Hospitals

Analysis and Comment (11)

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The UK has a strict policy of gender segregation on psychiatric wards, and so should Australia. Image from shutterstock.com

Sexual assaults in psych wards show urgent need for reform

By Jayashri Kulkarni, Monash University

Women admitted to psychiatry wards experience high levels of violence and sexual assaults, according to a report released this week by the Victorian Mental Illness Alliance Council. Across the nine different…
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David Cameron meets nurses during an NHS tour but the government doesn’t want to introduce mandatory staffing levels. PA

Finding the golden ratio for hospital nurses

By Peter Griffiths, University of Southampton

Senior nurses warned this week that the number of patients looked after by nurses has become dangerously high in some hospitals. Quoting research from the University of Southampton, the Safe Staffing…
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The biggest and fastest-growing spending category in health is hospitals. Image from shutterstock.com

Tough choices: how to rein in Australia’s rising health bill

By Stephen Duckett, Grattan Institute and Cassie McGannon, Grattan Institute

With health costs rising and costly medical innovations on the horizon, it’s crunch time for health funding. In the lead up to the May budget, The Conversation’s experts will explore the options for reining…
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Health Minister Tanya Plibersek (centre) announced the Commonwealth would pay the $107 million directly to hospitals. AAP/Julian Smith

Medi-muddle: hospital funding fight is resolved but the blame game goes on

By Stephen Duckett, Grattan Institute

After months of battle between the Commonwealth and Victorian governments on hospital funding, Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek dramatically intervened last Wednesday by announcing a A$107 million…
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ED congestion is due to the combination of growing demand for care, sicker patients and access block. Image from shutterstock.com

Targets alone won’t solve long waits for emergency care

By Gerard Fitzgerald, Queensland University of Technology

Data released today by the National Health Performance Authority (NHPA) shows just 54% of major metropolitan hospitals and 63% of major regional hospitals are treating or admitting patients within the…
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There are a number of design flaws in the new hospital funding system. xparxy

Why the new way of funding public hospitals won’t work

By Anthony Scott, University of Melbourne and Jongsay Yong, University of Melbourne

The first of July saw the introduction of one of the most important health care reforms for Australia’s public hospitals: national activity-based funding (ABF). Hospitals will now be paid a fixed price…
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Hospitals provide a regular flow of captive customers for fast food outlets. Roslyn in Starfish Island

Fast food restaurants have no place in our hospitals

By Timothy Gill

A number of commentators have raised concerns recently about the increasing corporate presence in Australian schools. At a time of burgeoning rates of obesity and chronic disease, the increasing presence…

Research and News (1)

Research Briefs (7)

Using copper against ‘superbugs’

Medical University of South Carolina

Using copper objects in hospitals reduces infection rates, a US study has found. Patients were randomly assigned to rooms…

ICU physicians defy utilitarianism

University of Pennsylvania

Intensive Care Unit clinicians often allocate scarce resources towards gravely-ill existing patients rather than freeing…

Participants (40)