Ruth Hill

A rural Northland resident who was acutely unwell with an infection says a friend had to drive him to hospital last month because no ambulances were available. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

The traditional family doctor who knows you and your medical history - and probably your mum as well - is increasingly being replaced by corporate employees and video screens. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

Health Minister Simeon Brown has scolded senior doctors in a take-no-prisoners address to their annual conference in Wellington today. In his speech, he accused them of crossing an "ethical line" for… Audio

More than 240 women have been forced to travel from eastern Bay of Plenty to Tauranga to give birth this year - a third of those being emergency transfers. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

There's been a huge spike in the number of people with traumatic brain injuries losing their ACC weekly compensation. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

Health Minister Simeon Brown says he doesn't rate his accomplishments by applause - which is just as well, because he didn't get any today at the Nurses Organisation annual conference in Wellington… Audio

The father of a man assaulted with a steel bar as a teenager and then hit by a truck has been battling ACC for 10 years. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

Nurses working for hospices and Plunket fear that even if they succeed in their new pay equity claims, they may never see the money. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

Doctors have made impassioned pleas to the government to step back from a law change they say will stop them from speaking out, and cost patient lives. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

A leaked document reveals Health NZ is planning to employ more graduate nurses on part-time hours and cut the amount of on-the-job training they receive. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

The US Health Department's recent announcement that it is cutting funding for mRNA vaccine research sent shockwaves through the scientific world and it also has ripple effects for New Zealand. Ruth… Audio

A child who spent months in a psychiatric hospital with a severe obsessive compulsive disorder was sent home and offered just an hour of therapy a week. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

Patients admitted to Dargaville Hospital overnight are asked to sign a disclaimer confirming they understand there is no doctor on site because of staff shortages. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

Heart disease is costing the country nearly $14 billion a year in direct costs to the health system and early deaths of one in five New Zealanders. That was the stark analysis from Otago University… Audio

A legal expert says it's still a criminal offence to advertise unapproved medicines in New Zealand - despite a government announcement that it has lifted the ban. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

36,000 nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants are on strike for 24 hours over what they say is Health NZ's refusal to staff hospitals at safe levels. One emergency department nurse described the… Audio

Thirty-six thousand workers from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation are walking off the job on Wednesday, after talks with Health NZ broke down this week. RNZ health correspondent Ruth Hill spoke to… Audio

Nearly 4,500 patients are having procedures or specialist appointments postponed due to the nationwide strike by nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants, which kicks off at 9am on Wednesday morning… Audio

Thirty health workers - including specialists, GPs and nurses - have signed an open letter to MPs asking them to waive their right to private healthcare during their time in office. Ruth Hill reports.

A highly successful programme with the potential to help thousands of orthopaedic patients waiting in pain for specialist appointments is being stymied by lack of funding. Ruth Hill reports. Audio