Archived News for Health Sector Professionals

The New South Wales Government has announced a ‘ground breaking’ strategy designed to overhaul pain management services across the state.

State Minister for Health, Jillian Skinner, announced the NSW Pain Management Plan, which will deliver an additional $26 million over the next four years to support the development of new pain management services in regional areas, to enhance existing teaching hospital services and to support research into chronic pain.

“The investment and additional funding will improve services across NSW and provide support in regional areas where previously there has been no access to treatment,” Mrs Skinner said.

SA announces immediate action on Monaghan Report

The South Australian Government has announced immediate action will start to implement reforms recommended in Dr Mark Monaghan’s report on Emergency Department care.

Transplants and dialysis treatment trebles

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has published a report which shows that the number of Australians treated with dialysis or kidney transplantation for their end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) has almost tripled between 1991 and 2009.

Victoria puts Barwon up for NDIS rollout

State Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge said the launch area, consisting of the City of Greater Geelong, the Surf Coast Shire, the Borough of Queenscliffe and the Colac-Otway Shire, is well placed to build on and use existing services and supports to launch the NDIS in Victoria.

Marijuana doubles risk of premature birth

Research conducted by the University of Adelaide shows that women who use marijuana during the time of pregnancy can more than double the risk of premature birth.

Study finds nurses believe violence is part of their job

A new study conducted at the Lyell McEwin Hospital found nurses believe they must accept violence as part of their job.

Too much food, too little balance finds AIHW

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has published a report that indicates that Australia’s are eating too much of some foods and too little of others, with people consuming a higher percentage of their daily energy intake in the form of sugary or fatty foods.

CSIRO to help tackle rotavirus

CSIRO has been contracted by the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) to produce antibodies on a large scale that will be used in the development of a new, safe, affordable and effective vaccination against rotavirus, a major cause of severe and fatal diarrhoea in young children worldwide.

Major shortfalls in medical best practice

Australians receive “appropriate” health care in only 57 per cent of consultations, according the first ever national snapshot of the quality of clinical care in Australia.

SA appoints DIC members

South Australia has announced the appointment of new members of the state’s Disability Advisory Council.

Australia to host malaria conference

The Federal Government has announced that Australia will host a high-level conference in October to help combat the growing challenge of malaria.

Doctors working excessive hours

Australian doctors are working ‘unsafe’ shifts in the country’s public hospitals, according to an audit of hospital working conditions for doctors released by the Australian Medical Association (AMA).

Healthcare policy needs more rational approach

Gaps in the Australian healthcare system could be highlighted and tackled using research from The Australian National University.

Dementia stigma still strong says Buttrose

A new survey released by Newspoll has shown that more than half of Australians mistakenly attribute symptoms of dementia as being a normal part of ageing.

Government to extend HPV vaccine program to boys

In a world first, the Federal Government has announced Australian schoolboys will be able to start receiving the Gardasil vaccine, which will protect them against developing a range of cancers while bolstering the effectiveness of the vaccine in women.

Chronic disease study reveals diabetes rates in Victoria

Results of a survey released by the Victorian Health Intelligence Unit show that around one in 20 adult Victorians has diabetes.

Flu season the worst in years

The Influenza Specialist Group (ISG) has warned that this year’s flu season is shaping up to be the worst in a number of years, with a particularly virulent strain of the disease seeing the number of people contracting influenza double compared to the same time last year.

CSIRO and MDI sign 'green whistle' deal

The CSIRO and Australian based healthcare company Medical Developments International (MDI) have signed a technology deal to develop a new production process for the drug methoxyflurane, the pain-relieving ingredient used in Pentrox™, commonly known as the ‘green whistle’.

One in four admissions require surgery finds AIHW

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has published findings that show that over a quarter of Australia’s 8.9 million hospitalisations in 2010-11 necessitated surgery.

WA health councils open

Western Australia’s five inaugural governing councils for the State’s public health system have come into effect. The councils will see 45 high-level clinical, corporate, government and community representatives aim to streamline communications between the state government and local hospital needs.