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University Of Queensland To Provide Ipswich Healthcare Boost With $2.5m Super Clinic, Australia
The University of Queensland will establish a $2.5million GP Super Clinic at Ipswich that will focus on key local health issues.
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Sen. Grassley Pushes For Exclusion Of Abortion Coverage In Health Care Reform Legislation
Senate Finance Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) have been privately negotiating over how their panel"s version of health reform legislation will address abortion coverage, Newsweek reports. According to Newsweek, Grassley has been pushing to include measures that would prohibit what he considers "taxpayer-subsidized abortion."Earlier this month, NARAL Pro-Choice America, Raising Women"s Voices and other women"s health advocates intensified efforts to ensure that abortion access was treated like access to all other services in health care reform, according to Newsweek. The article points out, "Though usually publicly debated in the language of personal liberty and morality, abortion is a medical procedure performed by a doctor. It"s currently covered by most private insurance plans and existing government programs, at least under some circumstances. This expanded federal oversight and use of federal dollars raises several thorny issues." Grassley is urging that federally regulated and subsidized plans be prohibited from covering the procedure. Lawmakers also could weigh whether religious organizations -- such as Catholic hospitals or health plans -- could opt out of the coverage.Jill Kozeny, Grassley"s spokesperson, said the senator "is opposed to mandating abortion coverage in health care legislation." According to his office, "At one point during the recent negotiations, there was a (compromise) solution that didn"t work out." Grassley -- who is known as a staunch opponent of abortion rights -- said in March, "I take a view that there is almost anything compromisable in public affairs. Abortion is about the only issue I know of that"s not compromisable."Baucus" office declined to comment on the legislation, citing "longstanding Finance Committee policy not to discuss the specifics of ongoing negotiations." Erin Shields, Baucus" press secretary, noted that the lawmaker has a 100% approval rating from NARAL. She added, "He has always fought for a woman"s right to choose and will continue to do so."According to Newsweek, the House"s and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee"s proposals do not specify covered benefits, instead leaving the decision to an independent commission or the HHS secretary. A recent National Women"s Law Center poll found that 62% of participants would oppose a provision excluding abortion and family planning coverage (Feder, Newsweek, 7/14).
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Senate GOP Escalates Criticism Of Supreme Court Nominee Sotomayor In Speeches
Senate Republicans on Tuesday in the first in a series of floor addresses launched more strongly worded criticism of Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor"s judicial record and previous speeches, Politico reports. Although the floor speeches are not likely to undermine the Democratic majority"s support for Sotomayor or block her confirmation, they indicate a shift in strategy for the GOP as it tries to generate more opposition to the nomination, according to Politico. As senators approach the weeklong July 4 recess, Republicans are attempting to show that they have "no intention of lying down in the face of what appears to be an increasingly inevitable confirmation," Politico reports. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Judiciary Committee ranking Republican Jeff Sessions (Ala.) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) used their time on the Senate floor to attempt to portray Sotomayor as a "judicial activist" and to attack President Obama"s previous statements that he would like to appoint a judge who displays "empathy" (Isenstadt, Politico, 6/24). Republicans also reiterated they will attempt to delay Sotomayor"s confirmation hearing, scheduled to begin July 13, if they do not feel they have enough time to review her judicial record, Roll Call reports. They also questioned Sotomayor"s involvement with the civil rights group LatinoJustice PRLDEF, which they labeled "far left," taking up a line of criticism that other conservatives have pushed. Sotomayor served as a board member for the group from 1980 to 1992. Democrats and White House officials are aggressively defending Sotomayor"s record, arguing that her lengthy judicial career supersedes any public statements or speeches she made in the past, according to Roll Call. Both said that their strategy is to avoid a point-counterpoint argument with Republicans. A White House official said there is "no reason to speculate on her record," which includes more than 3,000 panel decisions. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said that he has been "struck by her extraordinary career and how she"s excelled at everything she"s done." Leahy said that he is not convinced that Republicans need more time, noting that the Senate is using the same confirmation timetable as it used for Chief Justice John Roberts. Although Leahy said that he might be willing to discuss a schedule change if Republicans agreed not to filibuster or delay the nomination, he added that Republicans have not suggested such a deal at this point (Stanton, Roll Call, 6/24).
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Help For The Silent Sufferers

A unique research project into the highly sensitive problem of domestic violence towards older women is being carried out by researchers from The University of Nottingham"s Division of Nursing. 12 participants have already taken part since the project started last year for this valuable study aimed at helping those who have experienced abuse and health professionals deal with the problem. One participant who has already been interviewed, Ann aged 63, told the researchers: "A lot of older women stay in the abusive partnership, and remain in it, because they don"t know there is any support out there. A lot of women never talk about it. I think it is the "hiddenness" of it that is the problem actually, and I think that needs to stop. I think we"ve got to give permission to women, to get people to realise that it is very wrong that they have been abused." Leading the study, Dr Julie McGarry, says: "Older women who suffer domestic abuse are historically a silent section of our society. This research aims to give them a voice and break the taboo surrounding the problem. We are finding older women may be too ashamed to come forward but we can reassure them that our work with them will be completely confidential and they can even contact us anonymously to help our study." Domestic abuse is not just about physical violence. Verbal abuse such as belittling, malicious ridicule, shouting and unreasonable demands also have adverse effects on women"s mental health and physical wellbeing. Up to now, there has been little research into the experiences of older women because most domestic violence surveys tend to exclude women over 59. Dr McGarry says: "The circumstances and experiences of older women who"ve been abused, either physically, emotionally, sexually or financially, are often very different to younger women. Cultural and social factors have to be examined older women may have been brought up to believe that what happens behind closed doors in the family home is private and they just have to put up with it and suffer in silence." The one-year project will use its unique insight into this complex and largely secret phenomenon to create an online learning re for healthcare professionals. It will give advice and training on how to identify and support older women who they suspect may be suffering abuse, physical or emotional, by their partner. Healthcare professionals such as district nurses are well-placed to spot cases of abuse among their older patients but in the past have lacked the awareness or training to handle the suspicion. The researchers are working with Age Concern and Women"s Aid with funding from The Burdett Trust for Nurses, an independent charity which supports nursing"s contribution to healthcare. Nottingham University


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