News Releases
Here's the latest news from WellSouth.
Questions or comments? Contact us at communications@wellsouth.org.nz
Or contact Frederique Gulcher, WellSouth Communications and Engagement Manager, 021 854 734.
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Meet our new Population Health Pharmacist
Wednesday 18 June 2025Welcome to our new Population Health Pharmacist, Lisa Richards, who is joining Sandy So in the WellSouth Pharmacy team.
Pou Tōkeke Population Health Pharmacists work with general practices, community pharmacies and Māori and Pacific health providers, specifically the latter, where they provide medication reviews and advice, hospital discharge support, planning and...
Giving more voice to future health care planning
Wednesday 23 April 2025Many more people in Otago and Southland can now rest assured health providers will know what their health care wishes are at times where they are unable to speak for themselves, often at the end of their lives.
In February 2024, WellSouth, the primary health organisation (PHO) for Otago and Southland,...
Dedicated Primary Care Integration manager appointed for New Dunedin Hospital
Thursday 17 April 2025Demonstrating its commitment for a-whole-of-system approach for the New Dunedin Hospital, WellSouth has appointed an Integration Manager, Primary and Community Services for New Dunedin Hospital, Nick Taylor.
Mr Taylor, formerly a WellSouth Primary Care Relationship Manager, will work alongside other WellSouth colleagues and colleagues at Health New Zealand to bring voice...
Pressure cooker in rural general practice
Friday 04 April 2025A primary care survey report shows that general practices in rural Otago and Southland are feeling the pressure, and are, compared to their urban counterparts, more likely to struggle to retain workforce, fill gaps and therefore provide care for the community they live in.
Here is the Primary Care Survey November...
WellSouth boosts free flu vaccination eligibility
Monday 31 March 2025Hundreds of Māori and Pacific Island people in Southland and Otago who are aged 55 – 64 years old are once again covered for the flu vaccine this year, after WellSouth Primary Health Network confirmed funding.
Persons aged 65 and over or people who have long-term medical conditions like diabetes, asthma,...
CPCT - a success story in Southern
Thursday 27 March 2025
A WellSouth evaluation report reveals that the Comprehensive Primary & Community Care Teams (CPCT) programme is helping more high-risk people in communities access necessary healthcare for free, with more than 500 patients a month accessing free care.
Here is a copy of the report.
CPCT, a national programme funded by Te...
Interns help PHO with Pasifika immunisation picture
Monday 03 March 2025Pacific communities in the South stand to benefit after WellSouth Primary Health Network hosted two Pasifika health students to explore barriers to getting childhood immunisations.
The students, Ilaisaane Kaufanga (Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy, Auckland University of Technology) and Sylvia Pritchard (Bachelor of Nursing, Otago Polytechnic), were based at the local...
WellSouth board seeking General Practitioner Representative Trustee
Friday 28 February 2025General Practitioner Representative Trustee
Make a difference: help govern WellSouth Primary Health Network to improve health outcomes for people in the Southern region.
Nominations are now open for a general practitioner to fulfil the responsibilities of Trustee on WellSouth’s Board from May 2025 for a four year term.
WellSouth Primary Health Network is...
Our statement on New Dunedin Hospital
Tuesday 11 February 2025WellSouth Primary Health Network CEO Andrew Swanson-Dobbs says that while WellSouth has welcomed the government's confirmation that the new Dunedin Hospital will proceed, a building is only one part of a successful healthcare system.
“Investment in a building is critical. However, bricks and mortar are only part of the system; the...
WellSouth to improve breast screening as the breast screen bus hits the South
Tuesday 14 January 2025As the breast screening bus starts its Southern tour today starting in Oamaru, WellSouth, the Primary Health Organisation for Otago and Southland, is tasked with getting more wāhine to the bus and improve breast check rates for women in Southern. Since October 2024, and for the first time, WellSouth...