Danica Maclean

Jun 25, 2024 | newstalkzb.co.nz | Danica Maclean

A petition is calling for the establishment of an independent Patient Safety Commissioner to prevent harm in the health system. It's got the backing of former Health New Zealand board chair Rob Campbell. The Health Consumer Advocacy Alliance is leading the push, saying the idea is to improve patient safety and reduce the amount of preventable harm. Co-founder Sue Claridge says while ultimately it would benefit health consumers, it also benefits health professionals.

May 27, 2024 | newstalkzb.co.nz | Danica Maclean

A nurse is raising safety concerns over the way security is being handled at a rural Waikato Hospital. Until recently, a security guard sat at the door of Te Kuiti Hospital between 6pm and 6am. But now, the nurse, who does not want to be named, says there's a new model where staff are employed in a combined cleaner/security/attendant role. She says they've been fighting the change for months.

Dec 7, 2023 | newstalkzb.co.nz | Danica Maclean

More than 9,000 New Zealand health practitioners - the majority of them nurses - have registered to work in Australia in the past year. The Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act allows for certain types of health workers registered in Australia or New Zealand to apply for registration in the other country through a streamlined registration process. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority says it's seen a "significant increase in applications" in the past 12 months.

Dec 7, 2023 | nzherald.co.nz | Danica Maclean

More than 9,000 New Zealand health practitioners - the majority of them nurses - have registered to work in Australia in the past year. The Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act allows for certain types of health workers registered in Australia or New Zealand to apply for registration in the other country through a streamlined registration process. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority says it’s seen a “significant increase in applications” in the past 12 months.

Aug 20, 2023 | nzherald.co.nz | Danica Maclean

The waiting list for young people needing dental surgeries has been stuck stubbornly around 4000 for the past year, and dentists feel “unable” to make a dent. Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand data released to Newstalk ZB showed, as of the end of March, there were 4001 referrals on the waiting list for children aged 14 and under. In April 2022, that figure sat at 3949, and got as high as 4134 at the end of January this year.