Local news

WEEK COMMENCING 12 SEPTEMBER 2009

Indigenous Health Minister Gets Down to Business

16 September 2009: Business improvement and corporate governance will be the main topics of discussion during a two-day conference beginning today in Sydney for Indigenous health organisations from across NSW.

Make e-health funding priority: AMA

16 September 2009: The Australian Medical Association has called for priority funding for e-health adoption, saying the roll-out should start with e-prescribing and electronic sharing of essential patient information. E-health is one of seven key areas identified for urgent action, with AMA president Andrew Pesce handing the doctors' Priority Investment Plan to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Health Minister Nicola Roxon at a meeting in Canberra. The AMA wants the Federal Government to assume full responsibility for funding the nation's public hospitals, with the states retaining control over operations and local governance arrangements.

Health reform war hits the frontline

16 September 2009: When the Rudd Government took power pledging a new era for health, it all seemed measured, if a little unreal. Kevin Rudd forshadowed a federal fix for public hospitals but not before a rational review of the whole clanking health apparatus. Thus began the health reform process - with boffins on a trio of panels sifting through the pains and strains of the health system.

Call to extend nursing home bonds

16 September 2009: The prospect of high-care nursing home patients being required to pay accommodation bonds of more than $180,000 has been raised by the Productivity Commission. The commission is the latest government advisory body to challenge the Rudd Government to reverse its opposition to the extension of accommodation bonds. These are currently restricted to residents of low-care nursing homes, who are required to lodge repayable bonds now averaging $188,000.

Health service urges regular STI testing

15 September 2009: As part of Sexual Health Week, the Greater Western Area Health Service is urging people to be regularly tested for sexually transmitted infections (STI). The New South Wales Government has launched a new campaign called Get Tested, Play Safe, aimed at lowering STIs, particularly chlamydia, in people under the age of 25.

Overdue HIV strategy near completion

15 September 2009: The sixth National HIV Strategy needs to set a radically low infection target almost half the current rate, experts said as a preliminary draft ended community consultation.

Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme

(During 2009-10, the Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme: Mental Health Nurses will be consolidated into the Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship and Support Scheme) The Scheme is a long term initiative funded by the Australian Government to encourage and support people interested in undertaking postgraduate study in mental health nursing and clinical psychology disciplines. The aim of the scheme is to address the current shortage of qualified mental health professionals by increasing the number of students who enter and complete their study in mental health nursing or clinical psychology. Scholarships are provided to assist such students in meeting accommodation, living and travel costs incurred while studying. Applications will close 23 October 2009.

Doctors milk free birth rebates under Medicare Safety Net

16 September 16, 2009 12:00AM: Obstetricians have doubled their charges as they take advantage of the taxpayer-funded Medicare Safety Net to earn more than $1million a year. Medicare figures obtained by The Daily Telegraph reveal obstetricians were charging on average $835 to manage a pregnancy in July 2004, which had almost doubled to $1535 by last year.

RU OK? Day

14 September 2009: The Hon Nicola Roxon has just launched the RU OK? Initiative that aims to lower Australia’s suicide rates.  The main message is to communicate and connect with people by simply asking “Are you OK?”  It also aims to promote awareness of information and support by raising the profile of existing organisations that provide these services.

Podiatrists 'should not prescribe'

14 September 2009: Doctors are furious about a State Government decision to let podiatrists prescribe drugs of addiction, warning that it could prove a bonanza for ''doctor shopper'' drug addicts. The Australian Medical Association Victoria says the new rights, granted last month, will lead to a bigger risk of drug misuse, theft and threats against practitioners.

Roxon dismisses revelations about public healthcare lure

14 September 2009: Nicola Roxon has reaffirmed the government's commitment to free healthcare, dismissing revelations that Queensland hospitals are paying the insurance excess of privately covered patients to lure them into the public system.

Fat chance

14 September 2009: Recommendations by the Government's National Preventative Health Taskforce have sparked debate about how Australia should tackle the growing challenge of chronic disease.

Women risk lives taking weight-loss pills

13 September 2009: Women are risking their lives "doctor-shopping" for diet pills in a desperate search for a "quick fix" weight-loss solution. The Australian Medical Association says it is common for people to visit different doctors trying to get the "potentially deadly" pills.

Awards to impact nurses, aged care: govt

13 September 2009: Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon concedes the government's award modernisation process could affect nurses and aged-care workers. Australia already faces a major challenge in the industry given the ageing population, she said. But she was unable to guarantee aged-care workers - among the lowest paid in the country - would not be worse off under the new award system.

Roxon prepared to fight for rebate reform

13 September 2009: The Federal Government will not rule out calling an early election if a key health policy is not passed by the Parliament. The Government has sought advice on recalling Parliament in December to reintroduce a bill that will means test the private health insurance rebate.

Swine flu threat not yet over: Roxon

13 September 2009: Health authorities have enough swine flu vaccine on hand to treat every Australian, the federal government says. But the good news comes as Health Minister Nicola Roxon warned the H1N1 threat was not yet over.

Hospitals facing $1.6b budget blow-out

12 September 2009: Massive staff cuts in WA hospitals have been predicted after revelations the Health Department is facing a $1.6billion budget blow-out over the next four years. Health Department boss Peter Flett has said that over the next four years the department's budget could blow out by $1.6billion and the deficit in the 2011-12 financial year alone could be $635million.

Stars of new show prepared to die on air

12 September 2009: Many of those featured in a new prime-time medical show could be dead by the time it reaches the screen. Last Chance Surgery, Seven Network's answer to Nine's real-life medical program, RPA, features people whose only hope of survival is radical and dangerous surgery. Narrated by former Australian Medical Association president, GP Kerryn Phelps, the series features medicos like neurosurgeon Charlie Teo, known for operating on brain tumours that no other doctor is prepared to touch.

Awards to impact nurses, aged care: govt

13 September 2009: Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon concedes the government's award modernisation process could affect nurses and aged-care workers. Australia already faces a major challenge in the industry given the ageing population, she said.

Unhealthy pressures

12 September 2009: Health Minister Nicola Roxon has a point when she says Coalition and crossbench senators' opposition to cutting the private healthcare rebate for middle- and high-income earners is costing the health system $2.5billion. Generally, The Weekend Australian is a strong advocate of removing subsidies and middle-class welfare. The size and scope of the problems of our badly managed state health systems, however, are such that retaining the rebate might be the most cost-effective option, at least for now. Such an outcome would prevent hospital systems being further strained by an influx of patients' abandoning medical insurance.

Westmead run into the ground as our worst hospital

11 September 2009: It is one of the state's flagship hospitals and the training ground for many of our future doctors. But now Westmead Hospital has been saddled with the title of the worst hospital in NSW, with doctors revealing yesterday that it was "being run into the ground".

Global financial crisis increases suicide risk – Roxon

10 September 2009: Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon has urged Australians to open up to their loved ones, as she warned of increased risk of suicide facing families due to the global financial crisis. Ms Roxon today launched a new suicide prevention website – RUOKday.com.au – to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.

All this nagging, Nicola, isn’t making us thin

10 September 2009: Nicola Roxon thinks were too fat, smoke too much and drink too much. And all of this overindulgence is costing the country a motza. But don’t worry she’s got a solution. She’s going to nag us to death instead. This week she announced she’s creating the National Preventative Health Agency (NPHA). This brand spanking new, taxpayer funded thingo will ”push, cajole and lead” families, schools, workplaces, industries, clubs and community organisations to encourage healthier living.

International news

Lowering sodium consumption could save US $18 billion annually in health costs, study finds

Reducing Americans' average intake of sodium to the amount recommended by health officials could save the nation as much as $18 billion annually in avoided health care costs and improve the quality of life for millions of people, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

UK: School nurses overburdened

12 September 2009: School nurses are so overburdened that each of them has to look after an average of 2,590 pupils, according to a report from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). As a result, two-thirds of state school nurses questioned in the survey said they feel over-stretched and believe they are not given enough support with their rising workload.

US: Nurse-run health centers: Real healthcare reform

11 September 2009: Nurse-managed health centers are one solution to the growing shortage of family medical practitioners. They are community-based, nonprofit clinics run by advanced practice nurses capable of delivering primary and preventive care more affordably than a larger health system, especially for low-income and vulnerable populations.

Studies: 1 dose of swine flu vaccine works

11 September 2009: American and Australian researchers report that the new swine flu vaccine is strong enough to protect adults with one shot. And it takes effect in eight to 10 days. That's good news because they had thought it might take two to protect people from the new virus that is beginning to spread across the country.