The 10 most common questions I'm asked about menopause
After 16 years working for the UK's National Health Service, Potter is now one of the Britain's leading menopause experts. She is the founder of the Menopause Care clinic (the UK's largest team of British Menopause Society-accredited doctors and specialists) and co-wrote the frank and taboo-busting book Menopausing with TV presenter Davina McCall. She is also a mother of five with three boys and twin girls.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
07-08-2025
- Sky News AU
A TikTok video revealing the cost of medicines in the US stuns Australians with many labelling American healthcare a 'scam'
A doctor has revealed the costs of different medications in Australia, the US and Scotland - leaving social media users flabbergasted at the US healthcare system. @drmichaelsays on Tiktok said the cost of a salbuthamol inhaler - commonly referred to as a blue inhaler - costs people in Scotland nothing, Australians $7AUD and people in the United States $77AUD. He showcased other medications that were either subsidised or free in Australia or Scotland in the viral video that has been seen over 2.7 million times. Another example is Atorvastatin, a medication that is used to lower cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular disease, which is priced at AU $6.70 or US$2,628 (AU$4032.67) and free in Scotland. He then discussed Sofosbuvir, which is used to treat hepatitis C. The medication can cost up to US$84,000 (AU$128,923.58) if a patient does not have insurance, whereas in Australia the cost is capped at AU$31.60 (US$20.61) - and has also been given out for free. 'Oh my god,' he said in reaction to the five-figure cost. 'See, in Scotland and Australia there's a socialist healthcare system which means that the government subsidises the cost of medications.' Commentators revealed that they were shocked about the cost, with many Australians revealing that they would rather deal with the high tax rate and subsidised medicine over the costs that American patients and consumers must contend with. 'Aussie here, happy to pay extra tax to know that everyone can get medical care. It's a human right,' one person said. Another said 'America is one gigantic scam,' while another felt that even though the Australian system is not perfect, they would have more rights in Australia. 'People in Australia cry over tax we have to pay,' added another. 'On the other hand, free hospitals, cheap medicine, cheap doctors, family tax benefit, aged care, unemployment benefits, aged pension, carer payments, maternity leave, farmhouse allowances, disability support, youth allowance. The list goes on. Australia looks after its citizens.' Healthcare in the United Kingdom is provided through the National Health Service, and responsibility for the management of the health service is delegated to the constituent nations of the UK, much like primary health is delegated to individual states and territories in Australia. The video comes as President Trump's administration seeks to impose tariffs on pharmaceutical companies that have not relocated their manufacturing base from overseas to the US. But Chief Economist at the Australia Institute Matt Grudnoff said even the president was unsure about imposing the tariffs, telling that politically, it could be a hard sell for Republican members of Congress heading into the midterms. 'If Trump imposes tariffs that increase the price of medicines in the US right before the midterm elections ... I can't see that happening for political reasons if nothing else,' he said. 'I think that Republicans facing re-election will be very keen for that not to happen and also Trump has been ... talking about decreasing medicine prices and (if) medicine prices go up, that might be quite difficult politically for him.' The Albanese government has stressed that in any tariff talks, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is not up for discussion, a position supported by the Coalition.
West Australian
24-06-2025
- West Australian
Convicted UK fraudster David Hurst pressured Aussie patients to use super for dental work before swiping millions and taking own life
A dentist who was convicted of fraud in the UK allegedly pressured Australian patients to take tens of thousands of dollars from their superannuation for unnecessary dental work and then withdrew millions from his business before he died of suicide. Former Perth Dental Rooms director David Hurst, 43, took his own life on December 10 last year at the Crown Perth, leaving a path of destruction and a business on the brink of bankruptcy. Lawyers allege Dr Hurst withdrew $7m from the Perth practice before he took his own life. Dr Hurst was previously convicted of defrauding the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK over forged patient declarations. The Cardiff Crown Court found that Dr Hurst stole £15,584 ($A35,553) by submitting fraudulent patient claims while he worked at the Bridgend Dental Centre. He pleaded guilty to 69 counts of theft, receiving a suspended sentence and order to perform 200 hours of community service, in 2012. Two years later he was banned from practising dentistry in the UK by a professional conduct committee. But the dentist relocated to West Australia, where he was permitted to practise dentistry despite his criminal record. He became a director at the Perth Dental Rooms, where he allegedly defrauded patients before his death. Legal firm Slater and Gordon is representing 20 of Dr Hurt's former patients whom he allegedly persuaded to use their superannuation to pay for expensive and often unnecessary treatments. The lawyers allege some patients paid more than $70,000 upfront for procedures that never occurred and have yet to be reimbursed. Medical law practice leader Sarah Marshman said patients had suffered financial loss, emotional distress and ongoing pain caused by reckless, unfinished and, in some cases, unnecessary dental work. She said the firm heard from patients who were in constant pain, had broken implants, infections and untreated complications. 'For many patients, accessing their superannuation early seemed like a smart way to fund dental treatment,' she said. 'But now they've lost tens of thousands from their retirement savings and are still in pain – physically, financially and emotionally. 'These patients weren't just sold dental procedures. They were sold false hope through aggressive social media advertising and quick access to super. 'They were encouraged to dip into their retirement savings without any real understanding of the tax penalties or medical risks involved.' Ms Marshman urged Australians to think twice before being pressured by aggressive advertising to use super for medical or dental work. 'We're continuing to gather evidence for a growing number of affected patients and will be seeking accountability for the harm caused,' she said. 'We believe there could be over 130 former patients affected.' An administrator was appointed to Hurst Group Pty Ltd, which traded as the Perth Dental Rooms, in March this year after Dr Hurt's wife Clara stepped in as director. There is no suggestion that she was involved in any wrongdoing. The West reported the Perth Dental Rooms was sold in May but proceeds from the sale were not enough to cover its liabilities. It was reported $2.3m in payments made by patients in advance remain unaccounted for by the Hurst Group. Ms Marshman urged anyone who was treated or consulted by Dr Hurst to contact Slater and Gordon Lawyers. 'Any information received will be treated confidentially and could help bring justice to the victims of David Hurst,' she said.
The Age
23-06-2025
- The Age
BBC presenter corrects ‘pregnant people' to ‘women'
London: A BBC News presenter appeared to reject gender-neutral language during a live broadcast. Martine Croxall was reading a report about advice for vulnerable people during heatwaves when she used the term 'pregnant people'. Immediately afterwards, she added 'women', with emphasis and a slight roll of her eyes. It is understood that the gender-neutral wording was a direct quote from the heat-related study being reported on and was not the wording of the BBC. The apparent correction, during a broadcast on Saturday lunchtime (Sunday AEST), was endorsed by Harry Potter author and gender campaigner J.K. Rowling, who posted a clip of the incident on X and wrote: 'I have a new favourite BBC presenter.' The gender-neutral term 'pregnant people' is used by people who believe biological women who may be pregnant can be men if they identify as such. The National Health Service has been criticised for using terms such as 'pregnant people' and 'birthing person' instead of 'women' in order to be more inclusive of gender self-identification. The BBC has no specific policy on the use of gender-neutral terms, but does stipulate that journalists should refer to people using the pronouns of their preferred gender, rather than referring to their biological sex. The BBC News style guide advises editorial staff: 'A person born male who lives as a female would typically be described as a 'transgender woman' and would take the pronoun 'she'. And vice versa. We generally use the term and pronoun preferred by the person in question.'
