Low dose aspirin lowers the occurrence of new venous blood clots - and represents a reasonable treatment option for patients who are not candidates for long-term anticoagulant drugs, such as warfarin, according to a new study published in today's issue of Circulation. [ + ]

The University of Queensland’s Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) has joined with the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Biophysics (IBP) to create a research centre dedicated to studying dementia. [ + ]

With the National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2014 being debated in the Senate this week, the The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) is arguing Australians already pay too much for their medicines. [ + ]

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The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) has rejected  the Australian Medical Association’s (AMA) proposal for an alternate GP co-payment model and continues to oppose all proposals for GP and other co-payments. [ + ]

’A productive, healthy country needs health policy for all, not just the privileged,’ says Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA) chief executive Alison Verhoeven. [ + ]

The cholesterol-lowering drug fenofibrate cuts cardiovascular disease risks by 30 per cent in women with type-2 diabetes, according to a new study published by the University of Sydney. [ + ]

[caption id="attachment_9000" align="alignright" width="844"] Dr Julia Ellyard[/caption] [ + ]

Researchers have discovered  the immune system is defective in people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, which is a major reason why sufferers have ongoing issues with pain. [ + ]

AMA Victoria has welcomed today’s State Government announcement that elective surgery waiting lists are at a four year low, but ongoing data transparency is still needed for Victorians still waiting for surgery.  [ + ]

A national study led by University of Adelaide researchers has confirmed that antibiotic resistant strains of disease-causing bacteria, such as E. coli, are steadily on the rise in Australia. [ + ]

Human error has been provided as the reason erroneous death notices were generated for 200 patients being discharged from Austin Hospital in Melbourne recently. The problem occurred on 30 July when a computer file was saved to the wrong location, substituting the death notice for the standard patient discharge form. "Austin Health automatically notifies GPs when their patients are discharged from hospital," Austin Health communications director Taryn Sheehy said. "Notifications sent in the early hours of Wednesday, 30th July, incorrectly advised GPs that their patients, who had been discharged the previous day from the Austin Hospital, had died. Ms Sheehy said the fault was recognised within hours and all affected GP clinics were then notified. She added it was not linked to the introduction of a new booking system. "We apologised unreservedly to affected clinics who, for the most part, were very understanding about the error," Ms Sheehy said. [ + ]

The Southern Adelaide Health Alliance (SAHA) has launched its second round of projects which will focus on cancer survivorship, wound management and allergy services. [ + ]

With less than two months until the first patients enter Fiona Stanley Hospital  in Western Australia, a major milestone has been realised with the launch of research activities. Health Minister Kim Hames launched the Warren Jones Institute  for Community Health and Medical Research, established as a joint endeavour withthe $2 billion Fiona Stanley Hospital to raise funds and provide financial support for medical research, scholarships and research education. [ + ]

A cure for a range of blood disorders and immune diseases is in sight, according to scientists who have unravelled the mystery of stem cell generation. [ + ]