Latest Media Releases
Introducing This Page
This page introduces you to Media Releases publicised by the West Coast DHB. If there are any news you expected to find and they aren't shown here try our Media Releases Archive, or contact the West Coast DHB Communications Officer.
Latest Media Releases
This section contains links to recent West Coast District Health Boards media releases.
Feedback received on Better, Sooner, More Convenient Primary Health Care Plan
21 / 07 / 2010 We thank those people who took the time to respond to the 'Better, Sooner, More Convenient' (BSMC) plan. We acknowledge the points raised, and below provide a summary of our response to the feedback received. Details...
Women's and Children's Health Initiatives Presented at WCDHB Meeting
14 / 07 / 2010 Canterbury District Health Board's (CDHB) Women's and Children's Division is putting its support behind West Coast efforts to enhance the consistency and quality of women's and children's health services on the Coast. Details...
Update 2 - Obstetric and Gynaecology Services at West Coast District Health Board
08 / 07 / 2010 As stated in the release of 1 July 2010, the West Coast DHB wishes to confirm that they will not have any specialist Obstetric & Gynaecology cover available onsite from the morning of Monday 12 July 2010 until the morning of Friday 16 July 2010. Details...
Update - Obstetric and Gynaecology Services at West Coast District Health Board
01 / 07 / 2010 Further to the release of 28 June 2010, the West Coast DHB wishes to advise that currently they have no specialist Obstetric & Gynaecology cover available onsite from the morning of Monday 12 July 2010 until the morning of Friday 16 July 2010. Details...
Obstetric and Gynaecology Services at West Coast District Health Board
28 / 06 / 2010 The West Coast DHB wishes to advise that for the next month there will be times when there is only limited specialist Obstetric and Gynaecology cover available onsite. Details...
An Innovative Joint Approach to Health Care on the West Coast
28 / 06 / 2010 St John and the West Coast District Health Board (WCDHB) are pleased to announce that they have finalised a collaborative agreement for the new combined ambulance station and medical centre at Franz Josef. Details...
Ophthalmology Services at West Coast District Health Board
11 / 06 / 2010 After a Request for Proposal (tender) process, the West Coast District Health Board is to change Ophthalmology service provider for Greymouth and Westland Districts from 1 July 2010. Details...
ASMS letter regarding the West Coast Integrated Family Health Centre proposal
28 / 05 / 2010 The West Coast District Health Board has received a letter from the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists regarding the West Coast Integrated Family Health Centre proposal. Details...
West Coast District Health Board performs well against health targets
20 / 05 / 2010 The West Coast District Health Board has figured well in the Ministry of Health's third quarter figures on District Health Board performance against the six Government health targets. Details...
Senior Clinical Appointments
19 / 05 / 2010 The West Coast District Health Board is pleased to announce the appointment of two West Coast doctors to senior roles within the organisation. Details...
Medical Students in Greymouth 'teleport' to students and teachers around NZ
19 / 05 / 2010 Thanks to help from both Solid Energy and the West Coast District Health Board (WCDHB) the Coast's three resident year 5 medical students will be able to continue presentations, seminars and lectures with their teachers and colleagues over a special medical video network. Details...
Better, sooner, more convenient primary health care for the West Coast
18 / 05 / 2010 Better, sooner and more convenient primary health care will be the result if the proposal developed by the West Coast Primary Health Organisation in collaboration with the West Coast District Health Board is implemented in the future. Details...
CDHB to Provide Chief Executive Services to the West Coast
27 / 04 / 2010 Collaboration between the West Coast and Canterbury District Health Boards has moved a step closer with an agreement between both organisations to share a Chief Executive from 1 July. Details...
Surgery Back On Schedule
20 / 04 / 2010 Surgery is back on schedule at the West Coast District Health Board following replacement of three of four anaesthetic machines at Grey Base Hospital. Details...
Emergency Planning Exercise Tests Hospital Staff
20 / 04 / 2010 Staff from Grey Base Hospital dealt with 29 patients from a crash between a car and the Tranz Alpine Train on Wednesday morning. Details...
Anaesthetic Machine Issues
08 / 04 / 2010 Anaesthetic machines at Grey Base Hospital are having reliability issues despite recent technical servicing. Details...
Industrial Action
06 / 04 / 2010 The West Coast District Health Board has received notice from the Association of Professionals and Executive Employees (APEX) that radiographers will not be available for after-hours work from Tuesday 6 April until Monday 19 April. Details...
Child Health Services
06 / 04 / 2010 South Island Children's Health Service representatives have come together to ensure services are available to children in the future, wherever they live in South Island. Details...
Closure of Dobson Medical Clinic
19 / 03 / 2010 The West Coast District Health Board is closing the Dobson Medical Clinic as a recently completed audit has determined that the building is no longer fit to be used as a health clinic. The clinic will close from 12 April 2010. Details...
Industrial Action
12 / 03 / 2010 The West Coast District Health Board has received note from the Association of Professionals and Executive Employees (APEX) that radiographers will not be available for after-hours work for one week commencing Monday 15 March. Details...
LECG Report
12 / 03 / 2010 At the 11 March meeting of the West Coast District Health Board 25 submissions on the independent LECG report “Analysis of options: Models of care for West Coast District Health Board” were received. Details...
Walk2Work - an event promoting the positive benefits of gentle physical exercise on the body, environment and the pocket!
02 / 03 / 2010 On the 10th of March 2010, thousands of people across New Zealand will leave their cars at home and Walk2Work with friends, family and colleagues. Details...
West Coast District Health Board performance against health targets
01 / 03 / 2010 The Ministry of Health has released its second quarterly figures on District Health Board performance against the six government health targets. Details...
Independent Report on Sustainability Project Received
28 / 01 / 2010 A report into the future provision of health services by West Coast District Health Board has recommended that Grey Base Hospital should become a ‘centre of excellence’ for rural health, with strong clinical back up from the Canterbury District Health Board. Details...
“The Itch” numbers rise on the West Coast
21 / 12 / 2009 Staff have noticed a large increase in the occurrence of scabies, also known as “the itch”, amongst patients presenting at West Coast District Health Board facilities. Details...
Canterbury-West Coast DHB collaboration boosted
18 / 12 / 2009 Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced that Canterbury DHB board member, Mr Peter Ballantyne has been cross-appointed to the West Coast DHB Details...
Cervical cancer immunisation available to West Coast girls again in 2010
15 / 12 / 2009 Next year public health nurses will be back in schools on the West Coast, offering free Human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation to girls. Details...
2009 Innovation and Excellence Awards Results
26 / 11 / 2009 In a ceremony held in Greymouth last evening, awards were presented to health service providers recognising groups for their innovative projects and the excellence of the service they provide. Details...
West Coast District Health Board Performance Against Health Targets
23 / 11 / 2009 The Ministry of Health today released figures on District Health Board performance against the six government health targets. Details...
Fresh Future Trust Presentation
06 / 11 / 2009 West Coast children’s hospital services will benefit significantly as the result of this year’s Fresh Future Appeal. Details...
New mobile clinics improve access to dental services for rural West Coast children
05 / 11 / 2009 The arrival of two new mobile dental clinics at the West Coast District Health Board will provide improved oral health services to students of rural West Coast schools. A greater emphasis on prevention and education is the core of the new service. Details...
Developing Primary Care on the West Coast
04 / 11 / 2009 West Coast Primary Health Organisation Chief Executive Officer Andrea Baker was informed today that the PHO proposal to the Ministry of Health’s call for Expressions of Interest for changing models of primary health care was accepted by a team of experts appointed by the Minister of Health. Details...
Swine Flu Update 23
23 / 10 / 2009 The West Coast has generally fared well during the pandemic influenza outbreak over the winter. The sensible precautions taken certainly prevented the illness from gaining a foothold here. Details...
Rural General Practice Rural Hospital Medicine Training Programme
22 / 10 / 2009 In December 2009 the West Coast District Health Board (WCDHB) will be commencing the first year of its Rural General Practitioner/ Rural Hospital Medicine Training Programme. Details...
Buller Health, Hokitika Health and Reefton Health Phone System Change
21 / 10 / 2009 Following the successful changeover of the internal phone system at Grey Base Hospital, West Coast District Health Board facilities at Buller Health, Hokitika Health and Reefton Health will also change. Details...
Grey Base Hospital Phone System Change
16 / 10 / 2009 On Monday 19 October at 8pm, Grey Base Hospital will be changing its internal phone system. Details...
The Safe Staffing and Healthy Workplaces demonstration site initiative begins in earnest this week
29 / 09 / 2009 The West Coast District Health Board has recently been chosen to become a Safe Staffing Healthy Workplace (SSHW) national Demonstration Site. Details...
Human Resources Collaboration
10 / 09 / 2009 West Coast District Health Board (WCDHB) and Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) have today announced an arrangement for greater collaboration involving all aspects of Human Resources management and related support services. Details...
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
24 / 08 / 2009 The West Coast currently has the highest rates of whooping cough (pertussis) in New Zealand, more than three times higher than the national rate. Details...
Kaumatua Hui Held in Greymouth
19 / 08 / 2009 A health and wellness hui for Kaumatua was held at Shantytown in Greymouth on Saturday 8 August, with approximately 50 Kaumatua from all over the West Coast in attendance. Details...
Swine Flu Update 22
11 / 08 / 2009 The number of people confirmed to have swine influenza A (H1N1) on the West Coast currently stands at fifty-two, up one from a week ago. Details...
MMR Vaccinations Brought Forward to Contain Measles Outbreak
10 / 08 / 2009 The timing of Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccinations is being brought forward for West Coast infants to give children greater protection from measles during the current outbreak. Details...
Fresh Future Appeal launched!
07 / 08 / 2009 The West Coast portion of the 2009 Fresh Future Appeal was launched at McBrearty Ward, Grey Base Hospital today. The appeal is run by the Progressive Enterprises' family of supermarkets and Dick Smith stores throughout New Zealand in August and September for paediatric care in various NZ hospitals, with staff organising a broad and imaginative range of fundraising activities. Details...
Survey looks into oral health of New Zealanders
07 / 08 / 2009 The roll-out continues in the West Coast. About 2000 adults and 1000 children are expected to take part in the 2009 New Zealand Oral Health Survey that is being conducted from March to November 2009. Details...
Grey District Library welcomes breastfeeding mothers
06 / 08 / 2009 'The Big Latch-on', the main event for World Breastfeeding Week is taking place in Greymouth on Friday August 7th at 10.30am. The Breastfeeding Interest Group has been campaigning for a breastfeeding space in the Greymouth CBD following the relocation of the Plunket Rooms in 2008. Details...
Swine Flu Update 21
05 / 08 / 2009 The numbers of people diagnosed with swine influenza A(H1N1) on the West Coast currently stands at fifty-one confirmed cases. Details...
The Big Latch On - Friday 7th August 2009
04 / 08 / 2009 West Coast mothers are taking part in the annual breastfeeding marathon as they latch their babies on for a feed on Friday August the 7th. Details...
Fresh Future Appeal
31 / 07 / 2009 The West Coast portion of the 2009 Fresh Future Appeal will be launched at McBrearty Ward, Grey Base Hospital at 10.30 am on Thursday 6 August. Details...
Swine Flu Update 20
31 / 07 / 2009 The numbers of people diagnosed with swine influenza A(H1N1) on the West Coast stands at forty eight confirmed cases. Details...
Swine Flu Update 19
28 / 07 / 2009 The numbers of people diagnosed with swine influenza A(H1N1) on the West Coast stands at forty seven confirmed cases. Details...
Greymouth Maori Mum4Mum Graduates
23 / 07 / 2009 The first Maori Mum4Mum breastfeeding peer counselling course to be held in Greymouth has finished, and four women graduated at a ceremony at the West Coast PHO on Tuesday 21st July. Mum4mum is a breastfeeding peer support programme that is a joint initiative supported by the West Coast District Health Board and the West Coast Primary Health Organisation. Details...
Swine Flu Update 18
23 / 07 / 2009 The numbers of people diagnosed with swine influenza A(H1N1) on the West Coast still stands at forty confirmed cases from both urban and rural areas. Details...
Foote Ward Not to Close
23 / 07 / 2009 The West Coast District Health Board's plans for managing the General Practitioner shortage in Westport do not involve closure of Buller Health's Foote Ward. Details...
Advisory Committee Appointments
20 / 07 / 2009 The West Coast District Health Board wishes to advise, the following appointments to the West Coast District Health Board Advisory Committees, were approved at the June 2009 Board meeting. Details...
Mental Health Inpatient Unit at West Coast District Health Board
20 / 07 / 2009 Due to increasing staff shortages the West Coast District Health Board is to reduce the numbers of beds available in the Manaakitanga Mental Health Inpatient Unit at Grey Base Hospital from nine to five from 20th July 2009. Details...
Swine Flu Update 17
20 / 07 / 2009 The numbers of people diagnosed with swine influenza A(H1N1) on the West Coast continues to rise with forty confirmed cases from both urban and rural areas. Details...
Importance of On-Time Immunisation
08 / 07 / 2009 Reports of a recent measles outbreak in Christchurch highlight the risks associated with not completing a full course of childhood immunisations. Details...
Swine Flu Update 16
02 / 07 / 2009 The numbers of people diagnosed with swine influenza A(H1N1) on the West Coast continues to rise with six confirmed cases from both urban and rural areas. Details...
West Coast DHB and CPIT combine forces for new nursing initiative
02 / 07 / 2009 Prospective students in the greater Canterbury and West Coast regions wanting to study CPIT’s Bachelor of Nursing off-site, can now do so thanks to a new blended-delivery training scheme initiated by CPIT and the West Coast District Health Board. Details...
Progress on DHB Collaboration
01 / 07 / 2009 Collaboration between the West Coast and Nelson Marlborough District Health Boards could now extend to include Canterbury District Health Board. This follows the announcement in early May 2009 that Nelson Marlborough and West Coast DHBs were seeking greater levels of collaboration both to effect cost savings and to support clinical delivery. Details...
Swine Flu Update 15
01 / 07 / 2009 Currently on the West Coast we have had one confirmed case and four probable cases of swine influenza A(H1N1) in the Westport area and one confirmed case and one probable cases in the Greymouth area. Details...
Mental Health Unit to become Smokefree
30 / 06 / 2009 After much planning and preparation, the Mental Health unit at Grey Base Hospital is becoming smokefree on 1 July 2009. Details...
Swine Flu Update 14
30 / 06 / 2009 Currently on the West Coast we have had one confirmed case and four probable cases of swine influenza A(H1N1) in the Westport area and one confirmed case and two probable cases in the Greymouth area. Details...
Safe Staffing and Healthy Workplaces
29 / 06 / 2009 The West Coast District Health Board has recently been chosen to become a Safe Staffing Healthy Workplace (SSHW) national Demonstration Site. Details...
Swine Flu Update 13
29 / 06 / 2009 A second case of swine influenza A (H1N1) has been confirmed on the West Coast with a male teenager in the Greymouth area both testing positive for the virus. Details...
HEHA nutrition funding benefits children on the West Coast
29 / 06 / 2009 Healthy Eating – Healthy Action (HEHA) promotes an environment and society where individuals, families and whanau, and communities are supported to eat well, live physically active lives, and attain and maintain a healthy body weight. Details...
A new initiative for Maori pregnant women and their whanau living on the Coast
24 / 06 / 2009 A Matauranga Haputanga - antenatal education programme is to be established on the West Coast. Details...
Disruption to Elective Services
24 / 06 / 2009 Some of the elective surgery that was planned for next week at Grey Base Hospital has had to be postponed. Those patients affected by this disruption will have been already contacted by the District Health Board. Details...
Swine Flu Update 12
23 / 06 / 2009 The West Coast still only has one confirmed case of non-seasonal swine influenza A (H1N1) in Westport. There are four other probable cases in Westport who were contacts of the confirmed case. However, there are indicators strongly suggesting that the novel influenza virus is already circulating on the Coast. Details...
Swine Flu Update 11
22 / 06 / 2009 Both seasonal influenza and non-seasonal Influenza A (H1N1) virus are now spreading in some of our communities. The overall severity of the disease is moderate. The West Coast has had its first confirmed case of non-seasonal swine influenza A (H1N1) in Westport. The person did not require hospitalisation and is recovering. Details...
Swine Flu Update 10
19 / 06 / 2009 Currently on the West Coast there are no people in quarantine for swine influenza A (H1N1). Test results received yesterday have all come back negative for swine influenza A (H1N1). Details...
Swine Flu Update 9
18 / 06 / 2009 Currently on the West Coast there are three people awaiting test results for swine influenza A (H1N1). One (previously advised) is from Westport and two from the Grey District. Details...
Swine Flu Information Regarding Bus Travellers Held In Quarantine At Hokitika
15 / 06 / 2009 Tests have confirmed that the isolated person suspected to have swine flu did not have swine flu, so the travellers are being released from their period of quarantine and will be free to continue their journey. Details...
Swine Influenza Update 7
09 / 06 / 2009 The first two cases of swine flu Influenza A, (H1N1) have now been confirmed in the South Island. Details...
Preferred Provider Announced
04 / 06 / 2009 The West Coast District Health Board has selected Richmond New Zealand as the preferred provider for the future provision of Peer-led Activity and Living Skills Services for mental health service users on the West Coast. Details...
Mental Health Support Services to be Maintained
20 / 05 / 2009 The West Coast District Health Board is changing Mental Health rehabilitation services on the West Coast to encompass a broader range of services to meet the diverse rehabilitation needs of service users. Details...
Chief Executive Appointment
11 / 05 / 2009 The West Coast District Health Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Joel George as Chief Executive Officer. Details...
DHBs to Explore Greater Collaboration
08 / 05 / 2009 The Nelson Marlborough and West Coast District Health Boards are to investigate the benefits of greater collaboration say their respective chairpersons – Suzanne Win of NMDHB and Rex Williams of West Coast DHB. Details...
Swine Influenza Update 6
08 / 05 / 2009 Currently there are no persons on the West Coast in isolation or quarantine as the result of swine flu (influenza A, H1N1). A suspected case was tested during the week but was found not to be influenza A. Details...
Swine Influenza Update 5
05 / 05 / 2009 The West Coast family that had been in North America and had a family member with flu-like symptoms has received test results confirming that they do not have Type A influenza. The family have since been released from quarantine. Details...
Swine Influenza Update 4
01 / 05 / 2009 All of the West Coast people who were associated with flight NZ 1 have completed their course of Tamiflu and are being released from home quarantine. Details...
Swine Influenza Update 3
30 / 04 / 2009 The four West Coast people who were associated with flight NZ 1 are still without any flu–like symptoms in home quarantine and are completing a course of Tamiflu. Details...
Swine Influenza Update 2
29 / 04 / 2009 The identification of swine flu amongst some of the students from Rangitoto College off flight NZ1 has not changed the precautionary response of health authorities on the West Coast. Details...
Swine Influenza Update 1
28 / 04 / 2009 West Coast Health authorities are continuing to monitor the New Zealand situation regarding the possible swine influenza closely. Details...
Influenza-like Illness
27 / 04 / 2009 Health authorities on the West Coast are taking the possible arrival in New Zealand of a new strain of influenza seriously. Details...
Surgical Ward Reopens
26 / 03 / 2009 The West Coast District Health Board is to reopen Barclay Ward at Grey Base Hospital as a Monday to Friday surgical ward from Monday 30 March 2009. Details...
Obstetric and Gynaecology Services Update
25 / 03 / 2009 From 5 pm Monday 30 March until Friday 3 April 2009, the West Coast District Health Board will not have Obstetric and Gynaecology specialists at Grey Base Hospital. Details...
Breast Screening Unit Receives Blessing
24 / 03 / 2009 In a short ceremony on Monday 23 March the new Breastscreening unit at Grey Base Hospital received a blessing from local maori enabling the commissioning process for the facility to go ahead. Details...
Update on the Sustainability Project
20 / 03 / 2009 The West Coast District Health Board and Ministry of Health continue to work towards finalisation of the Sustainability Project. Details...
Chief Executive Appointment
20 / 03 / 2009 The recruitment process for a permanent Chief Executive Officer for the West Coast District Health Board is still in progress. Details...
Obstetric and Gynaecology Services at the WCDHB
18 / 03 / 2009 From 4 pm Thursday 19 March until 10 am Friday 20 March 2009, the West Coast District Health Board will not have Obstetric and Gynaecology specialists at Grey Base Hospital. Details...
Activity Centres on the West Coast
16 / 03 / 2009 The provision of community based mental health support services is currently subject to a tendering process by the West Coast District Health Board. The process is around the future provision of peer led activity and living skills services and education and employment support services. Details...
West Coast District Health Board Joins Effort to Strengthen South Island Health Services
04 / 03 / 2009 South Island District Health Boards have come together to plan long-term, viable health services across the mainland. Details...
Greymouth Doctor Provides Leadership in National Bowel Screening Programme
24 / 02 / 2009 Greymouth General Practitioner and West Coast District Health Board General Practitioner Liaison Officer, Dr Carol Atmore has been seconded to the Ministry of Health to become Clinical Director of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. Details...
Orthopaedic Cover at Grey Base Hospital
16 / 02 / 2009 The West Coast District Health Board wishes to advise that due to arranged locum staff now being unavailable, there will be no on-site, acute orthopaedic services available from 3pm Sunday 15 February until 8pm on Friday 20 February. Details...
Business Cases
11 / 02 / 2009 West Coast District Health Board has now released the business cases for the proposed redevelopment of Buller Health and Greymouth Base Hospital Details...
Orthopaedic Cover at Grey Base Hospital
09 / 02 / 2009 The West Coast District Health Board wishes to advise that due to arranged locum staff now being unavailable, there will be no on-site, acute orthopaedic services available until 8 am on Friday 13 February. Details...
Health Scholarships announced
30 / 01 / 2009 West Coast District Health Board chair Rex Williams presented Health Scholarships to the recipients of the 2009 awards at a ceremony at Grey Base Hospital on Wednesday 28 January. Details...
School Based Immunisation
26 / 01 / 2009 The immunisation programme of young women to give protection against the cervical cancer causing virus HPV (human papillomavirus), will start in schools early March. Details...
House Surgeon Receives Rhodes Scholarship
12 / 01 / 2009 West Coast District Health Board House surgeon, Dr Peter Cox has a clear idea of where he is going in 2009. Peter has been awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, which will see him heading off to Oxford University in mid-year. Details...
Wahine Pounamu - Walking the Talk
06 / 01 / 2009 Three teachers from Greymouth High School have taken up the challenge to walk the Athens Marathon this year. Following an inspirational talk from a group of Maori women from Christchurch six months ago, Teena Henderson, Rachelle Owen-Cooper and Tina Singer are making progress towards achieving their goal. Details...
2008 Innovation and Excellence Awards Winners
20 / 11 / 2008 Acting Chief Executive Joel George expressed his pleasure at the high quality of the projects submitted for the second year of the West Coast District Health Board’s Innovation and Excellence Awards. Details...
Carelink Launched
18 / 11 / 2008 The West Coast District Health Board launched its Carelink service in Greymouth yesterday. Carelink provides Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination (NASC) for people who have an identified need for long term support services. Details...
New Human Resources Manager
18 / 11 / 2008 The West Coast District Health Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Kim O’Keefe as Human Resources Manager. Details...
Fresh Future Trust Cheque Presented to WCDHB
14 / 11 / 2008 On Wednesday 12 November Fresh Future Trust chair Ruth Krippner and Progressive Enterprises representative Fred Hawthorn presented a cheque to the West Coast District Health Board. Details...
Fresh Future Trust
11 / 11 / 2008 Staff of Parfitt paediatric ward and the McBrearty and Kawatiri maternity facilities are looking forward in anticipation to the presentation, on Wednesday 12 November, of a cheque from the Fresh Future Trust. Details...
West Coast Project wins NZ Health Innovation Award
06 / 11 / 2008 The West Coast District Health Board is delighted to announce that at a gala dinner in Wellington last evening its project “Alternative Pathways for New Patients” won the Excellence in Process Improvement Award at the New Zealand Health Innovation Awards. Details...
Staffing Situation Update
03 / 11 / 2008 Due to increasing staff shortages the West Coast District Health Board is to reduce the numbers of beds available in the combined medical and surgical wards at Grey Base Hospital. Shortages of nursing staff mean that to ensure that the ward is staffed at an appropriate and safe level, the bed numbers for acute patients have been reduced from twenty six to twenty one. Details...
Gardeners Reminded to Take Precautions When Using Potting Mix
24 / 10 / 2008 The Ministry of Health is reminding gardening enthusiasts about the dangers of using potting mix without taking the necessary precautions following the recent increase in case numbers for legionellosis (also known as Legionnaire’s disease) over the past two to three weeks. Details...
New Appointments in the Buller Region
02 / 10 / 2008 The West Coast District Health Board is happy to announce the appointment of three new doctors to provide healthcare to the people of the Buller area. Details...
2008 Excellence and Innovation Health Awards
30 / 09 / 2008 The West Coast District Health Board is running the Excellence and Innovation Health Awards, this year in association with the ACC, and is seeking nominations. Details...
Healthy Drinks For Children? – Test Your Knowledge
24 / 09 / 2008 Is water a healthy drink? What about milk? Should my children be drinking juice? How often should kids be drinking fizzy drinks? Details...
Portable Monitor Gifted To Improve Patient Care
24 / 09 / 2008 Joel George, West Coast District Health Board Chief Executive, recently received the gift of a portable Dash 3000 monitor from the Franz Josef Glacier Community Trust. Details...
Education for Enterprise Project Highly Successful
22 / 09 / 2008 Two Greymouth High accounting students, Stacey Bowden and Sam MacDonald have been working with finance department staff from the West Coast District Health Board to fine tune processes and develop a cost model for the hospital laundry. Details...
Mental Health Peer Support Service Announced
19 / 09 / 2008 The West Coast District Health Board today announced that Pact West Coast has been selected as the successful provider of Mental Health consumer advisory and peer support services for the West Coast. Details...
Mental Health Peer Support Service Announced
19 / 09 / 2008 The West Coast District Health Board today announced that Pact West Coast has been selected as the successful provider of Mental Health consumer advisory and peer support services for the West Coast. Details...
Elective Caesarean Births for West Coast Women
10 / 09 / 2008 Negotiations by the West Coast District Health Board have secured access for West Coast women requiring elective caesarean sections at St George Hospital in Christchurch. Details...
Elective Caesarean Births for West Coast Women
10 / 09 / 2008 Negotiations by the West Coast District Health Board have secured access for West Coast women requiring elective caesarean sections at St George Hospital in Christchurch. Details...
Update on Surgery at Grey Base Hospital
09 / 09 / 2008 There will be some delays to surgery this week at the West Coast District Health Board’s Grey Base Hospital as all theatre staff await clearance regarding their MRSA status. Details...
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Update
08 / 09 / 2008 All operating theatres at Grey base Hospital have now been thoroughly cleaned and samples tested for MRSA contamination. The results indicate the areas to be clear and the theatres have reopened for surgery. Details...
Suspension of Surgery at Grey Base Hospital
05 / 09 / 2008 Infection control staff at Grey Base Hospital have identified that a visiting clinician has tested positive to Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). Details...
HEHA Bikes Get West Coast District Health Board Staff Active
05 / 09 / 2008 Staff at the West Coast DHB recently got a helping hand to get them more physically active with the purchase of five new HEHA-branded bikes through the Healthy Eating – Healthy Action (HEHA) Programme. Details...
O&G Situation at West Coast DHB
25 / 08 / 2008 For the month of August, Grey Base Hospital will offer all its usual range of Obstetric and Gynaecological services with West Coast DHB specialist staff and regular locums providing cover. Details...
Ward Merger
11 / 08 / 2008 The West Coast DHB at Grey Base Hospital will, from today, be merging the medical and surgical wards, as well as relocating the paediatrics unit for a period of up to two months. Details...
Greymouth Surgeon Saves Young Passenger
08 / 08 / 2008 West Coast DHB general surgeon Terry Mixter, had an eventful flight to the USA recently. During the flight a young girl became quite ill and began to have difficulty breathing. With the assistance of an A&E nurse from Dunedin, who was also on the flight, they managed to administer some drugs which temporarily allowed the young girl to breathe. Details...
New Franz Josef Facility
07 / 08 / 2008 The West Coast DHB and St John are pleased to announce that both organisations have now approved the construction of a new joint facility for Franz Josef. Details...
Change in Food, Cleaning, Orderlies and Grounds contract
31 / 07 / 2008 The West Coast DHB wish to announce that they have selected new providers of Food, Cleaning, Orderlies and Grounds services from 1st October 2008. Details...
Fresh Future Appeal
30 / 07 / 2008 In 2008 the West Coast DHB is fortunate in being invited to become one of the recipients of the 2008 Fresh Futures Appeal. The appeal is run by the Progressive Enterprises family of supermarkets in August and September for paediatric care in various NZ hospitals. Details...
Clarification as to why the WCDHB is seeking to upgrade or replace Grey Base Hospital
28 / 07 / 2008 “People focussing exclusively on the seismic safety of Grey Base Hospital seem to have missed the point as to why the DHB is seeking to upgrade or replace the facility”, said Wayne Champion, General Manager of Corporate Services at the West Coast DHB. Details...
Interim financial result
25 / 07 / 2008 The West Coast District Health Board has recorded an interim full year deficit (subject to Audit) of $6.7 million for the 2007-08 financial year. Details...
Cisco, West Coast DHB and Gen-I Announce First Cisco HealthPresence Trial in New Zealand.
14 / 07 / 2008 Grey Base Hospital in Greymouth to Support Buller Health in Westport in First Patient-Care Delivery Solution of Its Kind Details...
New Standby Generator Commissioned
09 / 07 / 2008 Patients and visitors to Grey Base Hospital will notice some changes over this weekend 12 and 13 July as a new standby generator for the hospital is commissioned. Details...
West Coast DHB Announces New Acting CEO
08 / 07 / 2008 The West Coast DHB is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Joel George as Acting CEO of the DHB. Mr George will take up the position on 4 August 2008. Details...
Grey Base Hospital receives new OPG X-Ray machine
01 / 07 / 2008 The West Coast DHB Radiology Dept at Grey Base Hospital has been very fortunate to recently receive a new piece of equipment courtesy of the Christchurch Radiology Group. Details...
