Ruth Hill, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) Journalist Profile

Articles

Patients increasingly diagnosed with bowel cancer in ED, Northland doctor says

3 days ago | nzherald.co.nz | Ruth Hill

Northland doctors blame increased colonoscopy wait times on Health NZ's reduced locum rates. Photo / 123rfBy Ruth Hill of RNZDoctors in Northland are blaming a massive increase in wait times for colonoscopies over the past six months on Health NZ’s decision to cut rates for locums. Health NZ data has shown the number of patients waiting longer than recommended for non-urgent colonoscopies went from fewer than 20 a month at the start of last year to 553 in April this year.
Patients increasingly diagnosed with bowel cancer in ED, Northland doctor says

3 days ago | rnz.co.nz | Ruth Hill

Wait times for non-urgent colonoscopies in Northland ballooned this year Doctors blame increase on Health NZ's decision to cut rates for locums in November Health NZ says workforce "challenges" for Northland's gastro service largely resolvedDoctors in Northland are blaming a massive increase in wait times for colonoscopies over the last six months on Health NZ's decision to cut rates for locums.
Private hospitals' use of publicly-funded cancer drugs will widen inequities, warn doctors

1 week ago | rnz.co.nz | Ruth Hill

A move to allow private patients to access publicly-funded cancer drugs threatens to increase wait times for those in the public system, warn senior doctors. Under "transitional access", which comes into effect on 1 July, private patients who are already receiving treatment - or about to start treatment - with a newly funded medicine will not have to shift to the public system for 12 months.
Taxpayer to foot the bill for cancer drugs for private patients

1 week ago | rnz.co.nz | Ruth Hill

The government's decision to let private patients have publicly-funded cancer drugs is a waste of taxpayers' money, and could even make wait times worse, the Labour Party is warning. From 1 July, taxpayers will begin covering the cost of newly-funded cancer medicines administered in private facilities for 12 months, under the so-called "transitional access" arrangement.
More cuts proposed at Ministry for Culture and Heritage

2 weeks ago | radionz.co.nz | Phil Pennington |Ruth Hill

The axe is hovering over historians and staff at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage who create digital content used by schools and the public. Manatū Taonga, which lost $2m in the Budget, told staff on Thursday it proposed to shed 24 roles, about 15 percent of its staff.
More cuts proposed at Ministry for Culture and Heritage

2 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Phil Pennington |Ruth Hill

The axe is hovering over historians and staff at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage who create digital content used by schools and the public. Manatū Taonga, which lost $2m in the Budget, told staff on Thursday it proposed to shed 24 roles, about 15 percent of its staff.
Teenager starves to death alone in emergency accommodation

2 weeks ago | stuff.co.nz | Ruth Hill

Warning: This story discusses eating disorders and disordered eating, and contains disturbing content. This story was produced by RNZ. The parents of a teenager who starved to death alone in emergency accommodation believe that multiple agencies failed in their care. Their only child was able to keep them at a distance on the grounds they did not accept the teen was transgender - an identity the parents say the teen later abandoned.
Teenager starves to death alone in emergency accommodation

2 weeks ago | radionz.co.nz | Ruth Hill

Warning: This story discusses eating disorders and disordered eating, and contains disturbing content. Please see a note about RNZ's Rainbow Communities Reporting and Content Guidelines at the bottom of this page.*The parents of a teenager who starved to death alone in emergency accommodation believe that multiple agencies failed in their care.
Teenager starves to death alone in emergency accommodation

2 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Ruth Hill

Warning: This story discusses eating disorders and disordered eating, and contains disturbing content. The parents of a teenager who starved to death alone in emergency accommodation believe that multiple agencies failed in their care. Their only child was able to keep them at a distance on the grounds they did not accept the teen was transgender - an identity the parents say the teen later abandoned.
Hospice funding crisis: Collapse of services could cost taxpayers millions

2 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Ruth Hill

Hospices warn funding shortfalls are putting critical services at risk, with nothing in the BudgetIt cost $226m to run hospice services last year, with just half of that provided by the governmentEvery $1 of taxpayer funding returns $1.59 in "health benefits"Health Minister Simeon Brown says it's up to Health NZ to use some of its $1.37b Budget boost to support hospice servicesHealth NZ plans to finalise new models of palliative care for both adults and children by the end of the year.