Midwife diversity leads to greater health outcomes for First Nations women and babies

Date of Posting: 22-08-2023

Greater diversity within the midwifery sector is necessary to address staff shortages as well as improve outcomes for Indigenous and culturally diverse mothers and babies, experts say. Associate Professor Amanda Carter said studying midwifery thro Read More...

Angry regional midwives rally for better resources

Date of Posting: 21-08-2023

Queensland's health minister will meet with representatives of the state's midwives this week as they march on parliament to highlight unsafe conditions. Regional midwives frustrated with the Palaszczuk government's budget failure to c Read More...

Australian research prompts updated malaria net advice

Date of Posting: 20-08-2023

Work by Australian researchers has prompted the World Health Organisation to update its recommendations for malaria-preventing mosquito nets. Dr Timothy Barker from the University of Adelaide led a team which proved the effectiveness of a new comb Read More...

Study casts doubt on benefits of blue light blockers

Date of Posting: 18-08-2023

Blue blockers seem to do little to protect against eye strain while people stare at digital screens, at least in the short term, scientists warn. A University of Melbourne review has cast doubt on the promoted benefits of the light-filtering lense Read More...

Boost for spinal unit after concerns about patient care

Date of Posting: 18-08-2023

Queensland's only dedicated spinal unit will stay put and receive a funding boost following concerns about patient care and a lack of resources. The Palaszczuk government is promising $20 million towards "immediate" improvements to t Read More...

Pandemic drives uptick in Australia's health workforce

Date of Posting: 18-08-2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has swelled Australia's health workforce, with more than 140,000 people registering as new practitioners in the past four years. There are now 877,119 people registered across the various health professions, Australian He Read More...

Confidence low among pharmacists after medicine change

Date of Posting: 17-08-2023

Most pharmacists expect the value of their business to drop, in a loss of confidence blamed on a government policy change. The 10th annual CommBank Pharmacy Insights report released on Thursday showed 72 per cent of community pharmacists surveyed Read More...

Hypertension linked to earlier cognitive risk in study

Date of Posting: 17-08-2023

A correlation between genetic high blood pressure and early cognitive decline has been found by Australian researchers. The research, published by University NSW scientists on Thursday, indicates "subtle but real" changes in cognition fr Read More...

Improvements to health care on national cabinet agenda

Date of Posting: 17-08-2023

Health reform will dominate the next national cabinet meeting in a bid to create a patient-centred system. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would meet in November with state and territory leaders to focus on health care.[subscribe] " Read More...

Australian midwife awarded Member of the Order of Australia

Last Updated: 17-08-2023

Professor Sally Tracy, an Australian midwife, midwifery researcher, author and activist comes from a long line of midwives and she is in fact, a fourth-generation midwife. Her great, great-grandmother was a midwife in Scotland as well as a great-gran Read More...

Microgreens, mature veg may both limit weight

Date of Posting: 16-08-2023

Microgreens and mature vegetables may both be effective for weight control, while the immature plants are also richer in some nutrients, research suggests. Microgreens - older than vegetable sprouts but younger than baby greens - have been touted Read More...

New hope against leading cause of female infertility

Date of Posting: 16-08-2023

As a teenager, Lorna Berry had struggled with her weight and irregular menstrual cycle but it wasn't until her twenties that she knew something was wrong. Ms Berry is one of about 500,000 Australian women has been affected by polycystic ovary Read More...

Sweet tooth tax could cure hip pocket pain

Date of Posting: 16-08-2023

A tax on sugary drinks would reduce their consumption and help fund targeted schemes to improve oral care for vulnerable Australians, the dental association says. In its submission to a parliamentary inquiry examining access to dental services in Read More...

Tricky task ahead to close legal loopholes on vaping

Date of Posting: 14-08-2023

A crackdown on vapes could take longer than the federal government anticipated as it seeks to work with state and territory leaders to close multiple legal loopholes. Health Minister Mark Butler insists the planned health campaign to address teena Read More...

The physio's role in spotting and treating concussion

Date of Posting: 14-08-2023

Physiotherapists are playing an increasingly important role in the education, detection and management of concussion, as well as developing policy and practice guidelines. “I think awareness is growing but I think more could be done to raise Read More...

Littleproud warns regions at risk from medicine changes

Date of Posting: 13-08-2023

Looming prescription medicine changes will result in poorer health outcomes for regional Australians, Nationals leader David Littleproud warns. Measures coming in from September 1 will allow patients to access 60 days' worth of medicine from a Read More...

Dealing with hostile medical patients in virtual safety

Date of Posting: 13-08-2023

Meet Derek. He's not a happy camper. In fact the expletives are already flying and he's threatening to launch physically at any second. Whether in the throes of fever-induced delirium, intoxicated, high or teetering on the verge of rage fo Read More...

Migrants leave UK barge after health-risk bacteria find

Date of Posting: 13-08-2023

Britain has removed migrants from a residential barge less than a week after they moved in after Legionella bacteria was found in the water supply, the government says. Britain had begun moving some migrants onto the large Bibby Stockholm barge on Read More...

As Eris rises, CDC sees no shift in COVID variants

Date of Posting: 11-08-2023

Currently spreading COVID-19 variants such as EG.5 or Eris, do not represent a major shift and updated vaccines in September will offer protection, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. "Right now, what we're seeing with Read More...

Scathing report sparks inquiry into hospital ramping

Date of Posting: 11-08-2023

Ambulance ramping at hospitals in Tasmania will be investigated by an inquiry after a coronial report criticised care provided to a grandmother who died after waiting eight hours for a bed. Anne Helen Pedler, 71, was found to have received substan Read More...

Dodgy doctor found to have lied to staff and patients

Last Updated: 11-08-2023

An unregistered doctor who worked for six days in the emergency department of a South Australian hospital repeatedly lied about his status, investigations have found. The overseas-trained doctor worked at the Port Augusta Hospital, in the state Read More...

Cheaper medicines uncertainty after Senate antics

Date of Posting: 10-08-2023

The future of cheaper medicines and 60-day dispensing is again up in the air, with the Senate likely to consider a push to scrap the change. The federal opposition initially sought to move a disallowance motion overturning the Labor government pol Read More...

Pharmacists set to swallow bitter pill over dispensing

Date of Posting: 10-08-2023

A last-ditch effort to block pharmacies needing to bring in 60-day medicine dispensing is expected to fail. The opposition is moving in federal parliament to disallow Labor's key health policy, saying while it supports the idea of 60-day dispe Read More...

Independent review praises WA's COVID response

Date of Posting: 10-08-2023

An independent review of the West Australian government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic found it acted swiftly, with strength and agility, but still could have done better. The expert panel examined the state's economic, social and hea Read More...

South Australia tracks Victoria cases as vaccine plan grows

Last Updated: 09-08-2023

A COVID-19 vaccine hub will be opened on Kangaroo Island with help from the Royal Flying Doctor Service as SA officials monitor two new infections in Melbourne. Recent travellers from Victoria to South Australia have been urged to check for update Read More...

Doctors sound health alarm over gas expansion plans

Date of Posting: 09-08-2023

Children will be at an increased risk of cancer and birth defects should a planned gas processing and petrochemicals plant in Darwin Harbour go ahead, doctors have warned. Dozens of healthcare professionals converged on Parliament House in Canberr Read More...

Nurses, midwives reluctantly accept pay increase

Date of Posting: 08-08-2023

Nurses and midwives in NSW have agreed to a four per cent pay increase, but many maintain the deal does not fairly reflect their contribution to the health system. It comes amid threats of further industrial action by paramedics who last week effe Read More...

Rising child deaths spark hospital reports reform

Date of Posting: 08-08-2023

Parents of sick children will be able to escalate their concerns more easily following a sharp rise in preventable deaths and cases of serious harm in Victoria's hospitals. An annual report by Safer Care Victoria highlighted 240 sentinel event Read More...

Pioneering hospital ward targets cystic fibrosis care

Date of Posting: 08-08-2023

Thousands of Australians living with cystic fibrosis will be able to access a purpose-built ward dedicated to treating and finding a cure for the life-threatening disorder. The 16-bed facility in Sydney's west is an Australian first in providi Read More...

Dentists warn on vaping danger in oral health charter

Date of Posting: 07-08-2023

Australia's dentists have put the spotlight on the harmful impact of vaping as part of national guidelines on managing oral health. An 11-point charter has been released by the Australian Dental Association it says reflects latest science and Read More...

Pharmacy lobby slammed for aged care 'scare campaign'

Date of Posting: 07-08-2023

Warnings the cost of medicines will rise for aged care residents if planned dispensing changes go ahead are being rejected as a "cynical scare campaign". Under changes from September 1, up to six million people will be able to buy two mo Read More...

Connected online but alone: 1 in 3 Australians lonely

Date of Posting: 07-08-2023

Australians are becoming more connected online but also increasingly alone. The most digitally connected - those aged 18 to 24 - are the most likely to be lonely, according to a landmark report into social connection across the nation.[subscribe] Read More...

Hospital shortages threaten local births for Vic women

Date of Posting: 06-08-2023

Pregnant women in a regional Victorian city face being sent up to 75km away to deliver their babies because of hospital staff shortages. Women approaching labour in Geelong have the very real prospect of being sent to Werribee or Melbourne to give Read More...

Bangladesh grapples with record deadly dengue outbreak

Date of Posting: 06-08-2023

Bangladesh is grappling with a record deadly outbreak of dengue fever, with hospitals struggling to make space for patients as the disease spreads rapidly in the densely-populated country. At least 293 people have died so far in 2023 with almost 6 Read More...

Pharmacists to prescribe antibiotics for urinary tracts

Date of Posting: 05-08-2023

Pharmacists in Western Australia can now prescribe antibiotics for urinary tract infections in women in a bid to ease pressure on general practitioners. Previously, women had to see a doctor to get an official diagnosis but pharmacists who have un Read More...

Jump in ambulance and emergency department wait times

Date of Posting: 05-08-2023

Pressure on Victoria's health system shows no sign of easing after the ambulance service experienced one of its busiest periods on record and the number of patients waiting more than 24 hours in emergency departments doubled. There was a 5.5 p Read More...

Call for all states to make meningococcal vaccine free

Date of Posting: 05-08-2023

Queensland has joined South Australia in making the meningococcal B vaccine free for vulnerable children, with advocates calling for other states to follow their lead. They say states and territories should not wait for the national program to exp Read More...

Don't let arthritis become a...pain

Date of Posting: 04-08-2023

With a wet and chilly July behind us, many Australians are feeling aches and pains in their joints. According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, one in three Australians has a musculoskeletal condition that affects their joints and approximat Read More...

At-home care rolled out in Sydney for older patients

Date of Posting: 03-08-2023

A boost to recently created Urgent Care Response Teams across Sydney will mean more older patients are able to be treated in their own homes or residential facilities. Premier Chris Minns says about 10, 000 more people across parts of the city wil Read More...

Abuse, neglect and violence in Vic care facilities

Date of Posting: 03-08-2023

There is an unacceptable level of abuse, neglect and violence in Victoria's disability and mental health facilities. That's according to the 2021-22 Community Visitors annual report released this week by the state's Public Advocate.[su Read More...