Exploring the challenges facing our health sector
UniMed Chief Executive Louise Zacest has her finger on the pulse when it comes to issues and challenges affecting New Zealand's health sector and the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders. You can read her Health Insights blog below.
Patient does not mean passive
Louise Zacest: 24 April 2024
April 7 was World Health Day and the theme for this year centred on the rights of people accessing health services and how we can better empower health consumers.
As I awaited sedation for a health procedure a few weeks ago, I was reminded how vulnerable we are as ‘patients’, even for those of us who understand how the health system works.
Women keep the health sector working
Louise Zacest: 7 March 2024
As tomorrow is International Women’s Day I’d like to give a shout out to all the wonderful wāhine who work in healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Whether it is the kaiāwhina supporting the elderly and other people in the community, or the nurses and allied health workers in our hospitals, women keep healthcare humming along.
Cool heads will help curb climate change
Louise Zacest: 4 May 2023
It’s easy to get stressed and even overwhelmed by the endless doom and gloom scenarios about how fast the planet is heating up. It turns out technology and human intervention, for so long in the hot seat for causing global-warming, are going to be the things that save us from ourselves.
Are weight loss jabs a worldwide fix?
Louise Zacest: 31 March 2023
Despite the world shelling out $250 billion on weight loss products and services annually, two fifths of humanity are overweight or obese. It’s not as if it’s just a first world problem. Developing countries are all experiencing this alarming trend.
Don't forget to look after your memory
Louise Zacest: 31 January 2023
Did you know our population is aging faster than ever and, according to research, dementia rates are set to triple in the coming years? Louise Zacest looks at the issue, reveals some surprising triggers and shares the positive steps you can take to help reduce your risk of developing dementia...
Is there a link between climate change and health?
Louise Zacest: 30 October 2022
In April this year, Deloitte Insights published a compelling article about the link between climate change and human health. The lives we enjoy today and our ongoing health and wellbeing are so closely connected to the health and wellbeing of our planet. And we all need to think about how our businesses and industries have a part to play...
Should taking leave be mandatory?
Louise Zacest: 6 September 2022
Employees rejoiced when the Holidays Act ushered in four weeks of annual leave in 2007. Yet 20 years later, many are still reluctant to use their leave, and the management of outstanding leave balances remains a health and safety and finance concern...
Exposing the vaping epidemic.
Louise Zacest: 30 May 2022
While everyone’s happy that cigarette smoking amongst young people has reduced dramatically, the rise of vaping has mostly nullified that optimism...
How health and safety responsibilities can affect your own wellbeing.
Abby Shaw: 28 April 2022
First up, a disclaimer. I'm no safety specialist. I have no qualification in workplace health and safety, nor wellbeing for that matter. So, you might wonder what I have to share that might be worth reading about...
A wake-up call for Kiwis suffering from bad sleep.
Brad Meek: 20 March 2022
This is a staggering statistic. According to the Ministry of Health 3 in 10 adult Kiwis aren’t getting anywhere enough sleep. That’s more than 1 in 4 of our workforce, 30%, feeling tired all day. I have to say, until recently, that was the norm for me...
How’s your blood pressure today?
Louise Zacest: 25 February 2022
With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, financial market jitters, workforce shortages and the spread of Omicron, corporate risk registers throughout the country will be sounding alarm bells...
2022 leadership resolutions? Invest in people.
Louise Zacest: 24 January 2022
It’s that time of year when business leaders plan for the year ahead. Setting personal work goals, commercial targets and plotting a strong pathway for growth as we emerge from the pandemic. But in the current period of low unemployment and migration, strategies to attract and retain staff are vital for a business to achieve great results...
The upside of lockdowns? Finding more time.
Louise Zacest: 19 December 2021
While countrywide and regional lockdowns have impacted our lives and the economy, aspects of staying at home have had undeniably positive outcomes too...