Canberra Health Services has removed patients from outpatient waitlists after a review of its criteria, with about 1,000 letters sent. Liz Allen said her daughter, who has had anaphylactic reactions, was removed from the paediatric allergy clinic list after almost three years of waiting. The service said it is working through more than 40 waitlists and is prioritising patients in the highest categories. Opposition Leader Mark Parton criticised the process and said he would move a motion calling on the government to honour the original waitlists.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men have a life expectancy 8.8 years lower than non-Indigenous men. Researchers say they engage with health care when it is accessible, relevant and culturally safe. Barriers include long waiting times, a lack of male health professionals, confidentiality concerns and past negative experiences. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and a men's group program in the Daly River community show what works. The authors recommend longer funding for male health programs, male health workers and clinics that ask men what they need.
An Aboriginal community health service in Lismore has opened a new flood-resilient building. Rekindling the Spirit was severely affected by the 2022 floods. The $4.4 million facility was funded by the Australian and NSW governments and will restore health, mental health, counselling and social support services. A separate $2.4 million grant is rebuilding the service's existing site, with works due for completion later this year. Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said the facility marks a major recovery milestone.
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Western Health has launched a Paediatric Hospital in the Home service, allowing some child patients to receive hospital-level care at home. The team, based at Sunshine Hospital, will care for up to 10 eligible children aged 28 days to 18 years at any one time. Services cover conditions including eczema, respiratory conditions, wound care and IV antibiotics. Kirsty Barnes, divisional director of Western Health at Home, said treatment at home can reduce stress and time away from siblings and school. Referrals can only come from the children's ward at Joan Kirner Women's and Children's at Sunshine Hospital.
Parents and health professionals in the Illawarra will confront political leaders about the future of maternity care in the region. A public forum will bring together state representatives, election candidates, and the community to discuss key issues. Concerns include the lack of birthing services at the new Shellharbour Hospital and the slow progress in addressing birth trauma. The event is part of the Birth Without Trauma campaign and will be held on Friday 6 November at the Scribbly Gum Room in Dapto Ribbonwood Centre.
Rainbow Families Australia has published Thriving Families, Unequal Burdens, a national study of LGBTQIA+ families based on a survey run between November 2025 and March 2026. Most families described their home lives positively, with high rates of reported happiness, strong extended family contact and stable housing. However, a smaller group faced greater stress, and more than one in three reported exclusion, bullying or discrimination, particularly outside major cities. Health services, including maternity and IVF care, were identified as areas where many families felt excluded.
The external structure of the eastern wing of Temora's $95 million hospital is now complete. Roofing, windows and doors are installed, and crews are moving into internal fit-out, furniture and equipment installation, and landscaping. The NSW Government-funded project will bring CT scanning and ultrasound services to Temora for the first time. The new facility will include an emergency department, an operating theatre, a birthing suite and a gymnasium. The redevelopment is due for completion in 2028, with hospital services continuing throughout construction.
A new national pathway for rural cancer patients recommends care as close to home as is safely possible. It was published after research by Deakin University found rural Australians are 13 per cent less likely to survive cancer, largely due to late diagnoses. Nurse Victoria Turner, who had to travel from the NSW Northern Rivers to Queensland for surgery after an ovarian tumour was found, helped shape the guidelines. She described the experience as really traumatic and said the situation was a postcode lottery. The guidelines were developed with Deakin researchers and the Cancer Council.
The Craigieburn Urgent Care Centre will open on Monday 19 October, offering treatment for non-life-threatening illness and injury. Based at Craigieburn Community Hospital, the centre will run seven days a week from noon to 8 pm, including public holidays. Patients need no appointment or referral. Care is available for conditions such as sprains, minor burns, minor fractures, infections and paediatric illnesses. Northern Health chief executive Debra Bourne said the service brings timely care closer to home. People with life-threatening emergencies should still go to the nearest emergency department or call triple-0.
Construction has finished on the Warrawong Community Health Centre, built on the former Port Kembla Hospital grounds in the Illawarra. Once it opens in the coming weeks, residents will be able to reach antenatal care, child health checks, sexual health testing, mental health counselling and drug and alcohol support in one place. The building includes landscaped spaces, an outdoor play area for children and local artwork chosen from submissions by regional creatives and students. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park described the milestone as important for community-based care, while local members of parliament highlighted the wider investment in regional facilities.
A new seven-storey clinical building at Nepean Hospital is set to receive its first patients before the end of the year. The $1 billion redevelopment includes an adult Intensive Care Unit, paediatric services, imaging, renal dialysis and a new Palliative Care Unit on the top floor. Departments will move in gradually after equipment testing and staff training. The public can tour the facility at an open day on Saturday, October 24. Patients are expected from late 2026.
The Craigieburn Urgent Care Centre will open on Monday 19 October, offering treatment for non-life-threatening illness and injury. Based at Craigieburn Community Hospital, the centre will run seven days a week from noon to 8 pm, including public holidays. Patients need no appointment or referral. Care is available for conditions such as sprains, minor burns, minor fractures, infections and paediatric illnesses. Northern Health chief executive Debra Bourne said the service brings timely care closer to home. People with life-threatening emergencies should still go to the nearest emergency department or call triple-0.
Residents in the Ballina region are being asked to help shape future health services as planning begins for a growing and ageing population. The Northern NSW Local Health District has opened consultation on the Ballina Region Health Services Plan. An online survey is open until Sunday, October 25. A steering committee will oversee the plan, which will look beyond Ballina District Hospital to cover the wider region. A draft report will be released for public comment, and the plan is expected to be completed by early 2027.
Tasmania's health minister says most of the North West Regional Hospital's mental health capacity will be restored in November after a fire damaged the facility. The 19-bed Spencer Clinic has been closed since the alleged arson attack last month. Health Minister Bridget Archer said 10 rooms will reopen next month, with additional beds available on the hospital campus. The Health and Community Services Union welcomed the measures but raised concerns about capacity issues. A new 22-bed mental health unit, promised in 2021, is expected to be completed by the first half of 2028.
