Wellington, March 10 NZPA - The outgoing Director-General of Health, Stephen McKernan, says he is not being pushed from his job.

Wellington, March 2 NZPA - The Government is injecting an extra $7 million immediately and another $20 million over the next two years to reduce waiting times and meet the spiralling costs for equipment and services for disabled people, ministers announced today.

Wellington, Feb 25 NZPA - A private care provider is calling for a national think tank to identify the best ways to ensure elderly are adequately cared for as the population of that demographic grows.

Wellington, Feb 24 NZPA - The Government has added South Canterbury and surgical nursing to a list of regions and specialities open to health graduates under its voluntary bonding scheme.

Wellington Feb 23, NZPA - Health Minister Tony Ryall has ignored warnings from senior doctors and nurses in deciding to merge the run-down Southland District Health Board (DHBs) with its Otago counterpart, their union says.

Wellington Feb 22, NZPA - The Government has approved the Otago and Southland District Health Boards'(DHBs) plans to merge. Health Minister Tony Ryall said the Southland and Otago DHBs had been working closely for several years, and the merger made sense.

Wellington, Feb 22 NZPA - Labour Party health spokeswoman Ruth Dyson has taken issue with suggestions her party is responsible for New Zealand's shortage of medical specialists getting to such a concerning level.

During its first year in office, the Government managed to run its agenda without suffering any noticeable damage. When difficulties did arise, Prime Minister John Key found remedies and shrugged them off in that way he has of making problems appear insignificant.

Wellington, Feb 15 NZPA - A directive from the Ministry of Education telling an opposition MP that information requests needed to be answered by the minister was a communications blunder, the ministry says.

Wellington, Feb 12 NZPA - The Government is seeking health professionals to sit on a new commission aimed at improving quality and safety in services provided.