A paradox of modern healthcare is that despite the huge strides in health and behavioural science, the value of patient experience and leadership often remains under-recognised and underused. In his new ebook, English author and patient advocate David Gilbert shows us just how much healthcare is...

The idea that the coronavirus pandemic offers at least one upside – a legacy of potential health care reforms such as telehealth – is a key factor in the CHF’s decision to establish the Consumer Commission: Beyond COVID-19. Various parts of the health system have been bent to fit the shape required...

Among the many issues which have emerged with fresh power for consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic is health ethics. Suddenly the concept of health ethics seemed not something merely to be considered in extremis. We were recognising then that we might soon all be in extremis. Within days of the...

The reality that illness is often unexpected or unplanned makes the immediate availability of health information vital. So the personal experience of an unwell Australian anxiously seeking long-delayed results of a COVID-19 test has injected a timely perspective into discussions about the National...

The mental health impacts of COVID-19 are a challenge worldwide as fear and anxiety about the disease are compounded for many by isolation, housing insecurity and financial worries. However, one potential benefit of this challenge could be that it highlights the need for our health care system to...

Fifteen national organisations, including CHF, have joined the Continuity of Care Collaboration to support those living with chronic health conditions to ensure they get the treatment and preventive care they need during the COVID-19 pandemic. A vital part of this campaign is a national survey...

Australia’s eight leading universities have joined to produce a document impressive in scope and detail to provide a guide out of our crisis. It’s COVID-19 Roadmap to Recovery. A Report for the Nation . The report describes the medical and health options in depth and the myriad health, social and...

The rush of developments in health care triggered by COVID-19 is opening up significant changes in the health workforce which could bode well for health consumers not only now but in a post-COVID world. The accelerating demand for urgent health services, doctors, nurses and paramedics is imposing...

In a few short weeks, Australians’ response to COVID-19 has ramped up significantly. We have moved from messages that told the community to continue life as normal to declaring states of emergency, closing borders, travel bans and lockdowns. These measures were introduced after too many people...