Archived News for Health Sector Professionals

The journal Science has picked its top ten scientific achievements of the year, highlighting some incredible breakthroughs of 2014.

Call for kernels of concern on new GM food

Authorities have called for submissions on an application to permit genetically modified corn-based foods in Australia.

Date with fruit could cut depression risk

Daily consumption of fruit may play a role in maintaining mental health, a study from the University of Queensland says.

Emergency split makes compensation confusing

A Tasmanian Government pay deal could see nurses and firefighters get a 2 per cent pay rise before Christmas, but police officers will have to go without.

Four-way finding could see Dengue damned

A major research breakthrough featuring Australian scientists could be the key to fighting dengue fever.

Australian beds set to aid Ebola outbreak

The Australian-managed Ebola treatment centre in Sierra Leone has opened overnight, allowing Australian workers – through a private contractor – to help ease the suffering as the outbreak continues.

Doctors to check welfare disability claims

Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews says Australian Government-contracted doctors will assess new claims for the Disability Support Pension from next year, in a move he says will bring “consistency and equity across the country”.

Forums don't match physicians in age of digital diagnosis

Unvalidated and often utterly baseless health information spurted on online forums is putting people at risk, a new study says.

Fun tech levels-up for serious help

Australian researchers are taking part in a massive trial to see whether computer games, iPad apps and interactive games such as the Wii can help people recover from falls, strokes and brain injuries.

Sun sets on tanning beds for skin's sake

Millions of Australians will have to increase their risk of skin cancer in a private capacity, with a ban on commercial solariums coming in on December 31.

Memories kept behind millions of mental doors

It is annoying when a random piece of information seems to push an important one out of our memory – but researchers say there is so much space that this is almost impossible.

Online tests hardly worth the saliva they require

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) says that cheap genetic tests ordered online are like everything else purchased that way – sub-standard, unhelpful and likely misleading.

Research the redeeming part of co-payment backflip

The Prime Minister says the Government has “very, very significantly improved” its GP co-payment plan, by reducing the amount and shunting responsibility for collecting it onto GPs.

Staggered sleeping for jagged thinking

A new study says people who sleep for short periods of time and go to bed very late at night experience more negative thoughts than those with regular sleeping hours.

Hospital fears prompt call for transplant

Asbestos has been discovered in building materials at the old Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH), and health workers say they want new building instead of another patch-up.

Call for comment on food plan

Authorities have called for comment on changes that could see the whole nation eating better.

Call to plot leaks as gas industry wells up

A team of university experts has warned that the risks of coal seam gas mining could play out before governments get around to responding.

Immune trick for aged attack on malaria

An international team of scientists has developed a malaria drug that tricks the immune system into destroying infected red blood cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed.

IV investigation shows need to shift

The intravenous (IV) fluid currently recommended for the majority of hospitalised children worldwide should change, a new study says.

Ex-minister could keep roles, despite fines and bans

The Federal Court has disqualified and fined 5 former directors of Australian Property Custodian Holdings Ltd (APCHL) for breaching their directors’ duties and making an illegal related party payment of more than $30 million.