Karen Brown
Alarming leap in mumps cases in Auckland
An alarming leap in the number of mumps cases in Auckland has public health authorities scrambling to figure out how to contain the outbreak. The number of confirmed or probable cases in the city has… Audio
Rising NZ road toll a worrying trend
The country's death toll on the roads is rising. Just this weekend, three people died on state highways in the North Island, and overnight in Southland three people died in a two-car crash on State… Audio
Police worried about rising road death toll
The police say they're extremely worried about the recent rising trend of deaths on roads each year. In the past two days alone, three people have died on state highways in the North Island. It takes… Audio
Lack of funding stopping vital blood tests - pharmacists
Pharmacists say a lack of funding is preventing them from providing vital blood tests in the community for thousands of people. About 6,800 people are having their blood-thinning medication warfarin… Audio
Chaotic health sector demands major changes of next govt
Major changes from the top down are wanted by the health sector, regardless of who forms the next government. Like many others, health workers are watching and waiting as kingmaker New Zealand First… Audio
Nurses told euthanasia may be legal in a decade
Nurses have been warned that assisted dying may soon be legal in New Zealand, and that they will be at the front line if it is. Health Correspondent Karen Brown reports. Video, Audio
Thousands waiting too long for eye operations
More than 9,000 patients are still waiting 1.5 times longer than intended for follow-up eye appointments nationwide. Health correspondent Karen Brown discusses the details. Audio
Baby dies after mother's caesarian section delayed
Waikato Hospital has confirmed that a baby died during a birth at the hospital a year ago but says it was not solely due to the fact a planned caesarian section was delayed. Audio
Wellington DHB doctor shortage 'deplorable'
Senior doctors say Wellington's district health board is not filling dozens of vacant positions for specialist doctors. Audio
Boys taking HPV jab surprises medical practitioners
For the first time, boys are being offered the free HPV vaccine this year and more than expected, two thirds, are lining up for the offer. And that's giving researchers increasing confidence there'll… Audio
Mumps outbreak in Auckland
There have been 300 confirmed cases in Auckland this year - more than the total number infected over the past 16 years. Audio
Small charity helping patients as DHBs struggle
As New Zealand's main charity hospital, in Christchurch, comes up to a decade of service, a little known charity in the Bay of Plenty is paying for private assessments, reassuring patients and… Audio
Northland will 'pay the price' for $29m DHB funding loss
A senior GP says poor and vulnerable people will pay the price of a loss of 29 million dollars in funding by Northland District Health Board. Audio
Auckland mumps outbreak has spread to Dunedin
An outbreak of mumps in Auckland has spread to Dunedin, which is experiencing its first outbreak of the disease in years. Health Correspondent, Karen Brown, reports. Audio
Demoted CDHB chair wants meeting to solve rift over deficit
A demoted district health board chairman is calling for a face-to-face meeting with Health Ministry managers to resolve a deepening rift. RNZ health correspondent Karen Brown says there's no clear… Audio
Canterbury DHB faces cutting services to meet MoH demands
Doctors are asking the Ministry of Health to drop its demand that Canterbury DHB begins reducing its $50 million deficit immediately, saying it can't do so without slashing services. Audio
Wellingtonians hard hit by winter ills
Experts say while the flu is definitely circulating this winter, there's significantly less than average for the time of year. Audio
Health Minister dismisses surgeons' call for task-force
Orthopaedic surgeons say access to non-urgent hip and knee replacement surgery will become even tougher unless immediate action is taken. Audio
Southern DHB promises quick response to cancer delay problem
The Southern District Health Board says it will move as fast as it can to improve poor care for patients needing prostate cancer and other treatment. RNZ health correspondent Karen Brown tells us the… Audio
Doctors call out Health Minister over Southern DHB comments
Two orthpaedic surgeons have written an open letter to the Health Minister Jonathan Coleman calling for him to 'walk in their shoes' as the Southern DHB crisis escalates. Audio