News Articles
Combining physio and fun with Disco Physio
Date of Posting: 10-04-2023
Combining the benefits of structured physiotherapy and the fun of the silent disco, Disco Physio is the hidden gem for those who want to move their bodies and nurture their minds. “Disco Physio is a fun and energising fitness class run Read More...
China health officials lash out at WHO over virus data
Date of Posting: 09-04-2023
Chinese health officials have defended their search for the source of the COVID-19 virus and lashed out at the World Health Organisation after its leader urged Beijing to share genetic information. The WHO comments were "offensive and disresp Read More...
New lifesaving drugs free for rare inherited diseases
Last Updated: 09-04-2023
Two breakthrough medicines will be available free for Australians with extremely rare and life-threatening inherited diseases. The drugs will help save the lives of newborn babies and offer an easy oral alternative to treatments delivered by in-ho Read More...
China has the key to understanding COVID origins
Date of Posting: 08-04-2023
The World Health Organisation chief has pressed China to share its information about the origins of COVID-19, saying all hypotheses remain on the table more than three years after the virus first emerged. "Without full access to the informati Read More...
Prostate cancer patients trapped in treatment gap
Date of Posting: 08-04-2023
Prostate cancer is Australia's most diagnosed disease and the costliest to treat yet major public and private sector differences mean access to preferred care for many men is too expensive. Private patient costs for a robotic prostatectomy, a Read More...
Ambulance ramping spikes at SA hospitals
Date of Posting: 08-04-2023
Ambulance ramping outside Adelaide's major public hospitals jumped last month with the state government looking to improve patient flows through emergency departments to help ease the crisis. The latest figures showed almost 4000 hours were lo Read More...
'Nature prescriptions' improve patient health
Date of Posting: 04-04-2023
So-called "nature prescriptions" - when doctors recommend spending more time in nature - have been found to reduce patients' blood pressure, increase daily step counts and lower depression and anxiety scores. Australian academics who Read More...
Patient confronts doctor who sexually assaulted her
Date of Posting: 04-04-2023
No matter how many times a day she washes, Shafiul Milky's victim can never cleanse herself of his sexual assault. A County Court of Victoria jury last month found Milky, 59, guilty of 15 charges including indecent assault, rape and sexual ass Read More...
Doctors demand apology as Medicare fraud myth busted
Date of Posting: 04-04-2023
Doctors are demanding an apology after researchers debunked "baseless" accusations of widespread Medicare fraud. Nicole Higgins from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners seized on the study to claim vindication.[subscrib Read More...
Child abuse is "disturbingly prevalent" across nation
Date of Posting: 03-04-2023
The Australian Human Rights Commission has called for urgent government action after a study showed child physical, emotional and sexual abuse is "disturbingly prevalent" across the nation. One in three Australian children experience phy Read More...
Thousands of Kiwi nurses plan Australia move
Date of Posting: 03-04-2023
Australia is poised to steal thousands of nurses from New Zealand, with new data showing almost a tenth of the workforce has registered to move across the Tasman. Radio NZ reports 4951 Kiwi nurses have registered with Australian health regulator A Read More...
Research debunks myth of widespread Medicare fraud
Date of Posting: 03-04-2023
About 85 per cent of GPs nationwide have saved Medicare over $350 million from undercharging patients in consultations, a new study has found. Of the 2760 GPs canvassed in the study, nearly 85 per cent undercharged Medicare for at least one consul Read More...
Study subsidy for nurses, rural doctors to stay in NSW
Date of Posting: 02-04-2023
Young doctors in the NSW regions will be among thousands of healthcare students eligible for a $12,000 scholarship if they commit to working in the state's public health system for five years. With 2000 scholarships a year, the government init Read More...
Charlie Teo's parting swipe at medical regulator
Date of Posting: 01-04-2023
Controversial neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo has done little to hide his contempt for the system which has accused him of wrongdoing by misleading patients, conducting dangerous surgeries and, in one case, slapping a comatose woman in the face. Follo Read More...
Preventable errors rise in WA hospitals, new data shows
Date of Posting: 01-04-2023
Western Australia's hospitals have recorded an uptick in preventable serious incidents including medication errors and bungled surgeries. Data released by WA Health highlights an increase in sentinel events - serious and wholly preventable cli Read More...
Fresh waves of COVID on the way, top doctor warns
Date of Posting: 30-03-2023
The country's top doctor has warned more COVID waves are on the way, as the government ramps up efforts to increase booster rates before winter. The latest figures have shown one million people have received 2023 booster doses, with seven in 1 Read More...
New study recommends better vaccine deal for adults
Date of Posting: 30-03-2023
Australia's vaccine programs fail to maintain lifelong protection, with urgent reforms needed so older Australians don't contract preventable diseases, healthcare advocates say. Since contracting shingles in 2022, Penny Cox has experienced Read More...
Family violence a 'hidden cause' of youth suicide
Date of Posting: 30-03-2023
Australians are turning a blind eye to the impact of family violence on young people's suicide risk, prompting experts to call for an overhaul of the country's systems. Tash Anderson was a teenager when they lost their 18-year-old brother Read More...
Measles alert after baby diagnosed in western Sydney
Date of Posting: 29-03-2023
People in western Sydney are being urged to watch out for measles symptoms after a baby was diagnosed with the highly infectious respiratory illness. NSW Health says the baby spent time at Parramatta and Westmead on Monday while infectious.[subscr Read More...
WHO revises COVID-19 vaccine recommendations
Date of Posting: 29-03-2023
The World Health Organisation has tailored its COVID-19 vaccination recommendations for a new phase of the pandemic, suggesting that healthy children and adolescents may not necessarily need a shot but older, high-risk groups should get a booster bet Read More...
Regulator may put bite on weight-loss drugs sold online
Date of Posting: 29-03-2023
Websites advertising prescriptions for weight loss drugs via an online quiz could find themselves in hot water from Australia's medicine regulator. Australian-based websites such as Juniper and Mosh advertised their services through social med Read More...
'Millimetre' mistake may have cost patient
Date of Posting: 28-03-2023
High-profile neurosurgeon Charlie Teo says if he cut into the brain just a millimetre too far it could have been be enough for one of his patients never to wake up. Dr Teo appeared before a Health Care Complaints Commission inquiry in Sydney on Tu Read More...
NSW task force appointed to slash wait for surgery
Date of Posting: 28-03-2023
Labor has underlined its focus on health as new Premier Chris Minns announced a clinical-led task force to slash public hospital surgery wait lists. About 100,000 people, including 4000 children, are waiting for elective surgery in NSW, with one i Read More...
'Poo transplant' could help save blood cancer patients
Date of Posting: 28-03-2023
Healthy gut microbiomes are being used in an Australian-first "poo transplant" trial aimed at saving the lives of severely ill blood cancer patients. A faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) involves extracting trillions of gut microbes from Read More...
Charlie Teo says 'the truth' will clear his name
Date of Posting: 27-03-2023
Star neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has admitted making an error during surgery by going "too far" and leaving a patient damaged. The high-profile doctor is appearing at a medical disciplinary hearing to explain how two of his patients ended u Read More...
Longer scripts will make GP visits cheaper
Date of Posting: 27-03-2023
Medicines must be cheaper and easier to access so doctors have more time for their patients, the peak body for GPs says. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners on Monday issued its call to the federal government, saying the May budg Read More...
South Australia records first measles case since 2019
Date of Posting: 25-03-2023
South Australia has recorded its first case of measles in a resident since 2019 after a three-year-old boy was infected. The boy, from regional South Australia, was infected while travelling overseas.[subscribe] SA Health warned anyone who wasn Read More...
Breaking down the taboo of baby loss with just a name
Date of Posting: 25-03-2023
It was the look on her doctor's face that alerted Danielle Thomas to the fact something was really wrong. Twenty-four weeks into her pregnancy, the 28-year-old and her husband of nearly two years had been planning excitedly for the arrival of Read More...
TB checks continue as calls grow for new vaccine
Date of Posting: 25-03-2023
Screening and checks to contain an outbreak of tuberculosis cases on South Australia's Indigenous lands are continuing amid new calls for extra funding to eliminate the disease by 2030. Earlier this month SA Health reported 10 confirmed TB cas Read More...
Best Recliners For Your Back For Health Professionals
Last Updated: 24-03-2023
Back pain is already a significant issue for the general population, with roughly one in six Australians suffering currently. But, for health professionals, especially nurses, the probability of chronic pain is even higher. The latest statistics show Read More...
Kids ingesting nicotine reason for vaping crackdown
Date of Posting: 23-03-2023
Dozens of children under the age of four ingesting nicotine has been cited by Health Minister Mark Butler as one of the reasons for a crackdown on vaping laws. Mark Butler said there was a need to get vaping "under control", saying the p Read More...
China approves its first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine
Date of Posting: 23-03-2023
China has approved its first domestically developed mRNA vaccine against COVID-19, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd says, a major achievement in a country that has declined to use foreign coronavirus shots to support domestic research. China, whose h Read More...
No to easing vape laws in bid to protect children
Date of Posting: 22-03-2023
A vape disguised as a highlighter in a child's pencil case is one of the many reasons the federal health minister is pushing for an e-cigarette crackdown. Mark Butler said vapes were being being "shamelessly marketed to kids".[subscr Read More...
Chinese COVID data from market clue to origins
Date of Posting: 22-03-2023
Data from the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic briefly uploaded to a global database by Chinese scientists gives crucial information on the outbreak's origins, researchers say. The virus was first identified in Wuhan in December 2019, with Read More...
Plastic chemicals doing untold human harm
Date of Posting: 22-03-2023
A global coalition of scientists and other experts say the human race is swimming in a toxic soup of chemicals used to make plastics, with potentially dire consequences for humanity. A landmark analysis has just been published by almost 50 interna Read More...
Nationals back vaping access despite health experts
Date of Posting: 21-03-2023
The Nationals are at odds with health experts over the regulation of vapes, arguing retailers should be allowed to sell the nicotine version. "We've got an epidemic out there," the party's federal leader David Littleproud told AB Read More...
Disability service provider 'put revenue over safety'
Date of Posting: 21-03-2023
A nationwide disability service provider has been chastised for prioritising revenue over the health and safety of people in its care. The Australian Foundation for Disability, also known as Afford, also failed to meaningfully engage with or apolo Read More...
Four in five alcohol-related deaths are men
Date of Posting: 21-03-2023
Almost four in five alcohol-related deaths were males and hospitalisations dropped significantly during the first national COVID-19 lockdown in April 2020. Some 1950 Australians died from alcohol-related injuries and 30,000 were taken to hospital Read More...
Seasoned paramedic calls for shift in paramedicine focus
Last Updated: 20-03-2023
Edith Cowan University (ECU) lecturer and PhD candidate Alecka Miles has called for a shift in how paramedicine is seen and funded outside of emergency ambulance care, amid nationwide healthcare shortages. Ms Miles has been a paramedic for almost Read More...
Review ordered into cochlear implant issues for SA kids
Date of Posting: 20-03-2023
An independent review has been ordered into the incorrect programming of cochlear ear implants for as many as 30 children in South Australia which left them unable to hear all the sounds necessary for learning and speech. Health Minister Chris Pic Read More...
