Victoria’s local public health units opened during the pandemic.

‘People are going to die’:Funding doubt over state’s frontline public health defence

The Victorian government refuses to guarantee the future of local public health units that were crucial to the state’s pandemic fight,igniting concerns about more budget cuts to an already stretched health service.

  • Chip Le Grand,Henrietta Cook andBroede Carmody

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Lien Tran was diagnosed with hepatitis when she was 18 and is a co-founder of the charity Hepatitis B Voices Australia.

The silent infection fuelling a rise in liver cancer deaths

The federal Health Department is proposing universal testing to ensure everyone knows their hepatitis B status,amid concerns too many people are unaware they have the disease.

  • Henrietta Cook
Rohene Chatterjee says she received a false diagnosis from a reassurance scan clinic after having a miscarriage.

Boom in private ultrasound industry putting mothers and babies at risk

The peak bodies for obstetricians and sonographers are sounding the alarm over “reassurance” ultrasounds that are leading to misdiagnosis in expectant mothers.

  • Henrietta Cook
The cosmetic injectables industry has boomed.

‘Brotox’ and ‘slimming injections’:Thousands of illegal ads spruik cosmetic injectables

Advertising regulations prohibit the use of terms such as wrinkle-reducing injections or colloquial names such as “tox” or “Brotox”. Many industry players advertise regardless.

  • Clay Lucas andHenrietta Cook
Congenital syphilis cases are rising in Victoria

The silent sexually transmitted infection killing Victorian babies

A resurgence of congenital syphilis in Victoria after a 25-year hiatus has prompted an overhaul of screening for pregnant women.

  • Henrietta Cook
Jas Rawlinson was upsold injectables after going to a cosmetic nurse for advice about a genetic condition.

‘You’re a pretty girl,but ...’:How the injectables industry preys on your insecurities

Cosmetic clinics are failing to screen for body dysmorphia,leaving vulnerable patients at risk of excessive treatments,upselling,and worsening mental health.

  • Henrietta Cook andClay Lucas
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Gone in 52 seconds:Inside Australia’s telehealth injectables gold rush

Australia’s booming $4 billion injectables market is driven by doctors issuing scripts via telehealth in consults that sometimes last under one minute. Critics warn patient safety may be at risk.

  • Clay Lucas andHenrietta Cook
Michael Hand hopes the case will help prevent junior doctors from burning out.

Exhausted junior doctors who didn’t claim overtime win $175m in backpay

About 15,000 doctors who worked at 36 Victorian health services since January 2015 will be sent unpaid wages after a landmark legal win.

  • Broede Carmody andHenrietta Cook
Sydney woman Luan Lawrenson-Woods paid $30,000 in out-of-pocket fees for surgeries and treatment related to breast cancer despite having private health insurance.

One in five patients skip treatment due to out-of-pocket costs

The survey also found 40 per cent of private hospital patients were being slugged with out-of-pocket specialist fees of more than $1000 – and many weren’t informed of all costs in advance.

  • Broede Carmody andHenrietta Cook
Former ABC employee Helen Robertson,80,was recently diagnosed with pockets of asbestos in her lungs.

Secret asbestos spreadsheet outlines extent of ABC cluster

An internal ABC document shows that more than 550 employees were potentially exposed to asbestos while working at the broadcaster’s former Melbourne studios.

  • Henrietta Cook