Ruth Hill, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) Journalist Profile

Articles

Physiotherapists want ACC laws changed to let them certify work capacity

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

Physiotherapists say patients are waiting too long to be allowed to return to work due to long GP wait times Their professional body is calling on the government to amend the law to give physiotherapists the power to issue medical certificates GPs say medical oversight will still be needed to certify clients as unfit to work ACC says extending the professions that could complete return-to-work certification is "a challenging issue" Wait times for GP appointments to get medical certificates...
Physiotherapists want ACC laws changed to let them certify work capacity

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

Physiotherapists say patients are waiting too long to be allowed to return to work due to long GP wait times Their professional body is calling on the government to amend the law to give physiotherapists the power to issue medical certificates GPs say medical oversight will still be needed to certify clients as unfit to work ACC says extending the professions that could complete return-to-work certification is "a challenging issue" Wait times for GP appointments to get medical certificates...
Cut in colonoscopies after Covid funding ran out

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

The reduction in the number of colonoscopies outsourced to the private sector last year was due to a temporary "surge" the year before - paid for by leftover Covid funding, Health NZ says. However, despite the spike in private outsourcing, growth in publicly-funded colonoscopies was levelling off, compared with previous years, before going into reverse in 2024.
Colonoscopy wait times increase as Health NZ funds fewer procedures

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

Wait times for colonoscopies blew out last year in most regionsHealth NZ blames increased demandBowel Cancer NZ says longer waits are due to fewer procedures being fundedWait times for urgent, non-urgent and surveillance colonoscopies all progressively worsened last year as Health New Zealand failed to meet demand. The agency's data shows the total number of publicly-funded colonoscopies dropped by more than 7 percent.
Man with cerebal palsy can't get diagnostic scan due to radiology staff shortages

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

Podcaster, disability advocate, political activist - Blake Forbes, 26, lives a very full life, although mainly within the confines of his bedroom in his modest Upper Hutt home. Due to severe cerebral palsy, he relies on carers for all his physical needs. But via a giant screen on his wall, cameras and an iPad (propped up on the tray of his powerchair by his grandmother and operated using his voice), he is connected to the world.
Fears Gisborne Hospital services on brink of collapse due to critical staff shortages

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

Some Gisborne Hospital services are on the brink of collapse due to critical staff shortages, with 30-40 percent of senior doctor positions unfilled. In July, 38 senior doctors from the emergency department, obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatrics and other specialties wrote to then Health Minister Shane Reti warning "a mass exodus may occur" and the "viability" of the entire hospital was under threat.
One third of New Zealanders waiting more than two weeks to see GP - poll

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

One in three people are waiting more than two weeks for a GP appointment, while more than one in six wait three or four weeks, or even longer, according to the first RNZ-Reid Research poll. The survey of 1000 people - between 21 and 27 March - found about 60 percent were able to get a GP appointment within a week. Health Minister Simeon Brown said long wait times meant some people were not seeing a GP at all.
Relief and frustration from staff over abandoned Health NZ restructuring

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

There were tears of relief - mingled with frustration - among staff at the National Public Health Service on Monday at the news Health NZ had abandoned plans for further job cuts and restructuring. Health NZ said it had agreed with the Public Service Association (PSA) to stop planned "change proposals" in public health and two divisions of planning and funding after "cost savings were achieved".
Former Health NZ IT worker 'not surprised' at data breach

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

Friday AM Police cyber crime unit investigating breach of "sensitive" Health NZ staff data and expects to lay charges Health NZ tight-lipped on whether employee or hacker involved Ex-staffer says short-staffing and lack of funding for upgrades has led to "insecure systems"Health NZ is refusing to confirm whether the "malicious actor" behind a data breach involving staff's personal health information was an external hacker or an inside job.
Outsourcing being used to pretend hospital wait times are being fixed - doctor

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

Hospital specialists accuse government of farming out operations to private hospitals to give "false" impression that it's improving wait times Northland gynaecologist says public services starved of resources Doctors' union says the government is overriding clinical decision-making and private providers are creaming off straight-forward cases Health NZ and Health Minister Simeon Brown say they are committed to increasing access by using capacity in public and private Frustrated senior...