A lack of palliative care beds in Gippsland means terminally ill patients may be missing out on vital early care, a palliative care co-ordinator has warned. Cassandra White reports.
Health care
Healthcare in WA gets taken for a ride
Revelations this week that Western Australia health department officials recently accepted $750,000 worth of gifts from sources including drug and device makers are simply unbelievable.
Govt’s health reform ad blitz promotes political, not public, interest
The health reform advertisements are not offering any kind of useful advice that usually forms the basis of a good old-fashioned awareness campaign, writes Paul Smith.
Diary of a Surgeon: How to set a world standard for health care
Surgical checklists cost almost nothing, yet have been shown to almost halve mortality and mortality in hospitals in which they are used, writes Professor Guy Maddern.
Why Australians live longer than Americans
A huge new study has found the risk of dying young in Australia has fallen dramatically over the past 40 years, but America is lagging badly behind. The difference? Universal health care.
You can’t punish people who make poor health choices
Why should we pick up the tab for people who overeat and smoke? It’s a common argument for those against health care. But personal responsibility is a messy and tricky issue, writes cardiologist Sandeep Hauhar.
Tipsy fun-time with Crikey’s National Health Care Infrastructure Drinking Game
Let me just say this… Drink!
Get a FREE Smart Health Choices e-book
Croakey is offering a free download of Smart Health Choices: Making Sense of Health Advice — a great tool for getting your head around health advice and learning how to take an active role in your own health care.
The rise of meaningless management speak is PI in the sky
The Department of Health and Ageing’s annual report worships at the altar of performance indicators, writes Professor Gavin Mooney.
A lot to be said for socialism in an American ER …
The Democrats passed their health-care reform legislation in the House of Representatives over the weekend, though a Senate vote will be even tougher. The legislation may be imperfect, but it’s a start.
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Heath care spending around the world
How much do different countries spend on health care? And how well does that correlate with the health of their citizens? An eye-opening infographic from GOOD.
Tired doctors need a complex solution, not simplistic headlines
The debate about long working hours and the vexed issue of extended shifts again has those concerned in a tailspin, writes Professor Drew Dawson.
Don’t let health reform jeopardise the good works done by public hospital outpatient clinics
There is no doubt that the community needs better access to specialist services closer to where they live and work, writes Professor Ian Webster.
Fixing health: Crikey reviews the latest report
The much-anticipated report from the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission has landed. Bernard Keane gets to grips with the detail.
Is the global recession affecting your health?
Four years from now, we will be in the midst of the longest debt deflation episode in post-war history and our health will be failing.
QLD election promise hospital fails health check
The much vaunted Beattie Government election promise of a $1b plus Queensland Children’s Hospital “delivering exceptional health services” is proving a nightmare for the Bligh government, writes a Queensland doctor.
Management in WA health: Sick-oooooh!
While so much of the public and political attention in health care of late is focused on the shortage of doctors, there’s another pressing workforce issue – the dearth of good managers in the health bureaucracy. Good management of health care is clearly critical writes Gavin Mooney.
