Healthcare
‘Turn the lights off’: Hospital staff offered cost-cutting tips in budget crackdown
Workers at three major Melbourne hospitals have been told that simple things can save money, as Alfred Health reviews costs in a desperate bid to cut spending.
- by Jewel Topsfield and Broede Carmody
Latest
‘No one wants to be sharing this message’: Major hospitals confirm budget squeeze
Two of Victoria’s largest health services have imposed hiring freezes in response to government demands for huge savings, causing stress for health workers.
- by Jewel Topsfield and Henrietta Cook
2023: Victorian health system failing to meet targets
Data shows parts of Victoria’s health system still falls short of the government's own gold standard.
Hostile to elated: Nurses overwhelmingly approve new pay deal
Victorian nurses and midwives have backed the 28.4 per cent pay rise over four years. The deal ends months of tense talks between their union and the government.
- by Henrietta Cook
Exclusive
Healthcare
Hiring freeze and cuts to surgery, stationery: Hospital chief’s warning over ‘challenging’ budget
Western Health has imposed a hiring freeze, cut back elective surgery and told staff to look for other savings as it grapples with state government budget cuts.
- by Jewel Topsfield and Rachel Eddie
Exclusive
Healthcare
Elective surgery waiting lists to balloon as health budget cuts bite
With the Victorian government demanding savings from hospitals, some doctors have been told their contracts won’t be renewed.
- by Jewel Topsfield, Henrietta Cook and Benjamin Preiss
Exclusive
Healthcare
When rats ruled The Rocks and fear stalked the streets of Sydney
The year was 1900 and public enemy number one in Sydney was the plague-infected rat.
- by Tim Barlass
The highly contagious virus potentially linked childhood asthma cases
Cat Irvine believes her son, Parker, developed asthma as a result of multiple RSV infections. The five-year-old now carries an asthma puffer with him at all times.
- by Henrietta Cook
The common condition that can cause too much shame to be named
Incontinence affects everything from sex lives to sport participation and self-image. Yet research reveals it is rarely discussed and many go without treatment.
- by Wendy Tuohy
Exclusive
Health
These medicines have been life-changing for Jill and Paddy. Not everyone can get them
With 1.5 million Australians now living with diabetes, advocates are pushing the government to protect the supply of drugs such as Ozempic and fund glucose-monitoring technology.
- by Angus Thomson
Nurses fought back against their union for better pay. Here’s what’s now on the table
The leadership of the nursing and midwifery union was last month left reeling when members rejected an earlier deal they were expected to accept.
- by Jewel Topsfield and Lachlan Abbott