Harriet Alexander
Harriet Alexander is a health reporter at the Sydney Morning Herald.
How visualising data helped UTS microbiologist Cynthia Whitchurch in her attempt to defeat a superbug
Harriet Alexander, Health Reporter Cynthia Whitchurch has become so familiar with the habits of a superbug that her next trick is to exert "mind control" over it.
Measles alert: four people with measles have been in planes, surgeries, hospitals
![The measles rash on the face of a child.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160412101546im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/06/7329324/Thumbnail1007772316gmq5qqimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.go023g.png1460000646352.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Harriet Alexander Recent plane passengers, hostel residents, hospital and medical centre patients are among those at risk of developing measles following confirmed cases of the highly contagious disease in Sydney.
Existing ambulance stations to be downgraded under 'superstation' plan
![Several ambulance stations will be downgraded to 'stand by points'.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160412101546im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/01/7317855/Thumbnail1007541320gnpavzimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gnv3uw.png1459641584291.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Harriet Alexander New regional hubs hubs will be used as bases for each area's management team, restocking and cleaning vehicles and training exercises, NSW Ambulance says.
Westmead Hospital extends its slow period for elective surgery to six weeks
![Westmead Hospital, the busiest in NSW.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160412101546im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/03/31/7316477/Thumbnail100752362012aorpimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gnuq78.png1459499817192.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Harriet Alexander As premiers meet the prime minister to thrash out health funding, another Sydney hospital has been forced to cut services.
RPA hospital investigates private partnerships to relieve pressure on wards
![Ambulances.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160412101546im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/03/30/7312800/Thumbnail1007496255gnu6beimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gnu533.png1459330600099.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Harriet Alexander, Health reporter A Sydney hospital is seeking partnerships with the private sector as it braces itself for an influx in patients.
Report shows asbestos, leaking roof, and a possum at Concord Hospital
Harriet Alexander Concord Hospital is in desperate need of an upgrade - a possum sneaking through a leaky roof is proof of that.
Australian researcher uses big data to monitor astronaut health on mission to Mars
![Professor Carolyn McGregor with some of the research data output she is working with.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160412101546im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/03/23/7298562/Thumbnail1007288286gnp9w5image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gnpom6.png1459256604282.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Harriet Alexander Australian researcher Carolyn McGregor is preparing for the "two-week window where there will be no communication with Earth".
Study shows how brain training changes the shape of the brain to fight dementia
![Barrie Jones uses a program that helps his memory at the Brain and Mind Centre at Chippendale.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160412101546im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/03/22/7295861/Thumbnail1007230101gnoknqimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gnofpx.png1458784503571.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Harriet Alexander Researchers have pinpointed how physical exercise and cognitive training can thicken parts of the brain to prevent it from developing degenerative diseases.
GPs told to stop referring patients as Blacktown Hospital is too busy
![The true extent of the waiting list for elective surgery is unknown.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160412101546im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/03/22/7295162/Thumbnail1007221701gnodo8image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gno98l.png1458664588340.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Harriet Alexander Surgeons are begging general practitioners not to send them new patients because the hospital is too busy to treat them, creating a hidden waiting list of patients that are not measured in the...
Patient dies from legionnaires' disease in Sydney's Town Hall outbreak
![Legionnaires' disease under a microscope.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160412101546im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/03/16/7283688/Thumbnail1007032544zr8h8image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gnk7a8.png1458126311753.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Harriet Alexander A man has died after contracting Legionnaire's disease in the outbreak encircling the Town Hall area.
Record number of emergency presentations putting NSW health system under pressure
![The NSW hospital system is struggling to cope with a record number of patients.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160412101546im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/03/16/7282767/Thumbnail1007007244gl7ygoimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gnjnrg.png1458049215694.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Harriet Alexander The NSW hospital system is struggling to cope with a record 665,000 patients swamping emergency departments in the last quarter of 2015.
NSW government pushes for private insurance to cover GP visits
![The NSW goverment is proposing a greater role for private insurance in primary care.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160412101546im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/03/10/7270847/Thumbnail1006816662gn8zufimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gnfkpi.png1457624248141.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Harriet Alexander Critics warn of "two-tier system" if private health insurers are allowed into GP practices.
AMA calls for urgent health funding as Nepean and Wagga Wagga hospitals reach breaking point
Harriet Alexander Hospitals are facing a crisis that will engulf the health system within a year, says the AMA president.
Town Hall area cooling tower suspected after four men contract Legionnaires disease
![zzz000504.001.006 NewX Legionella pneumophila bacteria
NOTE: THIS PIC WAS DOWNLOADED FROM THIS INTERNET SITE
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http://cweb.middlebury.edu/s99/bi330a/projects/Cocchiaro/
or http://www.q-net.net.au/~legion/Legionnaires_Disease_The_Bugs.htm
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Harriet Alexander Health authorities suspect that an infected cooling tower may be responsible for an outbreak of Legionnaires disease around Town Hall station.
Calls for a permanent Aboriginal medical service in western Sydney as another one goes under
![A second Aboriginal medical service in western Sydney faces closure.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160412101546im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/03/06/7259795/Thumbnail1006535136zslwsimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gn9jhc.png1457266071616.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Harriet Alexander A second Aboriginal health service in western Sydney is on the brink of closure, following the collapse of the Aboriginal medical service in NSW last year.
Many parents consult 'Dr Google', but few trust the information
![Most parents consult Dr Google for child health information, but few trust it.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160412101546im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/03/02/7251067/Thumbnail1006489309gluwlximage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gn8k4d.png1456904448436.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Harriet Alexander A survey has shown what happens when people search for health symptoms online.
Most women still experience sexual problems six months after childbirth
![Even in 21st century Australia, people are still reluctant to discuss sex and sexual problems.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160412101546im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/02/28/7242508/Thumbnail100633787012f6n5image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gn5b9q.png1456794621294.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Harriet Alexander Doctors are advised to ask women about sexual problems before they get worse.
UWS complementary research institute promotes good news and ignores bad, critics say
![The National Institute of Complementary Medicine exaggerates positive studies about its efficacy, a former employee says.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160412101546im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/02/27/7241484/Thumbnail1006334658ghdh0cimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gn58si.png1456581323272.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Harriet Alexander Critics say that a leading institute in complementary medicine is too reliant on sponsorship to carry out independent research.
Health watchdog HCCC investigates Doctor John Grygiel over St Vincent's chemo dosing scandal
![Dr John Grygiel has been referred to the medical watchdog.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160412101546im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/02/24/7232720/Thumbnail1006172619gmxzdmimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gn1rrf.png1456326741575.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Kate Aubusson, Harriet Alexander The state's health watchdog is investigating the doctor accused of administering incorrect doses of a chemotherapy drug to 70 cancer patients at St Vincent's Hospital for up to three years.
Sydney immunisation rates improve but not enough to meet national target
![New data has revealed low vaccination hot spots.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160412101546im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/02/17/7216647/Thumbnail1005933464glokizimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gmwn88.png1455762641907.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Harriet Alexander It is not just affluent suburbs where parents are failing to immunise their children.