Ruth Hill
Brain injury claimants see sharp drop in ACC payments
There's been a huge spike in the number of people with traumatic brain injuries losing their ACC weekly compensation. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Nurses turn their back on the Health Minister
Health Minister Simeon Brown says he doesn't rate his accomplishments by applause - which is just as well, because he didn't get any today at the Nurses Organisation annual conference in Wellington… Audio
Father battles ACC after son's double trauma
The father of a man assaulted with a steel bar as a teenager and then hit by a truck has been battling ACC for 10 years. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Hospice and Plunket nurses fear they will never see pay equity money if successful with new claim
Nurses working for hospices and Plunket fear that even if they succeed in their new pay equity claims, they may never see the money. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Doctors concerned about overhaul of Healthy Futures Act
Doctors have made impassioned pleas to the government to step back from a law change they say will stop them from speaking out, and cost patient lives. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Health NZ to employ more graduate nurses on part-time hours
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. Audio
US funding cuts make NZ vaccine research more critical
The US Health Department's recent announcement that it is cutting funding for mRNA vaccine research sent shockwaves through the scientific world and it also has ripple effects for New Zealand. Ruth… Audio
Mum battles red tape to get help for child with OCD
A child who spent months in a psychiatric hospital with a severe obsessive compulsive disorder was sent home and offered just an hour of therapy a week. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Dargaville Hospital patients sign disclaimer as no doctor on site overnight
Patients admitted to Dargaville Hospital overnight are asked to sign a disclaimer confirming they understand there is no doctor on site because of staff shortages. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Chronic under-resourcing of cardiac care costing lives
Heart disease is costing the country nearly $14 billion a year in direct costs to the health system and early deaths of one in five New Zealanders. That was the stark analysis from Otago University… Audio
Advertising unapproved medicines not legal despite govt claim
A legal expert says it's still a criminal offence to advertise unapproved medicines in New Zealand - despite a government announcement that it has lifted the ban. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Nurse says hospital conditions are 'worst in 30 years'
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… Audio
Nurses strike outside Wellington Hospital
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… Audio
Nurses say strike is not just about money
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… Audio
Open letter signed asking MPs to give up private healthcare
Thirty health workers - including specialists, GPs and nurses - have signed an open letter to MPs asking them to waive their right to private healthcare during their time in office. Ruth Hill reports.
…Programme for orthopaedic patients struggling for funds
A highly successful programme with the potential to help thousands of orthopaedic patients waiting in pain for specialist appointments is being stymied by lack of funding. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Poor access to patient notes makes outsourcing risky: Doctors
Doctors warn ad hoc sharing of patient information between public and private hospitals is putting patients at risk, with the government push to outsource thousands more operations. Ruth Hill reports.
…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