Health Minister Tony Ryall says the Lakes District Health Board has posted big improvements in key services over the past year.

The Flawed Guru

A total of 21 Northlanders have put their names forward for the Northland District Health Board elections.

Influenza H1N1 activity is continuing to increase with some areas reporting higher hospitalisation rates than experienced during last year's pandemic.

One third of all patients seeking treatment at hospital emergency departments are smokers -- a much higher rate than the rest of the population.

More access for heart patients to the blood-thinning drug clopidogrel is to be available from next month, following a major price reduction negotiated by the Government's drug-buying agency Pharmac.

The heart drug clopidogrel is to have open access from next month, following a major price reduction negotiated by PHARMAC.

Over 2,200 nurses are now spending more time caring for patients through a Health productivity initiative that uses Toyota-style "lean thinking".

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) - the ability of micro-organisms to find ways to evade the action of the drugs used to cure the infections they cause - is increasingly recognised as a global public health issue which could hamper the control of many infectious diseases.

Wellington, Aug 20 - A Christchurch midwife has had her registration cancelled and been ordered to pay $85,000 costs after a professional misconduct hearing.