Are greens better than pills to prevent falls for elderly people?

Just half a cup of broccoli a day can help older people avoid being hospitalised for a fall, new research from Edith Cowan University has found.

CSIRO releases ‘Future of Health’ report

A new report on the future of health care in Australia looks to shift the health system’s focus from the treatment of illness towards better health and wellbeing management.

The ongoing threat of asbestos in Australia

Even though the mineral was banned in 2003, asbestos lingers in older homes and, as they undergo repairs or redevelopment, harmful fibers are released, endangering home owners and construction workers.

3 new ‘superbugs’ invade Australian hospitals

Three new strains of superbug resistant to most antibiotics have been found in Australian hospitals, and are spreading quickly. Modern hospital practices, including the use of antibiotic impregnated medical devices such as catheters, may have driven the evolution of this once benign bacteria towards potentially incurable infections.

Knee replacement rehab in private hospitals is costing us all

Rates of inpatient rehab after total knee replacement are increasing in Australia at a time when they are declining overseas, despite evidence that for most people it is no better than home- or community-based rehabilitation, according to Australian researchers.

Safer hospitals would save money as well as lives

A new report from the Grattan Institute argues there are simple ways to improve patient care and save public money at the same time in the nation’s hard-pressed hospitals.

Health providers’ security flaws threaten patient data

Amid the controversy surrounding the My Health Record system, very little attention has been given to the glaring security weaknesses of the health provider systems that will be used daily to access patient information.

Patients and the data breach notification maze

A new report confirms that Australia’s healthcare sector is susceptible to data breaches, yet the legal requirements around breach notification are inconsistent and about to get more confusing.

High rates of hepatitis C increase the need for prevention and treatment

New research from NDARC and the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney shows almost 40% of people who have injected drugs in the past year are living with hepatitis C.

The murky world of industry sponsored ‘health consumer’ groups

University of Sydney experts call for greater transparency and independence from Australian health consumer groups, as new research reveals clouded disclosures about financial support and corporate sponsorship arrangements.

Omega-3 supplements don’t help your heart

Omega-3 supplements may not be all they’re cracked up to be, according to a comprehensive Cochrane review which found that increasing the amount of long-chain omega 3 fats (those found in fish) in our diets doesn’t make our hearts any healthier.

Nature and science join forces to fight surgical infections

South Australian researchers are embarking on a $20 million medical and manufacturing research project which could reduce the chance of infection after orthopaedic surgery, thanks to a little help from the humble dragonfly.