8 November  

Whanganui now has three confirmed cases of mumps – two adults and one child who have been notified to the Public Health Centre.

Whanganui medical officer of health Patrick O’Connor says more than 900 cases of mumps have now been notified across New Zealand with most in Auckland, and most in the 15 to 24 age group.

Mumps is caused by a virus which can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or passes it on through their saliva when kissing or sharing food and drink. Antibiotics will not treat the infection or prevent spread.

24 October 2017 

They know it’s not going to be easy, but Whanganui District Health Board (WDHB) board members Stuart Hylton and Dame Tariana Turia are committed to drinking water only to support next month’s Switch to Water campaign.

The New Zealand Dental Association is challenging the public to drink water only, for 30 days in November, in the hope it will encourage participants to carry on doing so once the challenge ends.

3 October 2017

Whanganui District Health Board (WDHB) is putting its full support behind this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week from Monday 9 October through to Sunday 15 October.

Health promoter (mental health) Sarah Hawken says the week’s theme ‘Nature is key’ is the ideal prompt for the DHB to encourage Whanganui residents of all ages to look after their mental health by spending time outdoors with their colleagues, friends and/or family.

5 October 2017

Healthcare of New Zealand, healthcare rehabilitation group manager Russell Simpson has been appointed Whanganui District Health Board’s (WDHB) new chief executive, WDHB board chair Dot McKinnon announced today.

“On behalf my board colleagues, I want to say how delighted we are that Russell has accepted the role and that there may be an opportunity for departing chief executive Julie Patterson to meet with him for a ‘handover’ before she leaves us on Friday 20 October,” Mrs McKinnon said.

25 September

Whanganui Stop Smoking Service, Nga Taura Tuhono, is celebrating its first year knowing that, compared with all other New Zealand ‘quit’ services, they have achieved the highest rate of engagement with people who smoke – and more importantly, that many of those people have quit altogether.

In recent months, particularly during the month of July, the Whanganui Accident and Medical (WAM) clinic has experienced increasing numbers of patients presenting.  There are various reasons for this, including seasonal illnesses, such as colds and flu.  This trend is expected to continue throughout August and September and as a result, patients may experience considerable waiting times at WAM.  Peak times in the clinic are Monday’s and Friday’s, between the hours of 9am and 4pm. 

While Whanganui District Health Board (WDHB) recognises that winter illnesses can be very unpleasant, Health promotion officer Chester Penaflor says feeling unwell doesn’t always require a visit to the doctor.

Concerned by reports that people are seeking medical help from their doctor, Whanganui Accident & Medical (WAM) and Whanganui Hospital’s Emergency Department for common colds, Mr Penaflor says it’s important people understand the difference between a cold and the flu.

1 May 2017

Whanganui District Health Board (WDHB) chief executive Julie Patterson has announced she will step down from her role in late October this year.

Mrs Patterson informed WDHB board chair Dot McKinnon, the board and senior staff on Friday following what she described as a great deal of thought.

Mrs McKinnon said while she will be very sad to see Mrs Patterson leave, “I have full faith that the skills Julie has brought to Whanganui DHB will be put to good use in other areas of the health sector for which she has served for close to 50 years”.

7 April 2017

Whanganui District Health Board (WDHB) is launching two new programmes designed to support clinicians working with parents or caregivers who experience mental illness.

Called Keeping Families and Children in Mind and Let’s Talk, both programmes are focused on encouraging conversations that help children better understand what their parents are experiencing and very importantly - that they didn’t cause their parents’ illness.