Plastic Surgery in the News

Week beginning 7th May 2012

Doctor's Warning on Office Surgery

Plastic surgeons are calling for safety regulations to be urgently extended to doctors' private rooms, warning that increasing numbers of patients face an "unacceptable risk" by receiving complex surgery in office situations outside the safety umbrella that covers hospitals and day clinics. Click here to view the full article.

Week beginning 30th April 2012

Baltimore emerging as hub for face transplantation

Days after University of Maryland (UMD) surgeons at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore performed what is considered to be the most comprehensive face transplant to date, neighboring Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine submitted an application to its Institutional Review Board (IRB) to perform face transplantation. Click here to view the full article.

Week beginning 23rd April 2012

Standing Council on Health Workforce 2025

Health Ministers today considered the Health Workforce 2025 Report which models expected workforce demand and supply for doctors, nurses and midwives to 2025. Click here to view the full article. 

Standing Council on Health Communique

Australian Health Ministers and the New Zealand Health Minister met in Canberra today to discuss a range of national health issue including workforce, e-health, Indigenous health and aged care. Click here to view the full article.

Week beginning 16th April 2012

Surgeons Complete Rare Successful Forehead and Scalp Reattachment

Surgeons at the Buncke Clinic at California Pacific Medical Center, part of the Sutter Health network, have successfully reattached the forehead and scalp of a 22-year-old Stockton woman whose hair was caught in machinery at her workplace. This type of surgery is extremely rare, and has been successfully performed only a handful of times world-wide. Click here to view the full article.

Week beginning 2nd April 2012

What happens to plastic Surgery leftovers?

Recycling tummy tuck by-products has become a big business. But do patients have a right to know where their unwanted fat ends up? Click here to view the full article.

Record investment in specialist doctor training

As part of the Australian Government’s $390 million commitment to boost the number of specialist doctors across the country, Health Tanya Plibersek has announced that 105 new trainee specialists have commenced in 2012. Click here to view the full article.

E-health liability to fall to GPs: Govt Plan

The health department’s draft conditions of registration for the personally controlled e-health records (PCEHR) system would “deter every medical practice in Australia from participating”, according to AMA secretary general Francis Sullivan. Click here to view the full article.

Invitation to Apply for NBN-Enabled Telehealth Programs

Older Australians, people in need of palliative care and cancer patients are among those set to benefit from new telehealth pilot projects designed to be supported by the National Broadband Network (NBN). Click here to view the full article.

Week beginning 27th March 2012

Face Transplant Patient Recovering Well, Regains Sense of Smell After Surgery

In a 36-hour operation, surgeons at the University of Maryland perform the most extensive face transplant yet to heal a man who was disfigured in a gun accident. Click here to view full article.

The Next Generation of Nurses Using Robot Patients For Training

As part of the Australian Government’s commitment to help address the future health workforce needs of the community, nurses and midwives are undertaking training with robot patients that talk, breath and move at new $5 million laboratories at the University of Technology, Sydney. Click here to view the full article.

Week beginning 20th March 2012

A Cheap Drug Is Found to Save Bleeding Victims

Hospitals in the United States have been slow to adopt the blood-clotting drug tranexamic acid, even though a recent study found that it could save up to 4,000 American lives each year. To view the full media release, please click here.

Week beginning 12th March 2012

Transforming Australia’s Breast Implant Registry

A. Jeeves, R. Cooter. Med J Aust 2012; 196 (4): 232-234. doi:10.5694/mja12.10117
A recall of breast implants from a French manufacturer has highlighted a low data capture rate — and considerable room for improvement — in Australia’s registry.

National guidelines for regulation of laser sales, training and use are urgently needed

C. Cope. Med J Aust 2012; 196 (4): 240. doi: 10.5694/mja12.10086
Non-surgical cosmetic procedures have rapidly increased over the past 15 years, and although there are no reliable figures for Australia, there was an eightfold increase in such procedures in the United States between 1997 and 2010.

Women with PIP breast implants to receive subsidised MRI scans

Women who know that they have PIP breast implants, or where clinical advice is that they might have, will from Monday be able to access Medicare rebates for MRI services to assess whether their implants are structurally sound, Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek said today.  To view the full media release, please click here.

A toxic attitude to victims of faulty breast implants

What was your first reaction to the news that thousands of Australian women might have leaking and toxic breast implants? To view the full article, please click here.

Private Health Insurance Rebate Mean-test Becomes Law

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek welcomed the passage of legislation through the Parliament to means-test the private health insurance rebate on 16 March 2012.  To view the full media release, please click here.

Health watchdog faces strife over implants

PUNCH drunk from six damaging inquiries, the nation's medicines and devices watchdog now faces a Senate probe into its handling of faulty breast implants and it has been caught lagging behind Britain, which has toughened its approach to risky hip replacements. To view the full article, please click here.

Doctors dine out in style

A DRUG company splashed out about $80,000 on a single event for plastic surgeons at Hobart's Henry Jones Art Hotel. To view the full article, please click here.

Week beginning 5th March 2012

New Data Shows How Often Hospital Staff Wash Their Hands

Doctors and nurses will be given more information about how they can continue to protect their patients from the spread of infectious diseases with the release of new national data on how often hospital staff wash their hands. To view the full media release, please click here.

International Experts Complement Australia’s Organ and Tissue Donation Reform

Visiting Australia for the 2012 Annual DonateLife Network Forum, Dr Laura Siminoff from the USA and Associate Professor Marti Manyalich from Spain have joined delegates to share their experience of organ and tissue donation reform in their home countries and explore opportunities to further Australia’s. Click here to read the full article.

Week beginning 27th February 2012

Labor's Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record system blows out to $760m

SPENDING on Labor's Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record system has blown out to $760 million, almost $300m more than the $466.7m budget. To view the full media release, please click here.

Private health insurance premium increases at four year low

The annual increase in private health insurance premiums will this year be the lowest in four years. To view the full media release, please click here.

King Warns Against Internet Medicine Purchases

The Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King, today warned Australians of the hazards of using the internet to source their medicines and therapeutic products.
Ms King said that it is important that Australians understand that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) does not regulate therapeutic products available on international websites and that these products may put people at risk. To view the full media release, please click here.

Australian Defence Force approved 1500 taxpayer-funded plastic surgery procedures for personnel in past three years.

1500 taxpayer-funded surgery procedures documented. Defence claim they are for "compelling psychological reasons". To view the full article, please click here.

Week beginning 20th February 2012

Gillard Government’s Cancer Services Commitment On Show

The Australian Government’s commitment to improved cancer services across the nation was plain for all to see when Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing Catherine King visited the site of the Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre. “The Government is investing $560 million to build a national network of best practice regional cancer centres and associated accommodation facilities to help close the gap in outcomes for cancer patients in rural and regional Australia. To view the full media release, please click here.

ROGUE doctors are charging Medicare for consultations on vanity cosmetic procedures.

Taxpayers are footing the bill for consultations about Botox, laser procedures, breast implants and liposuction. Bulk billing for unnecessary clinical procedures is illegal. To view the full media release, please click here.
 

Week beginning 13th February 2012

Means-test is historic victory for working Australians

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said the passage of legislation to means-test the private health insurance rebate through the House of Representatives was a historic victory for working Australians. To view the full media release, please click here.

Health insurers continue fight against means test

The Australian Health Insurance Association is fighting to convince independent MPs that means testing private health insurance is flawed. To view the ABC video, please click here.

Means Test the Rebate

Dr Armitage talks to 2UE to discuss the flawed figures on which the Government has based its decision to Means Test the Rebate. To view the full media release, please click here.

Left to their own devices

[Australian doctor] Will the ongoing controversy over breast implants finally trigger an overhaul of medical device regulation? To view the full media release, please click here.

Week beginning 6th February 2012

New Study Finds Shorter Waiting Times May Save Lives

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek has welcomed a new study which shows the Australian Government’s policy of cutting the time patients wait in hospital emergency departments can “save lives.” To view the full media release, please click here.

Means-Test Is About Fairness

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said the private health insurance rebate should be means-tested to bring about fairness for taxpayers. To view the full media release, please click here.

In Implant Controversy, Sure Numbers Are Scarce

My print column examines the fuzzy numbers behind the controversy over a French company’s implants, distributed around the world and found by French health authorities to pose a relatively large risk of rupture. Yet authorities in other countries, including the U.K., say there isn’t enough evidence to demonstrate a higher incidence of implant failure. To view the full media release, please click here.

Week beginning 30th January 2012

PIP Breast Implants

27 January 2012: TGA releases a safety advisory statement regarding rupture rates for implants manufactured by Poly-Implant Prothese (PIP).
Read more below about PIP in the news.

Operational e-Health system still years away

FUNDING for the $500 million personally controlled e-Health record program ends on June 30, yet it is clear an operational system is still years away. Under an ambitious timeline set by former health minister Nicola Roxon, the PCEHR system was supposed to begin operations nationwide from July 1. To view the full media release, please click here.

'Scalped' girl bounces back after 7.5 hour operation

A CHILD who was almost scalped in a dog attack has "her spark back" thanks to a team of surgeons at the Royal Children's Hospital. To view the full media release, please click here.

Week beginning 23rd January 2012

NBN to further boost Telehealth Takeup

A new $20.6 million telehealth program utilising the National Broadband Network (NBN) will provide new and innovative in-home telehealth services to older Australians, people living with cancer and those requiring palliative care. To view the full media release, please click here.

Media during 26th December 2011 to 22nd January 2012

PIP Breast Implants

20 January 2012: TGA releases an update on the Australian perspective regarding implants manufactured by Poly-Implant Prothese (PIP).

12 January 2012: TGA releases information regarding test that have been conducted on silicone gel filled breast implants manufactured by Poly-Implant Prothese (PIP).

7 January 2012: Australian Government sets up a 24 hour breast implant hotline.
The 24 hour Breast Implant Information Line is 1800 217 257.

4 January 2012: Following the safety advisory from December 2011, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) releases a media statement and safety alert.

Do We Need Doctors or Algorithms?

General Health Informatics Discussion: Vinod Khosla, a prominent Silicon Valley investor, says that Doctors will soon be a thing of the past, replaced by computer algorithms. To view the full media article, please click here.

Week beginning 19th December 2011

PIP Breast Implants

The TGA released a Safety Advisory regarding PIP on 21 December 2011. To read it please click here.

Cosmetic Medical Tourism and Revision

Related ASPS Media Release:
ASPS released a media statement on Cosmetic Medical Tourism and Revision rates. The release saw national exposure on ABC radio (AM program, regional programs, national) and most major newspapers. To read the media release, please visit the ASPS media release page.

Pay deal sealed for public-private practitioners in QLD

The Queensland government has finally sealed a pay deal with doctors (back-dated to  1 January 2010) who take time from private practice to work in public hospitals. To view the full media release, click here.

Week beginning 12th December 2011

The Bomb Buried In Obamacare Explodes Today-Hallelujah!

One notable features of the Affordable Care Act should have a long lasting and powerful impact on the future of health care in USA. To view the full article, please click here.

Week beginning 5th December 2011

Government to Improve Regulation of Therapeutic Goods

The Australian government will introduce a comprehensive package of reforms for Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to ensure the regulation of medicines and medical devices is more effective and transparent. To view the full media release, please click here.

IBISWorld Press Release - Aussies are spending big to be 'body beautiful'

Australians will spend $850 million on plastic surgery this year, an increase of 1.4% on 2010-11, with women accounting for 92% of all procedures. To view the full media release, please click here.

Week beginning 28th November 2011

New MyHospitals Data Shows Record Use of Hospitals

Australians can now look back at over three-years of elective surgery and emergency department data for their local hospital on the popular MyHospitals website following new data added to the website on 30 November 2011. To view the full media release, please click here.

Week beginning 21st November 2011

Independent Hospital Funding Umpire Laws Passed

A key pillar of the Government’s health reforms that will deliver fair funding for hospitals across the country passed through the Parliament last night. “The Independent Hospital Pricing Authority will take the politics out of health funding and the passage of this legislation is another run on the board for health reform” Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon said. To view the full media release, please click here.

eHealth Records Legislation Introduced

Legislation has been introduced into Parliament for Australia's national eHealth records system, with the rollout starting from July 2012. To view the full media release, please click here.

Week beginning 14th November 2011

35-Year High in the Number of Australians Covered by Private Hospital Insurance

New figures from the Private Health Insurance Administration Council show that more Australians are covered by private hospital insurance now than at any other time in the past 35 years. To view the full media release, please click here.

Week beginning 7th November 2011

$1B Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Moves Forward

The Australian and Victorian Governments have agreed on the implementation plan to develop the $1 billion Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre. To view the full media release, please click here.

More Health Professionals to be Trained in Queensland

Queensland families will have better access to more doctors and allied health workers thanks to the opening of the expanded Greenslopes Private Hospital Clinical School. To view the full media release, please click here.

Week beginning 31st October 2011

States and Territories Rewarded for Improved Elective Surgery Performance

Most states and territories will receive full reward funding for their performance against the third round of elective surgery targets. To view the full media release, please click here.

Australian Government Committed to Prevention Strategies

The Australian Government’s committed and increasingly unified approach to injury prevention has earned the nation an enviable international reputation for road transport trauma and childhood injury prevention. To view the full media release, please click here.

Week beginning 24th October 2011

Nicola Roxon speech to CEDA: Building a Sustainable Health System for the Future

The Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, addresses the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia about Building a Sustainable Health System for the Future. To read the transcript of the speech, please click here.

Week beginning 17th October 2011

$673.7 Million for Biggest Ever Investment in Health and Medical Research

The Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, has announced the single largest investment in grants for health and medical research in Australian history. To view the full media release, please click here.

Fed govt unveils $670m of health grants

The federal government has announced grants of more than $670 million for health and medical research. The 1140 grants will support researchers and research projects through the National Health and Medical Research Council. Junior health minister Mark Butler said the grants represent the single largest investment of their kind. It would give young researchers a solid foundation for their future career while experienced researchers could continue to run innovative research projects, he said. To view the full media release, please click here.

Lose the arrogance, Australian surgeons told

They are not famous for their self-doubt, modesty or people skills, but Australian surgeons are being warned to ditch the arrogance if they want to avoid complaints. In a letter to the Medical Journal of Australia (19 September), the Australian Association of Surgeons president Dr John Buntine offered an explanation for the findings of a recent study suggesting that being an overseas trained doctor “had a protective effect” when it came to patient complaints. To view the full article, please click here.

New Centre to Train More Doctors and Nurses in Western Sydney

A new training centre that will play a key role in training more doctors and nurses for Western Sydney has been opened in Blacktown. To view the full media release, please click here.

Week beginning 10th October 2011

Further Evidence of Record Investment in Mental Health Services

New data released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that spending on mental health related services is continuing at record levels. The data shows that around $5.9 billion is spent on mental health services each year and that spending on mental health-related services has increased by an average of 4.8 per cent per Australian between 2004–05 and 2008–09. To view the full media release, please click here.

Cosmetic surgery's ugly side

While many of the hundreds of Aussies who undergo plastic surgery are happy with their results, in the wrong hands procedures can turn very ugly. To listen to the Today Tonight story, please click here.

Week beginning 3rd October 2011

Curtain drawn around blunders in hospitals

'The commission, in my opinion, should name and shame'
HOSPITAL horror stories abound and most are kept secret from the prying eyes of the media. Patients die horrible deaths in hospitals and nursing homes because of clinical errors, yet doctors and nurses often escape with a gentle rap over the knuckles.
To view the full media release, please click here.

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