Healthcare
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Ambulance Victoria
Ambulance Victoria chief executive resigns amid industrial dispute
Paramedics recently passed a vote of no-confidence in the troubled emergency service’s leadership.
- by Jewel Topsfield, Lachlan Abbott and Rachel Eddie
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Patients told to drink water as hospitals ration IV drips
An internal Victorian Department of Health document calls on health services to conserve 14 intravenous fluid products at risk of shortages.
- by Henrietta Cook and Jewel Topsfield
The tradie who accidentally shot himself in the heart with a nail gun and lived to tell the tale
Mark Hardeman considers himself lucky to have a “second chance at life” after a 7.5-centimetre projectile struck his right ventricle.
- by Carolyn Webb
The moment Jim closed his eyes – and exposed Ambulance Victoria’s ‘festering sore’
After an 18½ hour shift, Jim Avard had a terrible accident. His experience became a lightning rod for paramedics in a dispute that threatens to engulf the ambulance service.
- by Jewel Topsfield and Henrietta Cook
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How Tom walked away from knee pain without expensive surgery
An orthopaedic surgeon is talking patients out of operating on their knees and his diagnosis leaves them shocked.
- by Kate Aubusson and Liam Mannix
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Healthcare
Too old to push: Record rate of NSW women having caesarean births
Rates are rapidly increasing in private and public hospital across NSW, as older mothers opt to have fewer children.
- by Mary Ward
Funding cut leading to ‘totally preventable’ strokes, heart attacks, GPs say
GPs say vulnerable people are being priced out of important heart health checks. A departmental advisory committee is reviewing the impact of the decision.
- by Mary Ward
Why unions believe Victoria’s hospital shake-up was a missed opportunity
Health unions have been advocating hospital amalgamations for years to improve patient care. They say Victoria made a mistake.
- by Henrietta Cook and Kieran Rooney
When Ollie took a pill, he didn’t realise it would be a ‘never-ending trip’
From medical trials to magic mushrooms, psychedelics are back in the spotlight. But for those with the little-known condition HPPD, the side effects never end.
- by Tim Elliott
Why it seems like every NSW school has a case of whooping cough
Infections of a disease that can be life-threatening for babies has spiked among school-aged children the end of the holidays.
- by Michael Ruffles
Fake hormone doctor treated patient after chance meeting at the airport
A woman was left in debilitating pain after being prescribed a cocktail of fish oil and amino acids by Keti Cvetkov who claimed to be a doctor and hormone specialist.
- by Henrietta Cook