The institute report also found access to some cancer screening services decreased during the pandemic. A spokesman, Dr Adrian Webster, said there were about 145,000 fewer screening mammograms performed through BreastScreen Australia between January and June compared with January to June 2018.
“The situation improved after restrictions were eased, with around 12,000 more screening mammograms performed … ,” he said.
Although elective surgery was affected by pandemic restrictions, the three with the most significant decline in public hospitals were varicose vein treatment, myringotomy (a procedure to allow fluid to drain from the ears), and tonsillectomy.
However, the data showed the rate of more urgent elective surgeries was largely unaffected.
Morning mail: John Howard pans Trump, Christmas warning, drought unbroken
Donald Trump’s failure to manage the Covid crisis cost Republicans the US election, according to Australia’s former prime minister John Howard. Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP
Thursday: Former PM says Donald Trump’s inability to manage Covid cost Republicans US election. Plus: Israel signs off on Malka Leifer extradition
Wed 16 Dec 2020 15.24 EST
Last modified on Wed 16 Dec 2020 15.30 EST
Good morning, this is Richard Parkin bringing you the main stories and must-reads on Thursday 17 December.
Top stories
John Howard has savaged Donald Trump’s failure to handle the coronavirus pandemic, saying his inability to manage the crisis even “half-decently” cost the Republicans the US election. Speaking during a question and answer session in Canberra, the former PM pulled no punches, saying: “Every time [Trump] had a news conference he was penning a political suicide note.” The 81-year-old contraste
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Subscriber only WHEN Iraq war veteran Matt Pitt lost three mates to suicide in the space of a fortnight, he knew something had to be done to stop the misery. The loss of purpose that veterans experience after they retire from the armed forces is often talked about, yet seldom understood. This has led to unemployment rates that are 23 per cent higher than the rest of the population, and suicide rates that are at a horrendous 21 per cent higher than the general male population, and double the general female population among ex-serving women. In November, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported 33 suicide deaths among serving and ex-serving ADF personnel in 2018, and 465 suicides between 2001 and 2018.
Premium Content
Subscriber only WHEN Iraq war veteran Matt Pitt lost three mates to suicide in the space of a fortnight, he knew something had to be done to stop the misery. The loss of purpose that veterans experience after they retire from the armed forces is often talked about, yet seldom understood. This has led to unemployment rates that are 23 per cent higher than the rest of the population, and suicide rates that are at a horrendous 21 per cent higher than the general male population, and double the general female population among ex-serving women. In November, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported 33 suicide deaths among serving and ex-serving ADF personnel in 2018, and 465 suicides between 2001 and 2018.
Premium Content
Subscriber only WHEN Iraq war veteran Matt Pitt lost three mates to suicide in the space of a fortnight, he knew something had to be done to stop the misery. The loss of purpose that veterans experience after they retire from the armed forces is often talked about, yet seldom understood. This has led to unemployment rates that are 23 per cent higher than the rest of the population, and suicide rates that are at a horrendous 21 per cent higher than the general male population, and double the general female population among ex-serving women. In November, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported 33 suicide deaths among serving and ex-serving ADF personnel in 2018, and 465 suicides between 2001 and 2018.