Stephen Forbes, Interest.co.nz Journalist Profile

Articles

GenPro slams ministry’s planned health workforce shake-up

1 week ago | nzdoctor.co.nz | Stephen Forbes

FREE READ Respiratory physician Lutz Beckert considers chronic obstructive pulmonary disease management, including the prevention of COPD, the importance of smoking cessation and pulmonary rehabilitation, and the lifesaving potential of addressing treatable traits. He also discusses the logic of inhaler therapy, moving from single therapy to dual and triple therapy when indicated, as well as other aspects of management
Fear proposed Kāinga Ora cuts to target frontline teams, threatening innovative community work

1 week ago | nzdoctor.co.nz | Stephen Forbes |Vanessa Weenink

+Opinion Fear proposed Kāinga Ora cuts to target frontline teams, threatening innovative community work Cuts to client-facing roles at Kāinga Ora will probably mean wrecking those parts of the agency most involved in community engagement, writes adjunct professor Bill Ryan [Image: Mike Erskine on Unsplash] More than 600 roles are set to go at Kāinga Ora – but the deepest cuts appear to target client-facing teams, putting at risk some of the most innovative, community-led work in Aotearoa’s...
Auckland GP set to take up Harkness Fellowship

1 week ago | nzdoctor.co.nz | Zahra Shahtahmasebi |Stephen Forbes

FREE READ Respiratory physician Lutz Beckert considers chronic obstructive pulmonary disease management, including the prevention of COPD, the importance of smoking cessation and pulmonary rehabilitation, and the lifesaving potential of addressing treatable traits. He also discusses the logic of inhaler therapy, moving from single therapy to dual and triple therapy when indicated, as well as other aspects of management
Middleware wins contract for shared digital health record service

2 weeks ago | pharmacytoday.co.nz | Stephen Forbes

+News Middleware wins contract for shared digital health record service Te Whatu Ora IT boss Darren Douglass and living well lead Martin Hefford [Image: CR Canva composite] Essentials Te Whatu Ora has selected Middleware New Zealand to build a new shared digital health record data service.   The p, BACK panel - grey Kia ora and welcome to Pharmacy Today Kaitiaki Rongoā O Te Wā Not a subscriber? Unlock this article by subscribing here.
No accident government health plan ignores needs of Māori

3 weeks ago | nzdoctor.co.nz | Stephen Forbes |Martin Johnston |Alan Perrott |Barbara Fountain

Our political atmosphere is in an unpleasantly divisive stateLast month’s announcements covered a health sector delivery plan, governance, “partnerships”, telemedicine, primary care funding, workforce (overseas-trained doctors, more training placements for doctors and nurse practitioners, incentives for primary care practices to recruit nurses), and lowering the age for free bowel cancer screening.
Doctors seek more information from Health NZ on plans for a national patient record database

3 weeks ago | nzdoctor.co.nz | Stephen Forbes |Katie Todd

FREE READ +News FREE READ Doctors seek more information from Health NZ on plans for a national patient record database Health NZ said the new database would let health professionals see a patient's allergies and medical conditions [Image: Everythingpossible on iStock] by Katie ToddDoctors are seeking more information about a national patient record database that Health NZ plans to launch mid-year.
Minister wants speedier entry for overseas health workers; tribunal for appeals

3 weeks ago | pharmacytoday.co.nz | Stephen Forbes

+News Minister wants speedier entry for overseas health workers; tribunal for appeals Changes to health regulatory agencies would look to give speedier entry for overseas-trained health professionals Essentials The Government today released the discussion document Putting Patients First: Modernising workforce regulation. Consultation close Kia ora and welcome to Pharmacy Today Kaitiaki Rongoā O Te Wā Not a subscriber? Unlock this article by subscribing here.
Mr Brown’s Diary: Week 9 - from road-sign rapture to realities

3 weeks ago | nzdoctor.co.nz | Martin Johnston |Stephen Forbes |Peter Huskinson

+Opinion Reporter’s Diary Mr Brown’s Diary: Week 9 – from road-sign rapture to realities From faster speed limits to slow waiting times, it’s been a journey for health minister Simeon Brown this week [Image: Canva composite] Week nine of the job, and it’s starting to get tricky for health minister Simeon Brown as the life-and-death realities of the sector hit the headlines.
Heath providers must be on the lookout as syphilis reaches epidemic levels, expert warns

4 weeks ago | pharmacytoday.co.nz | Stephen Forbes

+News Heath providers must be on the lookout as syphilis reaches epidemic levels, expert warns Infectious syphilis cases are rising among women of childbearing age, leading to more congenital syphilis, neonatal deaths and miscarriages, says sexual health physician Eva Gregory [Image: Photo by rhsupplies on Unsplash] Essentials Health providers in urban areas need to be on the lookout for syphilis after a rapid rise in case numbers since 2015.
In-person consultations preferred over telehealth

4 weeks ago | nzdoctor.co.nz | Patrice Dougan |Stephen Forbes

+Opinion Goodfellow Symposium 2025 In-person consultations preferred over telehealth Marcel Fernando is a GP registrar at Carefirst Moturoa Medical Centre [Image: Canva composite] This year’s Goodfellow Symposium was held at the Due Drop Events Centre in Auckland over the weekend of 22 and 23 March. Reporter Zach Thompson was there to pose a pertinent question to attendees: How do you feel about telehealth in primary care?