Ruth Hill

A highly successful immunisation programme for pregnant Māori and Pasifika and their babies in South Auckland had its funding cut earlier this year - even as warnings sounded of the looming whooping… Audio

Front-line health workers in Northland are being asked to "fill in" on reception to let overworked admin staff take toilet breaks. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

Pharmac's decision to switch the brand of estrogen patches it funds has prompted a massive backlash from women who say it doesn't work for them. More than 1000 people have already signed an online… Audio

The Labour Party is blaming the Government's new wait time targets for so many patients being unable to get onto a waiting list for hospital treatment. It follows GPs saying patients who desperately… Audio

Health services are on high alert with the official declaration of a whooping cough epidemic today. It comes as the most recent data shows vaccination rates for babies are woefully low - especially… Audio

Mental health workers say prison inmates who are suicidal, psychotic or suffering other serious psychological problems will lose support when their contracts end next year. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

Health officials warned the Government that its targets for emergency department and elective surgery wait times were unlikely to be met without a big cash injection. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

An innovative iwi-based approach to tackling type 2 diabetes is having huge success in Tairawhiti, with participants cutting down on medication or even reversing the disease completely. Ruth Hill… Audio

Health New Zealand's top mental health clinician says the new system for police to hand over people in mental crisis will be safer. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

Senior doctors say Health NZ's proposal to cut some chief clinical roles is "a declaration of war" on rural and regional hospitals. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

No-one has yet been charged over the death of "Baby Ru" in Lower Hutt one ago year today. He was the victim of a brutal assault that shattered his tiny skull. The police in Wellington still have six… Audio

A woman who developed a debilitating chronic pain condition after breaking her foot says she's been stuck between ACC and the public system, with neither one taking responsibility for her… Audio

The number of transgender children and young teens prescribed puberty blockers has dropped, after increasing dramatically in the last decade. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

Pain specialists say a huge lack of understanding, even within the medical profession, means patients are missing out on potentially life-changing treatment. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

People suffering chronic pain, including children and teenagers, are missing out on treatment due to a lack of services in many regions, putting their recovery at risk. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

Nurses working in chronically short-staffed hospitals say staff who go on leave, get sick or quit are often not replaced. Health New Zealand insists recruitment has continued while it's been revising… Audio

Dr Shane Reti has unveilled his prescription for achieving five significant health targets all within the existing budget, leaving some experts skeptical about whether it's actually possible. The five… Audio

Mental health advocates say the use of tasers on people in crisis is an indictment on a health system which has left police as the default emergency responder. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

The survival chances of a Auckland cancer patient have been cut dramatically after he was forced to wait six months for a bone marrow transplant. Ruth Hill reports. Audio