Loo breaks a luxury for swamped regional doctors
Some doctors are too busy to go to the toilet during long shifts and warn a "vicious cycle of burnout" means worse patient care, as they fight for better pay.
government health care
Kennedy to travel to Texas after measles-related deaths
US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr is reportedly planning a rushed trip to Texas after a second child's death there was linked to measles.
Top US vaccine official resigns, criticises RFK Jr
The top US vaccine official has resigned and criticised the nation's health department boss for allowing "misinformation and lies" to guide his thinking.
Hospital partnership ban a legacy of toddler’s death
Private operators will be banned from getting involved in acute care in one state after a toddler's tragic death at a controversial hospital.
Health portfolio quartet join nation’s newest ministry
A third-time elected state government has backed splitting its health portfolio four ways as the ink dried at its swearing-in ceremony.
IVF, contraception drugs cheaper as birth rate dips
Several women's health drugs are being made cheaper as the government aims to boost the success of IVF treatments and help those suffering a painful condition.
Dutton accuses PM of peddling ‘dirt’ on share purchases
Attempts to use Peter Dutton's decades-old financial records against him reflect poorly on the federal government, the opposition leader says.
Labor ‘waited too long’ to announce big election pledge
With a federal election looming, an expert warns it will take more than a rate cut and a health promise to turn the political tides in Labor's favour.
‘Blow for women’ as hospitals shut maternity wards
Staffing challenges and declining birth rates have been blamed for maternity wards closing at private hospitals in two jurisdictions.
‘Opportune’ ads lure quitting interstate psychiatrists
Dissatisfied public hospital psychiatrists who have quit over pay and conditions are being enticed across the border with a job-ad blitz in major newspapers.
Mental services need major repair, not short-term fix
As pay and working conditions drive many NSW public hospital psychologists towards resignation, a new mental health chief has urged a long-term solution.
Row erupts as creaking health system poses serious risk
Patient wait times continue to climb while a maintenance backlog poses major threats, an audit report of one state's health system has found.
No quick fix after years of warnings over health system
The nurses union claims it warned for years about serious health system failures identified in an audit, which the state government says it will work to remedy.
Aged care revamp to shake up Australians’ golden years
Older Australians will be able to live at home for longer and receive better protections in aged care after a sector overhaul passed parliament.
Big police pay rise sparks ructions in other wage deals
Police and nurses point to a big pay increase for officers in one jurisdiction while threatening strike action as their wage negotiations deteriorate.
Abortion access still a lottery for the disadvantaged
When it comes to abortion access, Victorians face a 'postcode lottery' with those in disadvantaged and regional areas confronting barriers to the service.
Labor pitches $365m for 50 new GP clinics to woo voters
Two weeks out from election day, Queensland Labor has made a bold pitch to open 50 bulk-billing GP clinics as the opposition eyes a new dam in the southeast.
‘Rotten to the core’: racism claim over fatal diagnosis
The father of an Indigenous man who was fatally misdiagnosed with a drug-related illness says the doctor responsible shouldn't be treating patients.
Push for transparent national hate-crime database
A push is underway for an independent, national database to track hate-motivated crime data and keep pace with the risks and threats extremists pose.
Elderly left waiting months for care as demand surges
Older Australians are being forced to wait longer for home care as demands blows out, with an ageing population set to exacerbate the issue in coming decades.
Consumers tipped to stash tax-cut savings for rainy day
Australians plan to stash their stage three tax cut cash, a key cost of living relief measure in the budget, in promising news for inflation
Baby bonus resurrection off the cards, says treasurer
The federal treasurer acknowledges some people can't afford to have more children and is committed to helping families to do so, if that's what they want.
Half of nurses, midwives considering leaving profession
Nearly 10,000 healthcare workers are fed up with understaffing and exhaustion and are considering leaving the industry, a union says.
Dumping of second city injection room ‘will cost lives’
A second supervised injecting room will not be built in Melbourne, after the state government rejected a report recommending one for the CBD.
Sick boy was ‘so much worse’ when let go from hospital
A coroner is investigating the circumstances that led to a 19-month-old boy's death from meningitis after he was seen by multiple health professionals.
More than $1 billion for women and girls’ health plan
The Queensland government has pledged $1 billion over five years to improve women and girls' health care experience as part of a landmark strategy.
Funding boost for endometriosis in women’s strategy
More than $18 million has been allocated to tackle barriers faced by women when receiving endometriosis diagnosis and services
Hospital waits balloon, GP visits down as costs bite
People are putting off seeing their local doctors, waiting longer for ambulances and languishing in emergency departments, federal government figures reveal.
Population pressure on Qld health system
Growing demand for hospital presentations and ambulances services has affected health services and emergency departments in Queensland.
Workload relief for midwives in patient ratio reforms
Midwives working in Queensland public hospitals will soon operate under patient ratios after the state's health minister tabled reforms to parliament.
Qld Health faces long-stay patient challenge
The Queensland government will inject $200 million over two years to help address the number of long stay hospital patients causing significant challenges.