News Articles
3 dead and 60 sick in Cairns nursing home flu outbreak
Date of Posting: 29-02-2016
A flu outbreak has killed three residents at a Cairns nursing home, which is now in lockdown. Another deadly virus outbreak at a far north Queensland health facility has killed three residents.[subscribe] A flu outbreak has forced the Mercy Pla Read More...
More rehab beds needed to beat ice addiction in NT
Date of Posting: 29-02-2016
A Darwin rehab clinic predicts there will be a need for 50 more beds across the NT by October to cope with demand from ice addicts seeking treatment. The Northern Territory cannot arrest its way out of the ice drug problem, says the head of a Darw Read More...
Staff who snoop on medical records to be fired
Date of Posting: 29-02-2016
SA Health workers caught snooping on patient medical records will be fired on the spot after employees were found to have accessed information on Cy Walsh. South Australian health workers caught snooping on patient records in the future will be sa Read More...
Australia's nursing, midwifery and allied health stats revealed
Last Updated: 29-02-2016
The latest figures are out on Australia’s nursing, midwifery and allied health workforce. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency’s (AHPRA) March 2013 registration data shows Australia is now home to 346,508 practising nur Read More...
Nurse, midwife and pharmacist numbers grow
Last Updated: 29-02-2016
Australia has more registered nurses, midwives, pharmacists and other allied health professionals, according to new registration data. The Nursing and Midwifery Board’s December 2014 data, published this month, reveals there are 5640 new nur Read More...
WA moves closer to pharmacist vaccinations
Last Updated: 29-02-2016
Pharmacists in Western Australia are another step closer to providing vaccinations after their immunisation training was given the green light. The state’s Department of Health has approved the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s (PS Read More...
Australia's first medicinal cannabis trial announced
Last Updated: 29-02-2016
The NSW government has announced the first trial into medicinal cannabis will begin in early next year at a Newcastle hospital. Australia's first medicinal cannabis trial will begin next year at a Newcastle hospital.[subscribe] About 30 adu Read More...
Drug driving: are your meds affecting you?
Last Updated: 29-02-2016
Warning labels on medications about the dangers of driving are not enough to stop people getting behind the wheel with most driving while affected by drugs, according to QUT road safety researcher Dr Tanya Smyth. Dr Smyth, from QUT's Centre fo Read More...
Anti-ageing breakthrough as key enzyme identified
Date of Posting: 26-02-2016
UK scientists say the discovery of a key skin cell enzyme will help produce tailored anti-ageing treatments, and could be used in other parts of the body. A breakthrough in the study of human skin cells could pave the way for powerful anti-ageing Read More...
From farm to pharmacy: regulating medicinal cannabis in Australia
Date of Posting: 26-02-2016
The Commonwealth government announced plans on the weekend to legalise growing cannabis for medicinal and research purposes in Australia. The news follows the Victorian government’s announcement earlier this month that it will legalise acces Read More...
How nutritionists are helping solve the world's biggest problems
Last Updated: 25-02-2016
Malnutrition affects 1 in 3 people around the world, with nearly half of all countries facing serious social and public health burdens as a result, a recent report has found. The Global Nutrition Report 2015, released in September, highlights how nut Read More...
Progesterone not effective for preemie prevention
Date of Posting: 25-02-2016
Scientists want the use of progesterone therapy to prevent premature births to be reviewed while alternative solutions are found. A widely used hormone therapy that is supposed to prevent premature births does not work, researchers claim.[subscrib Read More...
Crosswords and brain games not enough to stop Alzeimer's
Date of Posting: 25-02-2016
Keeping the brain active in older age can reduce the risk of dementia for some - but is unlikely to help those with the Alzheimer's gene, researchers say. Crossword puzzles, serious reading material and stimulating conversation are unlikely to Read More...
Breaking the Mould - Physiotherapy's new advanced role in critical care
Last Updated: 25-02-2016
It’s no surprise that Dr Scott Bradley can’t envisage working outside the walls of The Alfred Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU). “I can’t imagine working anywhere else and I can’t imagine doing anything else Read More...
Melb school excludes unvaccinated kids
Date of Posting: 24-02-2016
Twenty-one children are being kept home from a Melbourne school affected by a measles outbreak until they can prove they are immunised. More than twenty children have been banned from a Melbourne primary school after two students contracted measle Read More...
Inquiry launched after St Vincent's chemo patients under-dosed
Date of Posting: 24-02-2016
St Vincent's Hospital will accept any recommendations made by NSW Health, after one of its doctors under-dosed chemotherapy drugs to cancer patients. A Sydney hospital has welcomed a review after one of its doctors under-dosed chemotherapy dru Read More...
Doctors warn 'vaginal seeding' trend too risky
Date of Posting: 24-02-2016
Australian and UK doctors are warning mothers who give birth by caesarean about the health risks of "vaginal seeding". There's a growing trend for mothers who give birth by caesarean to cover their newborn in vaginal fluid in an effo Read More...
Bat immune system could hold key for disease prevention
Date of Posting: 23-02-2016
An ability by bats to keep their immune system switched on all the time may provide clues to help protect humans against fatal diseases, say researchers. A unique immune-system capability in bats, which lets them carry but not be affected by fatal Read More...
Vaginal ring helps protect women from HIV
Date of Posting: 23-02-2016
A study has found an anti-HIV vaginal ring has been successful in partially protecting some women in hard-hit Africa from HIV infection. Researchers say women who inserted a vaginal ring coated with an anti-HIV drug once a month were partially pro Read More...
Breakthrough study discovers superbug mechanism
Date of Posting: 23-02-2016
The problem of antibiotic resistance is closer to a solution with scientists now knowing the mechanism bacteria use to keep up their defences. Scientists in Britain have found how drug-resistant bacteria build and maintain a defensive wall - a dis Read More...
Active lifestyle more important than genes
Last Updated: 22-02-2016
Lifestyle changes in adulthood can have a significant impact in tackling obesity, regardless of a person's genetic profile. The lifestyle a person shares with a partner has a greater influence than upbringing does on the chances of becoming ob Read More...
Report urges more budget cuts to pathology
Date of Posting: 22-02-2016
The Turnbull government has been urged to make more spending cuts to pathology in a report accusing the industry of using patients as pawns for profits. Claims women could be forced to fork out $30 for pap smears have been slammed by a scathing re Read More...
What is stressing Australians?
Date of Posting: 22-02-2016
We all experience stress during our lives whether it be over work, school, finances or relationships. Stress can sometimes be beneficial, motivating us to work harder or perform better but too much stress can have a negative effect both mentally and Read More...
Good night's sleep to cut stroke risk
Date of Posting: 19-02-2016
Researchers say getting average sleep (7-8 hours) and exercising several times a week (for between 30-60 minutes) decreases the risk of having a stroke. Getting a good night's sleep and exercising several times a week can significantly cut the Read More...
Gut bacteria key to fighting malnutrition
Date of Posting: 19-02-2016
We share our bodies with trillions of bacteria, and researchers believe the right ones may help get the most out of a poor diet and chronic malnutrition. Manipulating what kinds of bacteria live in the gut might lead to a new way to treat millions Read More...
Asia a clue in Australia's allergy epidemic
Date of Posting: 18-02-2016
Children born in Asia who migrated to Australia have a decreased risk of developing a nut allergy, say researchers. Being born in Asia protects Australian schoolchildren from nut allergies, suggests a new study.[subscribe] The researchers found Read More...
Testosterone gel no fountain of youth
Date of Posting: 18-02-2016
Results from a US study are the first solid evidence of whether testosterone supplements can help treat low sex drive and lack of energy in older men. A landmark study suggests that testosterone treatment is no fountain of youth, finding mostly mo Read More...
Northern NSW has lowest vaccination rate
Date of Posting: 18-02-2016
Northern NSW has the lowest rate of fully immunised children in the country while the Snowy Mountains has the highest rate, according to the latest data. Northern NSW has been identified as one of the areas with the lowest immunisation rates in th Read More...
Premier says criticism of hospital 'un-Australian'
Date of Posting: 17-02-2016
The WA premier has accused senior clinicians who are criticising Fiona Stanley Hospital of damaging morale. Senior clinicians continuing to criticise Fiona Stanley Hospital are damaging morale and being un-Australian by leaking internal memos, Wes Read More...
Cells may hold the key to lifetime cancer protection
Date of Posting: 17-02-2016
Scientists have identified and tracked rare immune system cells that could some day be programmed to keep cancer at bay for life. A new study raises the prospect of vaccine-like treatments that protect against cancer for life.[subscribe] Scient Read More...
Blood-boosters giving preemies an edge later in life
Date of Posting: 16-02-2016
Premature babies given two drugs scored much better by age four on measures of intelligence, language and memory than preemies who didn't get them. Two blood-building drugs injected soon after birth may give tiny preemies a lasting long-term e Read More...
Young Australians not following up on chlamydia tests
Date of Posting: 15-02-2016
One-fifth of young Australians aren't following through with chlamydia testing, prompting researchers to call for clinics to take action. One in five young Australians are not submitting a specimen for chlamydia testing after a request from th Read More...
Lyme disease 'conspiracy' claims hit AHPRA
Date of Posting: 15-02-2016
A growing number of Australians who have never left the country believe they have a disease that medical experts insist cannot be contracted in Australia. Six years ago, Stephanie Hammersley came down with the flu. She never recovered.[subscribe] Read More...
Longest surviving heart transplant patient dies
Last Updated: 12-02-2016
The world's longest-surviving heart transplant patient has died aged 73, more than 30 years after the life-saving operation. The world's longest-surviving heart transplant patient has reportedly died in the UK at the age of 73, more than t Read More...
E-cigarette vapour still damaging to babies
Date of Posting: 12-02-2016
The vapour from e-cigarettes may be damaging to unborn babies and harmful to male fertility, new research suggests. Pregnant women who smoke may harm their babies' brain development if they turn to e-cigarettes to satisfy their nicotine cravin Read More...
Measles alert remains for Melbourne
Date of Posting: 11-02-2016
Victoria's health authority has warned people to remain on the alert despite no new cases of measles being reported. Melburnians are being warned to watch out for signs of measles despite no new cases being reported in the city's latest ou Read More...
WHO urges safe sex to fight Zika Virus
Date of Posting: 11-02-2016
The World Health Organisation has urged women in Zika virus zones to have safe sex and cover up to avoid contracting the mosquito-borne disease. Women in areas with the Zika virus can protect themselves, especially during pregnancy, by covering up Read More...
Oxygen study decreasing mortality in premature infants
Date of Posting: 11-02-2016
New oxygen-related research may help to prevent the deaths of thousands of premature babies worldwide each year, according to an Australian researcher. More premature babies could survive if their levels of oxygen are kept in the top half of the p Read More...
Study reveals biggest challenges for healthcare decision-makers
Date of Posting: 10-02-2016
A new national survey of Australian healthcare directors, managers and professionals suggests that agency and locum staff expenses are the highest drivers of unplanned costs in healthcare organisations. While 1 in 3 healthcare professionals in the st Read More...
'Time-bomb' sperm mutations linked to birth defects
Date of Posting: 09-02-2016
Sperm that contains harmful mutations can raise the risk of a child being conceived who suffers from a potentially lethal abnormality, research shows. A genetic "time-bomb" in the testicles increases a man's risk of fathering childre Read More...
