More than 12,300 patients have had elective surgery from Waikato DHB in the last financial year, which has contributed to a record increase around the country. Releasing the 2009/10 elective surgery totals, Health Minist... read more

sWaikato DHB will postpone some surgical bookings to cope with next Tuesday’s nationwide strike by union staff who provide x-ray, scans and other radiology services. The strike affects all Waikato DHB hosp... read more

Good improvement, could do betterIf Waikato DHB were a rugby team the coach would be telling the players they did okay but could do better when it comes to health targets, chief executive Craig Climo says. The end of year results for health targets are out... read more

There are now 100 extra paramedics filling ambulance rosters around the country as part of the Government's $48 million four-year spend to support national ambulance services. Health Minister Tony Ryall says, "... read more

for Maori and Pacific children Two Waikato primary health organisations worked tirelessly to immunise eligible two-year-olds and their 100 per cent strike rate helped the Waikato District Health Board achieve its immuni... read more

Arrangements for Hamilton GP Suresh Vatsyayann patients Enrolled patients of suspended Hamilton GP Suresh Vatsyayann, will still have access to primary health care services. Despite Dr Vatsyayann’s temporary suspension from today (Friday 5pm) by the New... read more

Waikato District Health Board is to spend $1. 2 million on a programme to provide and promote rehabilitation for patients 18 years and over within their home environment to keep them out of hospitals and residential... read more

for WaikatoDr Phil Wood has this week stepped into a key medical leadership role for Waikato District Health Board, heading Waikato Hospital's clinical units. Dr Wood came to Waikato in February 2009 with a wealth ... read more

By Heather ChappellSue Hayward bustles into her office at Waikato Hospital with an air of urgency and focus. Her office is tidy, which illustrates well that Hayward, Waikato District Health Board’s director of nursing and m... read more

Waikato District Health Board chief executive Craig Climo says he wants to see more action out in the rural communities towards a more joined up health workforce. Speaking at last week’s Taumarunui Community Health F... read more

Opinion piece Nominations open this week for the election of board members to the 20 district health boards across the country. While that news will probably not rock the nation, health is nevertheless a vital public service that regu... read more

Waikato District Health Board chief executive Craig Climo is presenting the rural health service delivery picture in Waikato communities starting this week. Rural health is one of six Waikato DHB prioritie... read more

New Lab Information System for Waikato DHB Last week (Wednesday 30 June) Waikato District Health Board signed a NZ$2. 95 million deal with iSOFT for a laboratory information system to improve the speed, accuracy and reporting of 6. 5 million test results a... read more

Waikato District Health Board, Pacific health providers and churches from throughout the region are joining forces to improve the health of Pacific people. More than 250 church ministers and members from six Pacifi... read more

A contract between Waikato District Health Board and Hamilton accident and medical centre Anglesea Clinic will result in cheaper consultation fees and the continuation of clinically led safe after hours’ medical and... read more

Waikato DHB chair Graeme Milne today said he wanted to thank Peta Karalus for her remarkable tenure of service and contribution to the development of Waikato DHB over many years. "I particularly want to thank he... read more

New Zealand's first prescribing pain nurse practitioner A Waikato Hospital nurse who says she is passionate about pain management is now New Zealand’s first pain nurse practitioner able to prescribe medication herself. Sue King, 54, a nurse for 33 years... read more

DHB realigns project team Waikato District Health Board’s Development and Support Unit moved reporting lines this week in an effort to reduce duplication and maximise efficiency. The unit now reports to Planning and Funding general manager Brett Paradin... read more

Waikato District Health Board is calling for more members to join its Pacific Advisory Group. The DHB relies on this group to advise on health matters relating to Pacific people. The group also influences policy change a... read more

Brush your teeth twice a day and eat lots of vegetables – that’s what Putaruru Primary School students will tell their parents they learnt at school today. At a special assembly, organised by Waikato DHB‘... read more

ment Waikato sexual health physician Jane Morgan has identified youth access to alcohol and excessive drinking as a contributing factor to high rates of Chlamydia transmission in New Zealand. Dr Morgan ... read more

Construction of a primary birthing unit in Thames is all go again with Jennian Homes Coromandel selected for the job. The announcement comes after Waikato DHB put construction on hold in February because of over-priced... read more

Approval has been given for Waikato DHB to add two dedicated elective surgery theatres to its $113 million redevelopment project at Waikato Hospital. Health Minister Tony Ryall says, "Planning w... read more

Diabetes, immunisation in the spotlight on hospital TVs When Dave Macpherson was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes last year, he was unsure what to do. But when the Hamilton city councillor learned he was entitled to a free check-up each year, he made an ... read more

xTwo months after the Conficker virus attacked Waikato District Health Board’s computer network, the vendor updated the software in a global fix aimed at ensuring other organisations with similar patches d... read more

Waikato Hospital’s pharmacy services will take over the supply of medicines and pharmacy service at Tokoroa Hospital from 1 July. All pharmaceuticals will come from Waikato Hospital with a technician and pharmacist provid... read more

Allied Security is the successful tenderer for security services at Waikato District Health Board. The company was one of 15 nationwide that filed an expression of interest for the $1 million contract when ad... read more

o DHB Medical radiation technologists, cardiology radiographers, sonographers and other similar roles will continue their industrial action this weekend which could impact on members of the public. Those t... read more

Waikato District Health Board will not negotiate with members of the Unite Incorporated (Unite) union while they are either on strike or under notice of strike action. Seventy-five attendants – 75 per cent of the tot... read more

The Minister of Health made the following release yesterday about the Midland Regional Trauma System launch at Waikato Hospital. For more information on the system, see the powerpoint presentation and download... read more

Waikato District Health Board frontline staff are now offering ‘better help for smokers to quit’ to 40 per cent of patients. These are the latest figures from the second quarter Health Targets report released by the M... read more

Waikato’s innovation pays off for targetThe Ministry of Health says Waikato District Health Board should provide an immunisation leadership role in the Midland region due to its outstanding improvement towards reaching the national immunisation health tar... read more

Waikato is the most improved DHB in the country for emergency department wait times, according to new figures released today. The figures are from the latest Ministry of Health Targets performance for the quarter ende... read more

Waikato health targets improve, more to doWaikato District Health Board showed significant improvement in two of the six second quarter health target results released by the Ministry of Health today (Friday 26 February). Emergency departments at Waikato an... read more

Funding for a dedicated volunteers recruitment officer has seen 38 people apply for volunteer work for Hauraki-Coromandel St John. As volunteers become harder and harder to recruit and workload continues to ... read more

Waikato DHB board member Dr Suresh Vatsyayann remains a suspended board member despite giving what he says was an apology to the board today. Chairman Graeme Milne said the seven-minute statement from Dr Vatsyayann was "no... read more

Alzheimer's New Zealand will provide support and education for carers of older people with dementia as a result of Waikato District Health Board awarding a new contract to Alzheimer's New Zealand to provide the ser... read more

Matamata Police arrested a 42-year-old man in relation to a number of alleged thefts from Waikato Hospital. A staff swipe card and two large sets of hospital keys were recovered in his home. Attached is the release from police... read more

A 20-year-old Huntly security guard will appear in the Huntly District Court next week to face theft charges from Waikato Hospital. Police this week arrested the man after they searched his home and found several cellphones allegedly t... read more

Nine Hamilton, Morrinsville and Matamata dairy owners and employees are facing prosecution and a fine of up to $2000 after selling cigarettes to people under 18 years of age.   Waikato District Health Bo... read more

Waikato District Health Board today called in Audit New Zealand to undertake the external review into the Conficker virus event, which saw more than 3000 computers shut down at the DHB for periods from 34 hours to fo... read more

Key clinical areas in Waikato District Health Board hospitals are now back on line after the board's 3000 PCs and laptops became paralysed  by the virulent Conficker worm. All wards and the emergency department at W... read more

Waikato DHB board member Dr Suresh Vatsyayann has been suspended from the board for questioning the integrity of his fellow board members and DHB management. Chairman Graeme Milne said today he asked Dr Vatsyayann to withd... read more

Waikato DHB has been infected with the CONFICKER Virus, identified as variants A and D. There are five known variants of the virus. At 10pm yesterday issues were noticed with the system and investigations st... read more

A computer virus called Conficker has infected Waikato District Health Board's computer network. The virus affected the organisation’s 3000 computers logged onto it’s network in Hamilton, Taumarunui, Te Kuiti, Toko... read more

Visitors to Waikato Hospital can expect to take a slightly different route when the new temporary red corridor opens in January. Although named temporary, the corridor will be the main route for all patie... read more

Waikato nurse NZ's first nurse practitionerThe role was misunderstood when first introduced, but eight years to the day since New Zealand's first nurse practitioner (NP) was registered, the role is flourishing. Waikato-based neonatal nurse Deborah Harris m... read more

The first of the 719 new hospital beds ordered for Waikato District Health Board arrive in Te Kuiti and Taumarunui from Taranaki on Monday (7 December). There will be 21 beds installed at Te Kuiti Hospital at 8. 30am and another... read more

Waikato DHB welcomes today’s publication of New Zealand’s serious and sentinel health events. Health Waikato chief operating officer Jan Adams said the organisation actively encouraged reporting of any adverse event o... read more

New child and youth health group on the agenda in Waikato The National Paediatric Society’s annual conference taking place in Hamilton this week is perfect timing for the Waikato contingent with the launch of their new Child and Youth Governance Group. ... read more

More than 600 Waikato DHB clinical staff are educated and upskilled on the ‘Better help for smokers to quit’ health target. Waikato offered 39 per cent of its hospitalised smokers intervention, well short of the 80 per ce... read more

Waikato District Health Board is on track to deliver better, sooner and more convenient healthcare according to the elective surgery results released today. Waikato DHB improved access to elective surgery and achieve... read more

A stay of less than six hours for 95 per cent of patients in Waikato and Thames hospitals’ emergency departments is achievable, say clinicians at both hospitals. While Thames is nearly there, Waikato Hospital has som... read more

The launch of a children’s social health monitor to track the economic wellbeing of New Zealand children and their families, is one of several newsworthy items on the agenda at the Paediatric Society’s annual... read more

More than 250 Waikato children and adolescents with type one diabetes can now safely dispose of their sharps free of charge through an agreement between Waikato DHB and Pathlab. Waikato DHB diabetes clinic cl... read more

Health board staff raise $25,000 for charity Two Waikato charities are the recipients of $12,500 each thanks to the “questionable” artistic talents of Waikato District Health Board staff. The hospital revue, In Flagrante Delicto (Caught in the Act)... read more

Waikato DHB gets protective over its youth Waikato District Health Board is making it as easy as possible for young women to receive protection against potential cervical cancer. Not only has the DHB agreed to continue the human papillomavirus (HPV) imm... read more

Four more Waikato Hospital staff who've been in Samoa all week as part of the New Zealand medical and support staff response to the tsunami, return home later tonight. They are Roelof van Dalen (surgeon), John Smithel... read more

One of the nine Waikato Hospital surgical staff who helped in New Zealand's medical response to the tsunami in Samoa, flew back to New Zealand today. Orthopaedic surgeon Jason Donovan completed another full day in theatre yesterday a... read more

The nine-strong Waikato Hospital medical team arrived in Samoa today on an RNZ Air Force flight with two Zealand based Samoan-speaking doctors and two Samoan-speaking nurses and were briefed an hour ago by an Australia... read more

Tony Ryall - Nine of the 14 health professionals travelling to Samoa later tonight (see the minister's release below) are from Waikato Hospital. We have two anaesthetists, one orthopaedic surgeon, one general... read more

An eight-strong medical team from Waikato Hospital is expected to fly to Samoa later today to provide surgical support on the ground for those injured by the devastating tsunami. Two anaesthetists, an orthopae... read more

They call Waikato District Health Board’s annual nurse recruitment day for graduate nurse applicants, an easy sell. It’s easy to see why. More than 105 applicants attended the day at Waikato Hospital this week where they ... read more

Health professionals working in a hospital setting have far greater access to clinical information, both paper based and electronic, than do their counterparts working in the community. Those working in non-hospital... read more

As nursing jobs go, it’s a biggie and that’s why Waikato District Health Board is looking at an innovative way to promote the Waikato Hospital nursing director’s position. The usual front-page presence on www. waikato... read more

ered Construction of Waikato Clinical Centre will create up to 400 jobs, but when it opens, it will also make visiting Waikato Hospital much easier. With most clinics inside, theatres and day procedures,... read more

Waikato District Health Board is counting down to the launch of a new digital x-ray system later this year. The new Picture Archive Communication System (PACS) will replace all film x-rays when it goes live at all Waikato... read more

Waikato DHB board members say they want management to come back to them with a clinically sustainable plan for delivering health services in South Waikato. The board recently received a 71-page report commissioned ... read more

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table. MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-t... read more

Health Minister Tony Ryall signed off Waikato DHB's district annual plan this month. He told chairman Graeme Milne the plan presents "as a clear and concise business plan that provides an accountability framework for the DH... read more

on Saturday Anyone planning to visit Waikato Hospital on Saturday should park in the carpark building and follow the signs to their destination. Building Programme project manager Brendan Hague said visit... read more

After 13 years as Waikato DHB’s manager of Quality and Risk, Barbara Crawford was farewelled today (Friday 14 August), and will take up a new role as risk management specialist with the Land Transport Agency in Wellington. Barb... read more

Waikato District Health Board (DHB) today introduced a fraud hotline to try to stamp out health fraud. Audit and Compliance, a Ministry of Health business unit responsible for managing risks associated with payment fo... read more

Tokoroa Hospital has extended their 40th birthday celebrations over a week so they can have some special guests to join in the festivities. While the hospital's official birthday is on Sunday (2 August), W... read more

Health Waikato chief operating officer Jan Adams took a closer look inside Waikato Hospital’s new Emergency Department on Friday. The new ED and acute services block above, currently under construction outsid... read more

More funding to improve children’s nutrition Waikato District Health Board has granted more than $145,000 in funding to schools and early childhood centres across the Waikato region for projects that will improve the health of their students. This fundi... read more

Waikato District Health Board is not in a position to pursue any criminal legal action relating to alleged patient enrolment practices at The Family Clinic Medical Practice in Vercoe Road, Hamilton. Chief executive C... read more

Healthy Kai a simple choice in Paeroa Making healthier food choices in Paeroa has just become a lot easier thanks to Hauraki Healthy Kai. The Te Korowai Hauora O Hauraki project is making healthy food more accessible by identifying three “Healthy... read more

A new Emergency Department waiting room at Waikato Hospital will create more space and improve patient flow through the busy area. Staff have treated more than 4000 people this month and they’re hopeful that th... read more

Waikato Hospital’s cardiac thoracic and vascular surgery ward is the best place to learn according to Wintec nursing students. Sue Hayward, director of nursing, accepted the Best Clinical Placement Award fro... read more

Waikato District Health Board (DHB) will spend $9. 75 million on Waikato children’s smiles over the next year with new on-site school dental facilities and additional mobile clinics. The DHB will build nine n... read more

DHB funding for healthier homes Waikato District Health Board is allocating $1 million over the next two years to create warmer, healthier homes for Waikato families. The Ministry of Health has also allocated an extra $300,000 to the scheme for Taumaru... read more

Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced the appointment of Graeme Milne as the new chair of the Waikato District Health Board. Mr Ryall said, "Mr Milne brings extensive management and governance experience to the board of the Waik... read more

Make a wise career choice, be a midwife The world needs midwives, now more than ever. That’s the theme of this year’s International Midwifery Day, Tuesday 5 May, and Waikato District Health Board is getting behind the campaign. Clinical midwife directo... read more

Waikato’s ageing population creates increasing challenges not only for their families but also for health providers. A new specialised unit based in Hamilton and operated by Guardian HealthCare Group at Rossendale Home a... read more

Take an acre of unused land, a committed Rotary club and some community spirit, and you might just end up with a garden for all. This is what has happened in Te Kuiti with a new concept for a community garden coming together. ... read more

Three Waikato/King Country community groups get more than $75,000 for projects aimed at improving Māori health. The projects include a pool-based physical activity programme, an action based research project with 10 Māo... read more

Waikato police will bring in a new district problem-solving team to examine ongoing security issues at Waikato Hospital. In the past fortnight that included the theft of patients’ food and the assault of an emer... read more

Maori men's health under spotlightChronic disease is a major cause of death for Maori men in the Waikato. Now a new three-year study undertaken by Waikato District Health Board’s Te Puna Oranga (Maori health service) will look at barriers to achieving whān... read more

The latest edition of Waikato DHB's internal newsletter is now available on line. Highlights include the opening of Waikato Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit, delivery suite, a new painless alternative with liver ultrasound, a n... read more

ionals One of New Zealand's largest district health boards is taking an innovative approach to filling the many clinical and medical jobs on offer in its region by placing a giant advertisement on the hal... read more

Thames Hospital’s new Clinical Centre and Inpatient Unit will enhance the standard of care and attract new staff into the area, health minister Tony Ryall said today (Friday). Before cutting the ribbon and official... read more

Waikato DHB's website has a fresh new look going live later today to coincide with an innovative advertising campaign. The pitch at Hamilton's Waikato Stadium becomes a giant situations vacant advert during the Chiefs ... read more

Last year residents got a sneak-peek inside and then patients were moved in but a special ceremony next week will mark the official opening of Thames Hospital’s new buildings. Health minister Tony Ryall and ... read more

Waikato District Health Board chair Jerry Rickman today announced he would retire from the board next month. He told Health Minister Tony Ryall he was retiring to remove any “perceived conflicts” between his role as chair... read more

Kimihia School students met their new role model at their first full assembly on Friday. The 'Kimihia Kid' is the result of a new partnership developed between Waikato District Health Board and the school itself, and enc... read more

Newborn babies requiring intensive care at Waikato Hospital will soon be in a larger, lighter and brighter space when the new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) opens later this month. A ceremony on Monday (16 Febr... read more

A programme that empowers families to make positive changes in their homes is now online for communities to access and adapt to meet their needs. The Vibrant Living online toolkit, launched this morning, supports... read more

Sixteen local schools and early education centres have received a financial boost to create healthier student environments. Waikato District Health Board (DHB) granted more than $101,000 for their planned project or in... read more

Fresh fruit and vegetables are cheap and plentiful throughout the Waikato during summer but frozen and tinned options can be just as healthy. They’re also easy to store, always on hand and are processed soon after pic... read more

Focus on services, not providers Waikato District Health Board’s decision to improve child and youth mental health and addiction services is understandably causing some concern to those organisations unsuccessful in gaining contracts in Hamilton city and... read more

New service configuration means more, wider coverage After three years of consultation and planning, Waikato District Health Board is putting more money into child and youth mental health and addictions services. Following a review of Waikato DHB's chil... read more

Waikato District Health Board today rejected 7-2 an application from a Hamilton trust to help fund a $2. 4 million public hydrotherapy pool in the city. The Hamilton Hydrotherapy Pool Charitable Trust wanted the board... read more

Waikato District Health Board chief financial officer Brent Wiseman resigned today to accept the chief financial officer position at Auckland District Health Board. Mr Wiseman joined Waikato DHB's decision s... read more

DHB “Hard to miss” at bridges race Waikato District Health Board has 787 staff members in Hamilton’s annual Round the Bridges race on Sunday with some coming from as far away as Taumarunui, Tokoroa and Thames. It is the second year for the Waikato DHB ... read more

ds A pioneering new procedure at Waikato Hospital, which reduces the need for surgery, cuts the waiting time for diagnosis and reduces the length of time a patient spends in hospital, got a commendation a... read more

DHB improves services & saves costs with phone dealEnabling clients to contact its community workers wherever they are and reducing costs are just two of the ways the Waikato District Health Board will benefit from a new contract with Vodafone to pr... read more

A new relationship has seen communications channels open between the local health sector and one of its hard-to-reach communities. Waikato District Health Board and Waikato Migrant Resource Centre are work... read more

Doctors at Waikato Hospital completed the last of five transcatheter aortic valve implementations just over an hour ago. Dr Sanjeevan Pasupati, one of a few cardiologists in the world with experience in this procedure, said t... read more

Ramona Johnson, the 79-year-old Tauranga woman who less than 24 hours ago was the first person to undergo revolutionary heart surgery in a public hospital is today recovering well. Mrs Johnson said she was look... read more

Sri Lankan-born doctor Sanjeevan Pasupati has been wowing the New Zealand medical world, carrying out first-ever procedures at Waikato Hospital. But his father and long-time Te Kuiti doctor Jega, will never forget that it wa... read more

This is from the press conference at Waikato Hospital tonight featuring Dr Sanjeevan Pasupati (Sri Lankan), Dr Gerry Devlin (Irish), Dr Clyde Wade (Kiwi), Waikato Heart Trust chairman George Vickers and Health Waikato ... read more

The 79-year-old Tauranga woman who underwent a transcatheter aortic valve implementation at Waikato Hospital in Hamilton today is comfortable in the cardiac care ward after her two-hour operation. Ramona Johnson paid tribute to... read more

Please let me know if you intend attending the media conference at Waikato Hospital 6pm today. Doctors and staff involved in today's historic heart surgery at Waikato Hospital will be available as will members of ... read more

Doctors at Waikato Hospital in Hamilton will this morning perform the first heart operation of its type in a New Zealand public hospital. The transcatheter aortic valve implementation on a 79-year-old Tauranga wo... read more

Waikato DHB has granted more than $360,000 to seven local community providers for their projects aimed at improving Māori nutrition and increasing physical activity. The projects range from increasing awarene... read more

Waikato District Health Board’s $30 million surplus for the financial year ended June 30 is a timing issue and not a case of the board withholding services to produce surpluses. Chief executive Craig Climo today said the... read more

Waikato District Health Board chief executive Craig Climo says his preferred option for a Thames maternity unit is a stand-alone primary facility in Mary Street. However, he needs to know why so many women leave the... read more

Waikato Hospital’s carpark building had a busy day yesterday protecting hundreds of patients and visitors from the stormy weather. More than 900 vehicles were recorded using the building; the busiest day since it open... read more

World Breastfeeding Week will be celebrated in more than 120 countries around the world next week and Waikato District Health Board is getting in on the action too. Each woman who gives birth in a Waikato birthing faci... read more

Successful recruitment drives by Waikato District Health Board has seen the board gain and retain almost a full complement of medical radiation technologists for its breast screening programme. This comes five months a... read more

Special circumstances have meant Huntly will soon have two Pathlab collection sites – one on the east side of the river and one on the west. Waikato District Health Board has approved funding outside its orig... read more

The first stage of redevelopment at Waikato Hospital is almost complete and will be celebrated next week with an official opening ceremony. The new carpark and main entry building will be officially opened on... read more

Tokoroa nurse educator Julie Daltrey is about to embark on a first ever position for the Waikato District Health Board. Mrs Daltrey has accepted Waikato DHB’s first clinical nurse specialist gerontology positio... read more

As Waikato District Health Board’s new website was developed, ease of use for its most important visitors - the public - was top of mind. Waikato DHB’s new user-friendly website went ‘live’ last night after six ... read more

Waikato District Health Board is taking the lead on the development of a new National Incident Management System project for all New Zealand DHBs. The project, which was launched in Wellington on Monday, will se... read more

A good widespread skill base is important in its committee membership, says Waikato District Health Board chair Jerry Rickman. The Waikato DHB is currently calling for membership applications to its three co... read more

Waikato District Health Board and Tainui mental health service provider Hauora Waikato today announced the appointment of Dr Rees Tapsell as executive clinical director for forensic psychiatric services across the Midland re... read more

Clinicians and mental health officials have today welcomed a new model of care for the delivery of forensic mental health services in the Midland region saying it offered huge opportunities for them. A joint gov... read more

A shortage of medical radiation technologists means Waikato District Health Board is struggling to keep up with demand for breast screening in the region. The board provides breast screening every two years t... read more

Waikato District Health Board’s 94 sentinel and serious events suggest an organisation with a heightened focus on quality and safety, chief executive Craig Climo said today. Waikato DHB reported 19 sentinel and 75 ... read more

Veteran local body politician Gordon Chesterman was today appointed chair of Waikato District Health Board’s community and public health advisory committee (CPHAC). The committee’s role is to advise the board abo... read more

A tunnel has been made through the Kempthorne Building at Waikato Hospital as part of a new route for ambulances to access the Emergency Department (ED). The breakthrough was part of a series of enabling works to allow for cons... read more