Stories by Ruth Hill

Manawatū residents at higher risk of developing bowel cancer have been told they will not get their regular check-up colonoscopies for at least six months. Audio

All four specialists have resigned at Whakatāne Hospital, leaving midwives "sick" with worry: "What happens if something goes wrong?"

The successful programme for pregnant Māori and Pasifika and their babies in South Auckland has been forced to cut services, amid warnings of a whooping cough epidemic. Audio

The legislation is "completely inconsistent with expert advice and international law and best practice", associate professor says.

A group of mental health professionals say the new bill is just "the old act, with some new lipstick".

The public health system is making slow progress on achieving the government's health targets, with three actually getting slightly worse or flat-lining over winter.

Front-line healthworkers in Northland are being asked to "fill in" on reception to let overworked administration staff take toilet breaks. Audio

The Health Commissioner's claim that "overspending" is to blame for Te Whatu Ora's financial crisis has outraged health workers and their unions.

Gaps in care mean vulnerable patients may be "at increased risk of harming themselves or harming others". Audio

The Labour MP accused Lester Levy of "cooking the books" during a Select Committee.

Lester Levy will seek an apology from former Health Minister Ayesha Verrall after she suggested at Parliament that he had "reputation for cooking the books".

The Health Minister wants to work more closely with the private sector to cut waiting lists - but insists that is not a step towards privatisation.

Smart, beautiful and confident, Helen was a woman in complete control of her own life, until perimenopause plunged her into depression five years ago.

Labour says government targets are why so many patients cannot get onto hospital waiting lists, but some patients say this kind of rationing is nothing new. Audio

"It felt as though my hip was going to collapse," says Heather Tanguay, 80, while doctors say their referrals are now being rejected over a "lack of resources". Audio

Former inmates are speaking out to demand better mental health care for those currently imprisoned.

A "reset" to cut millions of dollars from the National Public Health Service will go ahead before Christmas, staff have been told.

Liz McGimpsey used to be sceptical of vaccination - until her daughter Freda contracted whooping cough at just four weeks old.

Mental health workers fear some prison inmates who are suicidal, psychotic or suffering other serious psychological problems will be left without support when their contracts end. Audio

The provision of hot drinks is enshrined in some health workers' contracts, "so if this was done as a cost-saving measure, it would have done anything but".

The man in charge of the country's public health system has stepped in to ensure all staff can still have a drink of Milo at work.

But nearly two-thirds of the country's healthworkers are still waiting.

Released documents show health officials made clear their belief the targets couldn't be reached without more funding.

The iwi health provider providing the programmes says there is now long waitlists.

Police have started cutting back on time spent escorting mental health patients to hospitals.