Monthly Archives: January 2011

How do the food labelling recommendations measure up? Rosemary Stanton’s analysis

January 31, 2011 – 6:35 pm

As previously flagged at Croakey, the much-anticipated Blewett Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy has made 61 recomendations. Are they a win for public health? Thanks to nutritionist Dr Rosemary Stanton for the following analysis, which suggests that a large part of the answer to that question lies with whether we have a strong [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in Food, public health | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

What does the communications revolution mean for our mental health?

January 31, 2011 – 12:43 pm

On February 25, a timely and interesting “unconference” will be held in Melbourne to discuss the implications of the communications revolution for our mental health. In keeping with the spirit of the times, anyone can attend or contribute. I’m sure there will also be plenty of talk about it on Twitter and the like. Thanks [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (2)

Who is going to own Medicare Locals? And what are the options?

January 31, 2011 – 12:15 pm

In just over five months, the first 15 of the new primary health care organisations to be known as Medicare Locals are due to be up and running. But there are still many unanswered questions, not just about what they will actually do, but about their fundamental nature, including what sort of organisational structure will [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (5)

Some of the key recommendations from the Blewett review of food labelling

January 28, 2011 – 10:31 pm

As you’ve no doubt heard, the Blewett Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy (why do these things get released on a Friday, I wonder) has been released today. It makes 61 recommendations. A few of the more notable ones follow: Recommendation 1: That the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 be amended to [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in alcohol, Food, prevention, public health | Tagged , , , | Comments (2)

For an alternative to Peter Beattie’s simplistic advice on prostate cancer screening, listen to Dr Swan

January 27, 2011 – 3:17 pm

In a column in The Weekend Australian earlier this month, the former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie described his personal experience of being screened for prostate cancer and encouraged other men to get tested. “The real challenge is to get men to be tested,” he wrote. The article concluded with the rallying call: As I get [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in cancer, consumer health information, evidence-based issues, Media-related issues | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (9)

Is this ethical? Selling front row seats at brain surgery?

January 27, 2011 – 2:30 pm

At a cancer fundraising function in Sydney late last year, amongst the offerings at an auction was the chance to attend an operation by a prominent neurosurgeon. Simon Chapman, Professor of Public Health at the University of Sydney by day and singer in a band called the Original Faux Pas by night, happened to be [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in health ethics, surgery | Tagged , , , | Comments (5)

How can the health portfolio contribute to the floods rebuild?

January 27, 2011 – 7:57 am

During a National Press Club address in Canberra today, the Prime Minister Julia Gillard is expected to announce spending cuts and a temporary levy on taxpayers to help fund the foods rebuild. It is being reported that early Treasury estimates show the Commonwealth will have to outlay well over $5 billion, and that does not [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in Flooding 2011, Hospitals, mental health, primary health care, private health insurance | Comments (4)

Aged care: a sector long overdue for reform

January 25, 2011 – 2:56 pm

The Productivity Commission’s draft recommendations for an overhaul of aged care were briefly summarised in this recent Croakey post. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Library’s Rebecca de Boer has now done a more indepth analysis of the report, which you can read below (thanks to the Library for allowing this cross-posting). Rebecca de Boer writes: The draft [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in aged care, health reform | Tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

Overcoming the barriers to social media uptake in healthcare

January 24, 2011 – 5:42 pm

Last night, a diverse group (in both disciplines and locations) came together on Twitter to discuss the place of social media in health organisations. The #hcsmanz discussion group included two pharmacists (one from Central Australia and the other from the UK), a medical educator from New York, a doctor from Perth, two medical students, an [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in Media-related issues, public health | Tagged , , | Comments (8)

Has the Food and Grocery Council kicked an own goal with its new report on marketing to kids?

January 24, 2011 – 1:06 pm

Last week, the Australian Food and Grocery Council released a report claiming that advertisements for high fat, sugar and salt foods (HFSS) aimed at children now only make up a very small portion of all food and beverage advertisements on children’s TV in Australia. The Council’s statement said: “The study found just 2.4 per cent [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Posted in child health, Food, Media-related issues, obesity, public health | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (2)