Prime Minister John Key reaffirmed the Government's commitment to the training of medical staff at yesterday's opening of the Rural Academic General Practice at Grey Base Hospital.

A new website launched by the Southern Cancer Network (www.southerncancernetwork.org.nz), offers advice on how to take good care of yourself in order to reduce your risk of becoming ill later in life.

The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (HPDT) yesterday suspended Auckland doctor Ratilal Ranchhod for two years for professional misconduct relating to conducting medicals when he was not allowed to.

Wellington, Oct 4 NZPA - One month after the 7.1 magnitude Canterbury earthquake hit, farming families around Christchurch are being asked to help academics understand the effects of the quake on their properties and their communities.

Rural people with access to the internet are being asked to participate in a University of Canterbury survey to understand the effects of the September 4 earthquake.

The survey is accessible via the Rural Recovery Group pages on the Selwyn District Council website - www.selwyn.govt.nz.

TomTom and The EDGE are today kicking off the nationwide road trip in search of the new Kiwi voice for TomTom GPS.

ANZCA is monitoring closely a pilot programme in northern New Zealand where two surgical physician assistants - i.e. health professionals without medical degrees who take on tasks normally done by surgeons - have been employed.

TomTom announced today that it is on a nation-wide search for the new voice of New Zealand.

Delegates at the Public Health Association Conference were warned today that all attempts to attract and retain high quality health workers to New Zealand will be ineffective unless the looming GP shortage is addressed.

Te Hotu Manawa Maori (THMM) is using e-learning to up-skill Maori workers to become smoking cessation advisors, as part of their normal duties.

The programme - Nga Kete Hauora - is an ABC smoking cessation pilot that has been trialled in the Bay of Plenty and Te Taitokerau.