Wellington, NZPA - Two families at a welfare centre in the Christchurch suburb of Linwood are battling gastroenteritis.

The Flawed Guru

Hundreds of patients have added to the backlog of people waiting for images and surgery during a national radiographers' strike.

The Royal New Zealand College of Genereal Practitioners is calling on health agencies to ensure the longer-term emotional after-effects of the earthquake are dealt with appropriately.

Lincoln Maternity Hospital and Burwood Birthing Unit remain closed until further notice.

Women who were intending to birth at the Units prior to the earthquake should go to Christchurch Women's Hospital.

Nigel Ingham believes calling 111 when he had stroke symptoms would have saved him months of intense rehabilitation.

Auckland, Sept 4 NZPA - Christchurch radiographers have abandoned strike action following a massive earthquake in the South Island this morning.

Wellington, Sept 4 NZPA - Long acting bronchodilators should be banned for use in asthma as single inhaler products because of the increased mortality risk when they are used without an accompanying inhaled steroid, New Zealand researchers say.

Auckland, Sept 3 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key is urging striking radiographers to exercise restraint during contract negotiations.

By Mary Longmore of NZPA

Wellington, Sept 3 NZPA - Obesity specialists today called for an end to the stigma over obesity surgery in New Zealand, claiming it is the most effective way of losing weight and keeping it off.