVID-19 and the economy? Hon KIERAN McANULTY to the Minister of Housing: How many social houses funded in the 2024 and 2025 Budgets have been built? SCOTT WILLIS to the Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology: How many jobs, if any, have been lost in the science sector since the formation of this Government? SAM UFFINDELL to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has he made about health infrastructure? CAMILLA BELICH to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Will she formally consider the report to be published by the People's Select Committee on Pay Equity next January; if not, why not? Dr HAMISH CAMPBELL to the Minister for Mental Health: What recent announcements has he made in relation to a promotion campaign for better mental wellbeing for New Zealanders? ARENA WILLIAMS to the Acting Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (Grocery Sector): Does she agree with Nicola Willis, who said in 2023 that "National will take action to get food prices under control once more"; if so, why are food prices still going up under her watch? Dr DAVID WILSON to the Minister for Resources: What recent reports has he seen on the New Zealand resources sector? TIM VAN DE MOLEN to the Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing: What is the Government doing to support small businesses? LEMAUGA LYDIA SOSENE to the Minister of Internal Affairs: Does she stand by her statement that online casino-type gaming providers should not have to make community returns because that would create "a perverse incentive to increase gambling activity in order to increase revenue for these organisations"; if not, why not? Question to Member INGRID LEARY to the Chairperson of the Health Committee: Were any items of business relating to Health NZ removed from the Health Committee agenda this week after the agenda was originally distributed and before the meeting took place; if so, what were they?

Intravenous drug users are demanding a say in the future of the South Island's needle exchange services, warning health leaders are gambling with their lives. In seven weeks, needle exchange programme DISC Trust will hand over its long-standing contract, which provides sterile drug injecting equipment at six sites around the South Island. Health NZ's chosen new provider still hasn't revealed how or where it plans to run the service. Katie Todd reports.

Health New Zealand is apologising after significant failings led to two murders in Canterbury. An urgent Ministry review was ordered after an on-leave Hillmorton Hospital in-patient killed Laisa Tunidau as she walked home from work in 2022. During the review - a patient gardening for 83-year-old Frances 'Faye' Phelps, killed her in her home. Health NZ National Director for Mental Health and Addictions Phil Grady says they accept the failings identified in the report. "There is an international challenge in recruiting mental health staff, they are the key engine for operating mental health services. We're focusing really hard on the country, but also on Canterbury." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health NZ has acknowledged the pile of work needed on heart health. Research by advocacy group Kia Manawanui Trust shows half of all heart attack patients aren't seen within internationally accepted timeframes. It also finds New Zealand has a third of the cardiologists it needs. Health NZ chief clinical officer, Dr Richard Sullivan, says it's much broader than cardiologists - and the whole sector needs help. "We need more echo technicians, we 're working hard to do that. We need more cardiac physiologists, we need more nurse practitioners and advanced nurse specialists - we need the workforce." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of nurses have swapped scrubs for the picket line today as they walked off the job for 24 hours. 36,000 nurses, healthcare assistants and Kaimahi Hauora are on strike until 9am tomorrow. The walk out follows stalled pay talks and concerns about safe staffing levels. Health NZ chief executive Dr Dale Bramley spoke to Lisa Owen.

36,000 nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants are on strike for 24 hours over what they say is Health NZ's refusal to staff hospitals at safe levels. One emergency department nurse described the conditions as the worst she's seen in 30 years. Health Minister Simeon Brown insists the pay offer on the table is fair and accuses the union of hurting thousands of patients with its hard-line tactics. Ruth Hill reports.

Thirty-six thousand nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants across the country are walking off the job on Wednesday for 24 hours. Health New Zealand acting chief clinical officer Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard spoke to Corin Dann.

Nearly 4,500 patients are having procedures or specialist appointments postponed due to the nationwide strike by nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants, which kicks off at 9am on Wednesday morning according to Health NZ. Ruth Hill reports.

Thirty-six thousand workers from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation are walking off the job on Wednesday, after talks with Health NZ broke down this week. RNZ health correspondent Ruth Hill spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 29 July 2025, 36,000 nurses are set to go on strike tomorrow. Health NZ's Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard tells Heather the impact on elective surgeries is huge as thousands will have their operations delayed. NZ business legend Sir Michael Hill has passed away. Chair of Michael Hill, Rob Fyfe, tells Heather about the huge legacy he leaves behind, and why setting goals was the most important lesson from Sir Michael's success story. A High Court judge has ordered Oranga Tamariki to pay $108,000 to a former foster family. This is the case of Moana where OT tried to remove the girl because she is Māori and the foster parents are Pakeha. Plus, the Huddle debates whether medication should always be checked by two pharmacists before it's dispensed after the tragic death of a baby. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tens of thousands of nurses will walk off the job tomorrow. Last-ditch talks between Health NZ and the country's biggest nurses' union have failed to stop a nationwide strike. Health NZ estimates more than 4,000 planned procedures and specialist appointments will have to be postponed. National Chief Medical Officer, Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard, says essential services will continue - but warns people needing non-emergency care should contact their GP or Healthline first. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 23rd of July, red meat continues to go gangbusters, but we could be doing better, and the industry has some warnings. Lester Levy is moving from the Health NZ Commissioner to the new board chair, and gives us an exclusive on what he has, and hasn't, achieved. Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen discuss pay transparency, the butter meeting between Nicola Willis and Fonterra, and the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election on Politics Wednesday. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health New Zealand is moving into its next chapter after a year under a commissioner. The board's making a return today, with outgoing commissioner Lester Levy taking up the role as chairman for the next 12 months. Levy told Mike Hosking that although the agency's reached a turning point, the challenge isn't over. He says they need to involve clinicians and those on the ground in decisions and provide modern tools to the workforce. But Levy says the organisation's financially on track and has a very stable platform to move forward. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you don't want to face the unpalatable truth about your boozing, the alcohol lobby is on your sideOutdated alcohol guidelines put New Zealand out of step with modern research, but our health authorities are in no hurry to update themIn Canada, proposed guidelines for low-risk drinking set the weekly limit at two drinks.Here in New Zealand, the recommendation is to cap alcohol at 10 drinks weekly for women, and 15 for men, with two alcohol-free days per week.Despite these guidelines being nearly 15 years old, and documents from Health NZ showing that they consider a review of the guidelines to be 'necessary', for now, the guidelines are staying as they are."The complication is that the Ministry of Health has come in over the top of [Health NZ] and has said 'actually these are our guidelines ... we want to control this and we're putting a pause on that work'," says RNZ's Guyon Espiner."It certainly does show that they're listening to the alcohol industry, who are pretty exercised about this - because as you can imagine, this could have a significant effect on sales if people did take this advice and did drink significantly less."In a series of articles over the past few months, Espiner has reported on issues of alcohol harm and how the alcohol lobby has impacted policy in New Zealand…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Changes to a decades-long needle exchange contract have left people worried the decision will breed distrust, potentially leading to needle-sharing. Health NZ has not renewed the contract for DISC Trust, which has operated needle exchange services across the South Island for 35 years. Health chiefs have instead opted for a new provider. Katie Todd reports.

An Auckland mental health facility catering for people with long-standing or chronic problems will shut down. Health NZ has been consulting on its proposal to close Rauaroha Segar House, and this afternoon told patients and staff the service will close its doors. Reporter Jimmy Ellingham spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Student nurses and midwives say they're taking on the same workloads as qualified staff in order to fill gaps in the sector, and they are doing it all for free. It comes as nurses, midwives and other healthcare staff around the country prepare to take strike action over what they say is a failure by Health NZ to address their staffing concerns. Australia has just introduced a payment for eligible students doing work placements and they say a similar system should be introduced here. Evie Richardson reports.

The official guidance on low-risk drinking doesn't reflect modern scientific evidence and "understates the health risks" of alcohol, according to Health New Zealand documents released to RNZ. Guyon Espiner spoke to Corin Dann.

More than 36,000 Te Whatu Ora nurses, midwives, health care assistants and kaimahi hauora have voted to strike for 24 hours. The Nurses Organisation says the strike is due to Health NZ's failure to address safe staffing concerns. Health NZ is offering a 3 percent pay rise over two years, plus two payments of $325. But the union said the agency was refusing to provide safe staffing levels in its latest contract offer. NZNO Chief Executive Paul Goulter talks to Paddy Gower about what it would take to resolve their concerns.

The leader of a union representing junior doctors has said she is dreading the day when a hospital worker's killed at work. Since a staff member was held up at gunpoint outside Palmerston North Hospital in April, Checkpoint has heard from many health workers who don't feel safe on the job. Health NZ has said it is continuously improving security and taking on feedback. But unions said the problem is still a big one and one even wants to see security guards with beefed up powers. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

Midwives and specialists begged Health New Zealand to abandon the proposal to cut maternity beds at Wellington Hospital - and at an emotional meeting with staff, it has. MERAS Union co-leader Caroline Conroy spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Health bosses driving controversial plans to cut maternity beds at Wellington Hospital have changed their minds. Health NZ acting chief executive Robyn Shearer spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Midwives and specialists are begging Health New Zealand to abandon a proposal to cut beds from Wellington Hospital's maternity and gynaecology wards. Mary Argue reports.

Health NZ has said gynaecology had 12 "resourced" (staffed) beds, with capacity to flex to 14, and 26 resourced maternity beds, with the ability to flex to 37 beds (11 unresourced) in response to Wellington Hospital's trial aimed at making more room for patients from the overcrowded Emergency Department. Health NZ's group director of operations Jamie Duncan spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The amount of money Health NZ is spending on locum doctors to plug staff shortages is increasing and could reach $200 million this year. Checkpoint has obtained figures that show the spend on fill-ins is rising fast. A frontline doctor and the senior doctors union have said it is frustrating to see the increasing pot for temporary workers, when officials are saying money is so tight. Jimmy Ellingham reports.