A grieving mother, whose seven-month-old baby died after doctors took months to diagnose her illness, is pleading with the medical fraternity to take asthma-like symptoms more seriously.

Children tug at a nation's heartstrings when they are ill. When one of them has a heart that is failing the tug is all the stronger.

A system of alerts on the medical records of patients who may have had the fatal brain disease CJD was given up.

Danielle Lambermon sometimes feels like an outcast because of a burden accidentally laid on her by a hospital - the risk that she might contract a second brain disease.

Last year ACC shelled out almost $9 million for summer-related injuries, including $11,000 because of sunburn.

One expert fears the voluntary system may be dominated by Australian food industry pressure for even unhealthy foods to get a star.

A test which could have prevented hospital staff - who were checking the hearing of thousands of newborns - from screening their own ears was not used because it cost too much.

The news the Govt is looking to reduce access to certain elective surgical procedures is likely to raise the blood pressure of many across the country, writes Dr Justin Vaughan.

A Government group is looking at limiting access to common surgical procedures which cost taxpayers $641 million a year.

Up to 2000 babies have been recalled to hospital to have their hearing checked after Ministry of Health discovered "irregularities" in its newborn screening programme.

The Government is being urged to act now on child poverty rather than waiting for the economy to improve.

The number of children admitted to hospital with conditions that can be related to poverty has declined, but experts warn about problems with children's health.

When budgeting for healthcare, more money is never enough, writes Dita De Boni. Even Minister of Health Tony Ryall seems powerless to stem the tide of sickliness that will eventually bankrupt the country.

Many people are deterred from seeking medical help because of the fees charged by general practitioners, a survey has found.

Auckland District Health Board staff have blundered by sending a journalist an envelope filled with personal information and are now apologising to the people involved.

Kiwis have cut back on the amount of jogging, cycling and other "sweaty" activities they do, and researchers say that's partly to blame for our packing on extra kilos.

Next time I want to change my doctor, I'll consult the new government league tables, writes Dita De Boni.

What will our health system look like in 2060 if we change none of the entitlements or the way they're paid for?

The Waikato District Health Board is offering free whooping cough vaccinations to women from 20 weeks of pregnancy up until to two weeks after the birth of their babies.