News Articles
'Time has come': NSW COVID-19 test clinics to close
Date of Posting: 20-04-2023
A once-vital destination during the COVID-19 pandemic is set to be consigned to history, with the last pop-up testing clinics in NSW to close. "The time has come to close down those temporary PCR testing facilities," Premier Chris Minns Read More...
Push for therapy assistants to be on-site in early childhood centres
Last Updated: 19-04-2023
With access to allied health professionals by early childhood centres essential for early intervention, an increasing number of centres are adopting therapy assistants, allowing ongoing allied health support, under the guidance of fully trained profe Read More...
Minister orders inquiry into mental health commission
Date of Posting: 18-04-2023
An investigation has been launched into claims of dysfunction and bullying at the National Mental Health Commission. A report published in The Saturday Paper set out a series of allegations relating to the commission, which was set up just over a Read More...
Injecting rooms cut crime, overdoses, abscesses
Date of Posting: 18-04-2023
Drug users who use medically supervised injecting rooms are far less likely than other addicts to commit a crime, inject in public, overdose, share needles or have abscesses, a study shows. The results were garnered through the first control study Read More...
More schools implementing sensory rooms
Date of Posting: 17-04-2023
An increasing number of schools are implementing sensory rooms into their strategic plans, or repurposing existing rooms into dedicated calming rooms. “Calming sensory rooms are increasingly becoming popular, particularly due to their univer Read More...
Rate of long COVID-19 symptoms mirrored by flu patients
Date of Posting: 17-04-2023
A comparison between the long-term recovery of COVID-19 and influenza patients suggests persistent symptoms are not unique to a specific virus. The study by Queensland Health surveyed more than 2000 people diagnosed with the Omicron variant of COV Read More...
Couple add gift of life to wedding day celebrations
Date of Posting: 17-04-2023
As the needle slid into his arm at the Shire Blood Donor Centre in Miranda in Sydney's south several years ago, Heath Tollis hardly noticed the sting. He was smitten with the woman sitting next to him, a blonde named Sarah, who was also donati Read More...
Health groups hit out at millions in flagged cuts
Date of Posting: 16-04-2023
Community health groups have hit out at a flagged decision to cut millions from preventative health programs in Victoria, saying it will increase pressure on hospitals and lead to job losses. But the Andrews government says it is only acting to re Read More...
Telehealth will help keep kids out of ED in NSW
Date of Posting: 16-04-2023
Families across NSW will be able to access an innovative virtual care program designed to reduce children taking unnecessary trips to hospital. The virtualKIDS Urgent Care Service will be rolled out statewide by the end of the year, the government Read More...
No evidence COVID came from animals
Date of Posting: 16-04-2023
There is no evidence that the COVID-causing virus came from animals, the former head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. George Gao, who was speaking at a London summit on preparing for pandemics, was the head of t Read More...
Liver cancer breakthrough paves way for early detection
Date of Posting: 15-04-2023
A breakthrough in liver cancer research could pave the way for early detection for the almost 3000 Australians who are diagnosed with the deadly disease each year. Researchers at Curtin University can now determine the risk of developing liver can Read More...
Remote dialysis to end long treks for outback patients
Date of Posting: 15-04-2023
Kidney failure may not be fatal, but for people in remote communities it can feel that way when they are forced to travel thousands of kilometres for treatment. Yanyuwa woman Carol Charlie has spent the last six years in Darwin, nearly 1000km from Read More...
Study backs health benefits of four-day working week
Date of Posting: 15-04-2023
A four-day working week can help people exercise more and sleep better, leading to improvements in cognitive functioning and helping prevent serious illness, a new study has found. The University of South Australia investigation showed holidays ar Read More...
Push for tetanus vaccination after recent death
Date of Posting: 13-04-2023
NSW Health is urging people to get vaccinated for tetanus after three recent cases in NSW, including one death that was the first in 30 years. Director of Communicable Diseases Christine Selvey said older Australians in particular should ensure th Read More...
Chemicals in 'new car smell' could pose health risk
Date of Posting: 13-04-2023
That new car smell owners gush about can be loaded with cancer-linked chemicals, and scientists fear the risk to drivers could be high. A new international study has measured chemical emissions inside the cabin of a new car that was parked outside Read More...
Poisonous mushrooms warning following Easter rain
Date of Posting: 13-04-2023
Victorians are being warned to stay away from wild mushrooms, with Easter downpours creating ideal conditions for poisonous fungi to flourish. Mushrooms are sprouting up earlier and in much larger numbers than in previous years after a damp summer Read More...
Struggle for Qld maternity staff detailed in FOI docs
Date of Posting: 12-04-2023
Maternity services at two Queensland regional hospitals were under threat last year as the Health Department struggled to find staff amid a COVID-19 wave, freedom of information documents reveal. Email correspondence obtained by the state oppositi Read More...
Flu, COVID-19 jabs encouraged before 'triple pandemic'
Date of Posting: 12-04-2023
Young children, older Australians and other vulnerable people are being urged to get vaccinated for COVID-19 and influenza amid fears a range of viruses could create a perfect winter storm. Forecasting ahead of the colder months is tricky but heal Read More...
Treasurer warns vaping is hurting health and the budget
Date of Posting: 12-04-2023
The treasurer warns the explosion in vaping is weighing on the budget as well as the health of Australians. The switch to vaping and black-market tobacco products is costing the government about $5 billion in lost taxes, according to numbers crunc Read More...
US ends COVID-19 national emergency after three years
Date of Posting: 11-04-2023
The US national emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic has ended as President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to bring it to a close after three years. The national emergency allowed the government to take sweeping st Read More...
Time to find out your 'real age', researchers say
Date of Posting: 11-04-2023
Australians could be older than they think. Researchers say they can measure the biological age of a person's brain and organs, challenging the belief that age is determined by your date of birth.[subscribe] And it's good news for those Read More...
Call to put patients before profits in budget measures
Date of Posting: 11-04-2023
Patients must be put before profits, warns a peak body representing doctors as pressure mounts for the federal budget to address rising medical costs. Treasurer Jim Chalmers is due to hand down the budget in four weeks as the cost of living increa Read More...
Lockdowns made us feel worse, but only slightly
Date of Posting: 10-04-2023
Melbourne's lengthy COVID-19 lockdowns may not have been as devastating to the mental health of its residents as first thought. The city was subject to six lockdowns of a cumulative 260-plus days in 2020 and 2021, giving the Victorian capital Read More...
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...
