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.

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

One-third of patients attending a hospital emergency department (ED) are smokers, much higher than the rate for the rest of the population.

This is the finding of a six-day study conducted in August 2009 of over 500 patients attending Wellington Hospital Emergency Department.

Wellington, Aug 12 NZPA - Privacy Commissioner Marie Schroff will talk to the Law Commission about Wellington coroner Ian Smith's recommendations in his findings on the suicide of a young university student two years ago.

Wellington, Aug 12 NZPA - The Wellington coroner Ian Smith has called for a review of the Privacy Act so health professionals can more easily talk to the families of people suffering mental health difficulties, following the self-inflicted death of a young university student two years ago.

Lung cancer accounts for the most deaths from cancer according to figures released today by the Ministry of Health.

Wellington, June 16 NZPA- Twenty-six New Zealand women who may have been exposed to the hepatitis C virus in a Melbourne abortion clinic have been referred for testing.

Wellington, June 9 NZPA - Healthline has taken 59 calls from New Zealand women who believe they could have contracted hepatitis C from an Australian abortion clinic, the Ministry of Health says.

Calls for women at risk of hepatitis C following treatment at a private medical clinic in Australia have prompted a positive response.

Professor Max Abbott, head of AUT University's Gambling and Addictions Research Centre and Dean of the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, commends the new $55m funding package announced to help combat gambling-related harm.