The Hon. Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health, addressed the National Press Club last week outlining the Commonwealth’s long-term health plan and blueprint for mental health. The Minister notes that for the first time, mental health will be rated equally alongside physical health, and the plan also includes a focus …

The Australasian Neuroscience Nurses Association Movement Disorder Chapter & The Movement Disorder Society of Australia and New Zealand have released a joint position statement advising of a Sinemet shortage. Sinemet (levodopa/carbidopa) is a medication commonly used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease as well as other neurological disorders. From 23 …

General Practitioners (GPs) are often the first health professional a woman goes to when she is either planning a pregnancy or thinks she may be pregnant. Because of this GPs have an important role in providing the best possible information for women to have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. …

The clinical experience of general practitioners is crucial in helping people with disability access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), to confirm a person’s disability is permanent and significant. The NDIS was never intended to replace health responsibilities for diagnosing and treating medical conditions, so the most important way GPs …

In response to a statewide review of kidney care services, Queensland Health developed a plan setting out the priority actions to improve kidney health and kidney health services in Queensland’s public health system. A a June meeting, the Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services released the Advancing Kidney …

Have you heard of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care? Well, it’s a thing. The Commission has been developing national clinical standards for several high-impact conditions and interventions. These standards aim to improve the appropriate use of evidence-based clinical interventions. The Commission has published a Colonoscopy …

This Winter, Come Prepared That’s the message from the Lung Foundation, who have launched their winter campaign encouraging health professionals and people living with COPD to Come Prepared and prevent a COPD flare-up by developing a COPD Action Plan. During the winter months there are lots of people around who may …

Queensland Health recently released a summary of findings into its research on improving communications with older Australians. The primary objective of this research was to establish a greater understanding of the ways in which Queensland Health can provide Older Queenslanders, and those that influence their decision making (e.g. families and …

In the wake of last week’s National Reconciliation Week, now is an ideal time to reflect on the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians, and the sobering reality that the mortality rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children is currently 2.4 times the mortality rate for non-Indigenous children. The …

The Australian College of Nurse Practitioners, the peak body for nurse practitioners and advanced practice nurses in Australia, is running a national campaign to raise the profile of nurse practitioners in Australia. The Transforming Health Care initiative aims to provide valuable information to the public about the benefits of having …

Referrals are now being accepted for the first dedicated private mental health service for young adults to open in Queensland. Opening 24 June 2019, the Mater Young Adult Health Centre Brisbane’s Emotional Health Unit is where 16-25 year olds will be provided with specialist mental health care through the three …