News Articles
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...
University courses slashed by more than 80 per cent
Last Updated: 23-06-2023
Victoria University (VU) is offering post-graduate university courses for just over $2000 in the critical fields of nursing, mental health, child and adolescent health, and public health to students who enroll before October 25. The Commonwealth S Read More...
Program to reduce risk of falls for elderly Australians
Date of Posting: 22-06-2023
A cutting-edge program aims to reduce the risk of falls among older Australians which often lead to a trip to hospital. Launching at one of Sydney's busiest hospitals on Thursday, it is part of a suite of preventive care initiatives to reduce Read More...
Long-sought abortion laws to remove access barriers
Date of Posting: 22-06-2023
Abortion will be fully decriminalised in Western Australia under long-sought Labor government reforms intended to improve access to safe procedures. Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson on Wednesday introduced legislation to parliament removing ab Read More...
Woman fined for offering therapy while unregistered
Date of Posting: 22-06-2023
A Queensland woman who offered occupational therapy to people affected by illness and injury without the required medical registration has been convicted and fined. Sharon Joy Stay, from the Mount Mee area, was found guilty in her absence at Caboo Read More...
Nurses, doctors hurt by patient in hospital attack
Date of Posting: 21-06-2023
Two nurses and three doctors were injured in an incident involving a mental health patient at South Australia's Port Pirie Hospital, prompting a security investigation and counselling for staff. The incident occurred on Saturday night with the Read More...
UK government 'shares lessons' on vaping with Australia
Date of Posting: 21-06-2023
Proposed Australian vaping restrictions will be examined by the British government as it considers measures to protect children from vaping in the UK. Health Secretary Steve Barclay said the government was "open" to taking more steps to Read More...
Wife's painkiller addiction leads to doctor's downfall
Date of Posting: 21-06-2023
A doctor has been disqualified after admitting to overprescribing medicines to his addicted wife, as well as using drugs himself. The doctor, who cannot be named, has been disqualified from practising medicine for 18 months by the Medical Board of Read More...
Revolutionary trial may change eating disorder treatment for the first time in 60 years
Last Updated: 20-06-2023
More than a million Australians live with an eating disorder, with the impact of such disorders worsening during the Covid-19 pandemic, yet treatment options have remained stagnant for more than six decades. “We have a condition that has a h Read More...
UK was ready for flu pandemic but not COVID-19
Date of Posting: 20-06-2023
Former prime minister David Cameron has told an inquiry that the United Kingdom was prepared for a flu-type pandemic but not enough work was done in advance to confront an asymptomatic disease similar to COVID-19. The UK is holding an inquiry into Read More...
Uni fees slashed by up to 82% in critical fields
Last Updated: 20-06-2023
Victoria University (VU) Online has slashed fees by up to 82% in the critical fields of nursing, mental health, child and adolescent health, and public health through the release of Commonwealth Supported Places. VU Online is currently offering Co Read More...
Pharmacy jobs at risk with dispensing change
Date of Posting: 20-06-2023
More than 600 pharmacies and 20,000 jobs might be at risk if the federal government follows through with plans to change rules around medicine dispensing. The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is warning of job losses following the release of an indepen Read More...
One-stage system may boost Vic organ donor register
Last Updated: 20-06-2023
Australians are missing out on potentially life-saving organ transplants because of clunky registration processes, community education and conversational taboos, an inquiry has heard. Victoria has the second-lowest organ donor registration rate in Read More...
Calls for better DFV training for therapists
Date of Posting: 20-06-2023
Mental health experts have called for increased domestic and family violence training for counsellors and therapists, with a focus on trauma-informed care, to avoid future DFV related tragedies. The calls come as new podcast, Hannah’s Story, Read More...
Push to change kids' appetite with junk food ad ban
Date of Posting: 19-06-2023
Junk food advertising could disappear from Australian children's entertainment platforms in a bid to stamp out childhood obesity. Marketing of unhealthy foods would be prohibited from 6am to 9.30pm on TV and radio broadcasts, while ads on soci Read More...
Nearly 100 die as India battles sweltering heat wave
Date of Posting: 19-06-2023
At least 96 people have died in two of India's most populous states over the last several days, officials say, with swaths of the country reeling from a sweltering heat wave. The deaths happened in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and easte Read More...
More new dads seek help for mental health concerns
Date of Posting: 18-06-2023
New dad Matt Carter knew something wasn't quite right when he suddenly became overwhelmed with sadness as soon as his two babies started crying. From there it just snowballed. He experienced several breakdowns before finally telling a maternal Read More...
Birthing on Country leads to healthy mothers and babies
Date of Posting: 18-06-2023
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have been safely giving birth on country for more than 60,000 years. And there's a growing body of evidence that when cultural safety is embedded into care for expectant mums and new bubs they are he Read More...
