15 December 2020 Dr Patrick O’Connor, Medical Officer of Health, says more people are likely to be travelling into and out of the Whanganui region and socialising generally over the holiday…

Whanganui’s lauded Grumpy Old Men have again put a smile on the faces of staff at Whanganui Hospital’s children’s ward with a generous donation.

New Zealand Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says it is an honour to be invited to Whanganui to give the Porritt Lecture.

Whanganui District Health Board has celebrated a successful first year of its bowel screening programme.

Dr Ashley Bloomfield will be in Whanganui next week as guest speaker for the Porritt Lecture.

A significant step forward has been taken in the expansion of the Waimarino Health Centre with the appointment of architect and design company Jasmax Central.

With more than 7000 people expected at Mardi Gras in Ohakune on Saturday, health officials are calling for locals and visitors to be extra vigilant for virus symptoms.

It was standing room only on Sunday as the 50^th anniversary of Whanganui Hospital’s chapel was celebrated in style.

Stanford House and clients/tangata whaiora are learning new skills and supporting the wider community by bringing back to life abandoned and broken bicycles.   

The sterling work of allied health professionals has been celebrated around the world … with Whanganui staff among those earning accolades.

Community connections made because of Covid-19 have resulted in a positive outcome for Whanganui Cook Island Christian Church and Rivercity Fijian Assembly of God Church, who have been given Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) funding for a community hall.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed things in many walks of life, and it has particularly impacted on health services - one significant impact has been the rise of “telehealth”.

24 September 2020        Whanganui Hospital’s valuable heritage collection has been submitted in the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Heritage’ category for the Whanganui Heritage Awards.

Aotearoa NZ Social Workers’ Day is Wednesday 23 September and Whanganui District Health Board (WDHB) is celebrating the mahi of local social workers.

The smart work being done at Whanganui Hospital may look a little smarter as staff go about their work in new uniforms.

September is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Month and Whanganui District Health Board health promoter Chester Penaflor is painting red shoes on more than 50 rocks to be placed around the city in support of the Red Shoes Rock kaupapa.

It's totally normal to feel a bit shaken and on-edge right now. There are a number of free apps and online self-help tools to help you manage your mental wellbeing. Looking after yourself now means you are more likely to stay well down the track.

This year Whanganui surpassed the government target, completing 783 checks against a target of 780, and of the 20 district health boards in New Zealand, only Nelson Marlborough and South Canterbury did better.

Following the change in Covid-19 Alert Levels, local health sector leaders are encouraging people to be vigilant, prepared and calm.

As we moved out of lockdown, the Covid-19 Integrated Recovery Team (IRT) surveyed people in our region about their experience during Alert Levels 3 and 4 – the good and the bad.  

The Covid-19 community-based assessment centre in the Whanganui Hospital grounds has changed its weekend opening hours to 9am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday. The centre is open 8am to 4.30pm on weekdays.

‘Blue’ Davies is a fit-looking 61-year-old who loves life, plays “a mean game of golf” and still enjoys a good party. But, with a rueful smile, he tells you: “I shouldn’t be here – I’m lucky to be alive.”

The team at Air Chathams, which flies between Whanganui and Auckland, were recently given tips on personal protective gear and hygiene to complement their customer service and safety practices.

The ‘Are You Up To Date’ campaign covers MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) immunisation for 13 to 29 years olds, and HPV (human papillomavirus) for 13 to 26 years.

July is the month for Pink Ribbon breakfasts, the Breast Cancer Foundation’s biggest fundraising effort.

Following the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Integrated Recovery Team is asking the community what projects and actions will help the Whanganui Region into the future.

Olive Redfern and Ron Kinsey – talk about their expertise in resilience, coping mechanisms and change following the response to Covid-19.

Members of Whanganui’s Integrated Recovery Team (IRT) were at the riverside market on Saturday getting feedback from the public on the impacts of COVID-19 and the lessons learned from the response to the virus.

“A place of peace for people of all faiths”, Whanganui Hospital chapel was 50 years old this month.

The Integrated Recovery team (IRT), a multi-agency team helping Whanganui Regional recover post Covid-19, will be at Whanganui River Markets on Saturday, 20 June.