Media Hub

March 2012

29 March 2012

$2.9 Million to Help Boost Access to Clinical Trials

Patients suffering chronic diseases will benefit from $2.9 million in funding to increase access to clinical trials of new drugs, treatments and medical procedures.

29 March 2012

The Next Generation of Nurses Using Robot Patients For Training

As part of the Australian Government’s commitment to help address the future health workforce needs of the community, nurses and midwives are undertaking training with robot patients that talk, breath and move at new $5 million laboratories at the University of Technology, Sydney.

28 March 2012

Health e-Nation Conference Gold Coast 28 March 2012

19 March 2012

Keynote Address - Breathing New Life into General Practice Conference, Great Hall, Parliament House, Canberra

16 March 2012

Private Health Insurance Rebate Mean-test Becomes Law

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek welcomed the passage of legislation through the Parliament to means-test the private health insurance rebate on 16 March 2012.

12 March 2012

New Nepean Hospital Surgical Wing to Reduce Penrith Waiting Times

Residents of Penrith will have shorter waiting times and greater access to surgical procedures with the opening of a new surgical wing at Nepean hospital.

10 March 2012

Women with PIP Breast Implants to Receive Subsidised MRI Scans

Women who know that they have PIP breast implants, or where clinical advice is that they might have, will be able to access Medicare rebates for MRI services to assess whether their implants are structurally sound from Monday 12 March 2012.

09 March 2012

New Emergency Department for Mersey Patients

Patients at the Mersey Community Hospital are set to benefit from a new $5.3 million Emergency Department which was officially opened on 9 March 2012.

08 March 2012

GP After Hours Helpline Begins Service in Queensland

Queenslanders have been given access to the popular after hours GP helpline, which means that people living in the Sunshine State will now be able to get medical advice from a GP after hours.

06 March 2012

Grants Announced for Research into Preventive Health

Almost $4 million in research funding has been allocated nation-wide to 13 new projects that will investigate ways to prevent the harm caused by obesity, tobacco and harmful use of alcohol.

06 March 2012

New Data Shows How Often Hospital Staff Wash Their Hands

Doctors and nurses will be given more information about how they can continue to protect their patients from the spread of infectious diseases with the release of new national data on how often hospital staff wash their hands.

01 March 2012

Convenient Access to Birth Control Pills and High Cholesterol Medication

The passing of the National Health (Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement) Bill 2011means that patients whose prescriptions have run out will be able to obtain birth control pills and high cholesterol medication from a pharmacy if they’re unable to see a doctor in time for a renewal.