News Articles
Crosswords, games, computers ward off dementia risk
Date of Posting: 16-07-2023
Doing crosswords, using a computer, keeping a journal and playing games such as chess may help older people ward off dementia. A Monash University study suggested Australians over 70 who regularly did those activities were nine to eleven per cent Read More...
Vapes seized in illegal nicotine crackdown
Date of Posting: 15-07-2023
More than a thousand vapes have been seized for testing in a crackdown across Adelaide targeting illegal nicotine sales. In the first four days of the eight-week operation, 1200 vapes with an estimated value of $36,000 and suspected of containing Read More...
Party drug shows promise as cure for severe depression
Date of Posting: 15-07-2023
People living with severe depression could soon have their lives transformed thanks to a promising new treatment in the form of a party drug. A low-cost version of ketamine has been found to be effective for treatment-resistant depression, with a Read More...
WHO deems popular sweetener 'possible' carcinogen
Date of Posting: 15-07-2023
The sweetener aspartame is a "possible carcinogen" but it remains safe to consume at already agreed levels, two groups linked to the World Health Organisation (WHO) have declared. The rulings are the outcome of two separate WHO expert pa Read More...
Calls for flu jab increase after second child's death
Date of Posting: 15-07-2023
Authorities want people to roll up their sleeves for a flu jab after a second child's suspected influenza death. An 11-year-old girl died last Thursday on Queensland's Sunshine Coast after contracting the flu, which followed reports of the Read More...
Regional pacts the proper tonic for dodgy medications
Date of Posting: 15-07-2023
Australia's drug regulator will team up with governments in the Indo-Pacific under a $13.3 million boost to improve access to medicines. Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the partnership between the Therapeutic Goods Administration and reg Read More...
Clear shortcomings in Qld hospital audiology review
Date of Posting: 15-07-2023
A Queensland hospital has apologised after a review into it's paediatric audiology care found serious failures and urgent follow-ups required for children. Townsville Hospital and Health Service commissioned a report following an audit of its Read More...
School student dies from the flu as virus warnings rise
Date of Posting: 12-07-2023
A student on NSW's Central Coast has died after contracting the influenza virus, just days after health officials urged the community to get vaccinated. "Central Coast Local Health District can confirm the recent death of a local student Read More...
Vic gastro superbug case rise sparks public warning
Date of Posting: 12-07-2023
Cases of a gastro superbug are rising in Victoria, prompting a warning from the state's public health chief. Outgoing Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton on Wednesday issued an alert for clinicians and the public over increasing antibi Read More...
Aged care beds deal takes pressure of ED wait times
Date of Posting: 12-07-2023
As concerning bed shortages at Sydney's largest hospital leave people languishing in waiting rooms, NSW has set about paying a premium to free up beds in a regional hospital. Premier Chris Minns on Tuesday expressed concern over the long waits Read More...
Sydney gender clinic not working for people
Date of Posting: 11-07-2023
The provision of gender-affirming care in NSW is not working and has to improve, the state's health minister says. The main gender-affirming clinic for adolescents in Sydney has come under scrutiny, with the ABC revealing it has only taken on Read More...
Eased rules to free up access to medical abortion
Date of Posting: 11-07-2023
Medical abortions will be easier to access under loosened rules that allow doctors and pharmacists without specialist certification to prescribe termination pills. The Therapeutic Goods Administration has scrapped restrictions on the prescription Read More...
Reports on NSW gender clinic 'concerning, distressing'
Date of Posting: 10-07-2023
The death of a 14-year-old boy while awaiting specialised gender-affirming treatment is unbelievably tragic, the acting NSW premier says. Prue Car on Monday promised to get to the bottom of the case of Noah O'Brien, who took his own life in Ja Read More...
One-shot virus vaccine hope to protect preterm babies
Date of Posting: 10-07-2023
Researchers hope the successful trial of a one-shot vaccine will reduce hospitalisation rates for premature babies at risk of complications from a common respiratory virus. More than 43,000 cases of respiratory syncytial virus have been recorded n Read More...
'Razor gang' to swing axe on 305 health public servants
Date of Posting: 10-07-2023
More than 300 Victorian public servants in the health sector are facing the sack as top bureaucrats prepare to swing the axe in a bid to balance the state budget. A video, obtained by AAP, shows Department of Health secretary Euan Wallace outlinin Read More...
Sexual health clinics under presser as STI cases rise
Date of Posting: 09-07-2023
Sexually transmitted infections are rising and it's feared the extra demand for check-ups means some patients can't access treatment quick enough. In the first six months of 2023 more than 80,400 STI cases were reported to the National Not Read More...
Potentially deadly opioid found in SA patients
Date of Posting: 08-07-2023
A potentially deadly synthetic opioid has been detected for the first time in South Australia with two people treated in hospital. SA Health said toxicology screening on the patients this week detected the presence of Protonitazene.[subscribe] Read More...
Sexual misconduct reports surge against health workers
Date of Posting: 08-07-2023
Sexual misconduct complaints against health workers are rising, with the industry regulator receiving more than two reports of inappropriate behaviour per day. Some 841 complaints were made about professionals violating boundaries in 2022/23, more Read More...
Medical receptionists cop brunt of patient aggression
Date of Posting: 08-07-2023
Medical receptionists facing a barrage of verbal and physical abuse dished out by angry patients are suffering long-term harm. Frontline health workers frequently cop verbal abuse from patients, researchers from the University of Queensland have f Read More...
WFH prompts spike in head and neck pain
Date of Posting: 06-07-2023
Increasing numbers of people working from home since the onset of Covid, has led to a rise in neck pain and headaches, according to physiotherapists who say those presenting for these ailments now make up more than a third of clients. “Heada Read More...
Mental health reform flagged after boy stabbed 76 times
Date of Posting: 05-07-2023
The death of a five-year-old boy stabbed 76 times by his father has prompted recommendations about heightened availability of mental health services within the community. The child, known for legal reasons as JY, was stabbed by his father and died Read More...
Hospital denies mistreatment after Indigenous girl dies
Date of Posting: 05-07-2023
A Perth hospital has denied neglecting a one-year-old Indigenous girl who died in its care, amid claims staff were racist and lied to the child's family. The girl, whose family asked for her to be referred to as Kailee, was admitted to Perth C Read More...
Re-think on disease control as burden shifts to teens
Date of Posting: 05-07-2023
A third of children dying from infectious diseases are aged over five but global infection control efforts are not targeting older children and teens. The Murdoch Children's Research Institute found work to improve the mortality and morbidity Read More...
Upping aged care dairy could save health system $66m
Date of Posting: 04-07-2023
Australia's health system could save an estimated $66 million a year if aged care residents upped their dairy and protein intake. Aged care homes would only have to increase the dairy on their menus by an estimated 66 cents per day, per reside Read More...
Women flock back to breast screens in record numbers
Date of Posting: 04-07-2023
After a record low, women are now lining up in droves for quick breast cancer screenings. More than 37,000 women had mammograms at BreastScreen NSW clinics throughout the month of May - the highest monthly figure in the state's history.[subscr Read More...
Coroner findings spark call for Indigenous health fix
Date of Posting: 04-07-2023
Days after a coroner's damning findings, the Queensland opposition has demanded the state government explain how it will fix health care in Indigenous communities. Liberal Opposition leader David Crisafulli said the government had failed to de Read More...
NHS strikes cause 650k medical cancellations in UK
Date of Posting: 03-07-2023
Almost 650,000 appointments and operations have been postponed due to the wave of strikes which have hit the UK's National Health Service in the run up to its 75th anniversary. The unprecedented strikes have caused widespread disruption across Read More...
Companies sense opportunity in psychedelic legalisation
Date of Posting: 03-07-2023
Australia's world-first legalisation of psychedelic treatments for mental health conditions has companies pursuing a market opportunity to do well while doing some good. From this weekend, specifically authorised and trained psychiatrists will Read More...
Qld health boss resigns after whistleblower controversy
Date of Posting: 28-06-2023
The head of Queensland Heath is stepping down after his department recommended criminal penalties for staff who disclosed "inappropriate" information to journalists. Director-General Shaun Drummond has sent Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk Read More...
Significant drop in overtime surgery wait in NSW
Date of Posting: 28-06-2023
A surgical taskforce has drastically reduced how many NSW patients are waiting too long for planned surgery. Since coming to office in March, the Minns government has prioritised tackling the planned surgery waitlist that had about 17,000 people w Read More...
Nurse disqualified for dragging psychiatric patient
Last Updated: 27-06-2023
A nurse who stripped and dragged a mental health patient into the shower has been suspended from nursing for five years. Francis Logan, known as Richard, has been suspended for five years after admitting to multiple allegations, including using un Read More...
New campaign targets government inaction on medicare
Last Updated: 27-06-2023
Australian radiologists have escalated a campaign against the Turnbull Government’s inaction on Medicare with a new national television commercial. Produced by the Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association (ADIA), the campaign is titled MEDI Read More...
Australians are being urged to check-in with a medical professional to prevent diabetes
Last Updated: 27-06-2023
In light of World Diabetes Day, doctors are urging people to check in with a medical professional to catch early signs of the fastest growing chronic condition. After talented musician Jacinta Brett was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, her dreams o Read More...
Mass monkeypox vaccines not urgent
Last Updated: 27-06-2023
The World Health Organization does not believe the monkeypox outbreak outside of Africa requires mass vaccinations, as measures such as good hygiene and safe sexual behaviour will help control its spread. Richard Pebody, who leads the high-threat Read More...
New study creates guidelines to safely kick opioid use
Date of Posting: 26-06-2023
People at the end of their lives should not be suddenly taken off strong opioids, and healthier patients could benefit from bespoke pain management plans, according to new international guidelines on getting people off the highly-addictive painkiller Read More...
US court's abortion decision still scorned and praised
Date of Posting: 25-06-2023
Activists and politicians are marking the one-year anniversary of the US Supreme Court ruling that overturned a nationwide right to abortion with praise from some and protests from others. Advocates on both sides marched at rallies on Saturday in Read More...
Dry July marks 15 years of giving your liver a break
Date of Posting: 25-06-2023
Taking a month off the booze can leave people feeling healthier, better rested, more mentally agile and generally quite rightly proud of themselves. But for many Australians, a month of abstinence also leaves them feeling quite philanthropic.[subs Read More...
Bush telehealth to push on despite looming restrictions
Date of Posting: 24-06-2023
Country Australians are increasingly turning to technology to bypass long delays in seeing a GP for medical certificates and prescription renewals, as a crackdown on telehealth looms. Midnight Health, a start-up which offers online medical consult Read More...
Qld scraps COVID-19 alert system amid flu outbreak
Date of Posting: 24-06-2023
Queensland's traffic light advisory for COVID-19 will be scrapped as the state faces the threat of an early wave of flu cases. Influenza cases have spiked since the start of winter, with 200 people already being treated in hospital, and are ex Read More...
A 'wake-up call' for rural health after $6.5b shortfall
Date of Posting: 24-06-2023
Australia's leading medical organisations are calling on state and federal governments to revolutionise the rural health system, with research revealing a spending shortfall of $6.5 billion. The National Rural Health Alliance, whose members in Read More...
