Latest news with #NewSouthWalesHealth
Express Tribune
11-03-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Over 200 mothers warned after potential hepatitis B exposure at Sydney hospital
Listen to article Australia's New South Wales Health has issued a warning after it was revealed that more than 200 mothers may have been exposed to hepatitis B at Nepean Hospital in Sydney over an 11-year period. The exposure is linked to a healthcare worker in the Birth Unit who was infectious with the virus between 2013 and 2024. A total of 223 women who gave birth at the hospital during this time may have experienced "potential low-risk exposure" to the virus, NSW Health officials confirmed. The hospital has also reviewed the care provided to 143 children who could have been affected. The exposure is thought to have occurred during certain medical procedures performed by the infected worker. These include episiotomies, repairs for vaginal or perineal tears, and the application of fetal scalp electrodes on both mothers and babies. Health authorities are reaching out directly to patients who underwent these procedures. NSW Health assured the public that the risk of transmission is considered low, but out of an abundance of caution, they are offering free hepatitis B testing and assessment to the affected women and children. "The risk of transmission has been determined to be low for the 223 women and 143 children," said the NSW Health Blood Borne Viruses Advisory Panel. In a statement, the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD) expressed regret over the potential distress caused, offering their sincerest apologies to those impacted by the exposure. They reassured future patients that the hospital continues to maintain high standards of care and safe birthing environments. Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus, which can be transmitted during birth, sexual contact, or blood-to-blood contact. NSW Health emphasized the importance of testing for the virus, as there are treatments available that can prevent long-term complications and limit the spread of the infection. For those unsure about whether they may have been exposed, a dedicated support line is available at 1800 716 662 for further information and advice. The best defense against hepatitis B is vaccination, and testing is crucial for early detection and treatment.
NBC News
13-02-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Two nurses in Australia suspended for reportedly making antisemitic comments
SYDNEY — Two nurses in a Sydney hospital have been suspended from work for threatening to kill Jewish patients and refusing to treat them in a video on TikTok, triggering an investigation by police, authorities said Wednesday. The video was shared by a TikTok user named Max Veifer, who says he is from Israel, and shows him talking to a man and woman wearing medical scrubs. 'I'm so upset that you're Israeli ... eventually you're going to get killed and go to (hell),' the man in medical scrubs said, after Veifer mentioned he is from Israel in a video chat. When asked why he would be killed, the woman in medical scrubs said: 'It's Palestine's country, not your country' and used an obscenity. The woman said she would not treat any Jewish patients and instead kill them. The man, with a threatening gesture, said he had already sent many Israelis, who visited the hospital, to 'Jahannam,' the term for Islamic hell in Arabic. Reuters could not independently verify the footage and it was not immediately clear if the full video of the conversation had been uploaded by the user. Some of the woman's words have been beeped out in the video. Reuters could not immediately contact the two nurses. New South Wales state Health Minister Ryan Park said the nurses have been 'stood down immediately,' pending an investigation. 'Obviously, the investigative process now takes place. I do not want to leave a sliver of light to allow any of them to be able to think that they will ever work for New South Wales Health again,' Park told reporters. New South Wales state police said its antisemitic task force is investigating a social media video depicting alleged health workers making antisemitic threats. Police said the individuals involved were now assisting detectives. Veifer, who regularly posts videos mostly about the Middle East on TikTok, has 102,000 followers and his videos have been liked by 4.2 million users. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australian federal police has offered 'whatever assistance' to New South Wales state police. 'I have seen this antisemitic video. It's driven by hate and it's disgusting. The comments are vile, the footage is sickening and it is shameful,' Albanese said in parliament. Australia has seen an escalating series of attacks on synagogues, buildings and cars since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023, raising fear among Australia's nearly 115,000 Jewish people.
New York Times
12-02-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Australian Health Workers Suspended After Threatening Israeli Patients
Two Australian medical workers caught on video making threats against Israeli patients have set off an uproar in a country where there has been a spate of antisemitic attacks in recent weeks. 'I won't treat them,' one of the workers, wearing medical scrubs and a hijab, is heard saying in the video. 'I'll kill them.' Discussing Israeli patients who had come to the hospital near Sydney, a co-worker, also dressed in scrubs, can be seen ominously running a finger across his neck The workers appeared to be speaking from inside a medical facility. Neither has been identified publicly by officials. Australian official have been quick to denounce the comments captured on the video, which went viral after a pro-Israel content creator posted it online. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday called the threats 'sickening and shameful.' He said the two workers, identified as employees of Bankstown Hospital, had been suspended. He also said in a statement that they had been referred to the police for a criminal investigation. That the country's prime minister felt it necessary to comment on the video speaks to the high-level concern set off by a recent explosion in antisemitic speech and attacks. Australia has been hit with a rash of antisemitic attacks in recent weeks, including incidents where a synagogue was defaced with red swastikas and a day care facility was set ablaze. There have been no reports of major casualties, but the violence represents a dramatic escalation of tensions reverberating from the war in Gaza, which has also spurred Islamophobic episodes in Australia. In November, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, an umbrella organization that has been tracking and documenting reports of antisemitism since 1990, reported a 316 percent increase in the number of incidents from October 2023 — when the war in Gaza began — to September 2024, compared with the previous twelve months. The video of the two hospital workers, which was viewed by The New York Times, was recorded by Max Veifer and uploaded to his social media accounts, where other posts consist of videos of people discussing their views on Israel. The video of the two workers had been edited, and used emojis to bleep out words. Although one of the workers appears in the video to suggest that he may have harmed patients, health officials said that an examination of the hospital's records had so far turned up nothing suspicious. 'We have already taken steps to review the safety of the hospital concerned in this matter, and we have identified nothing that indicates the hospital is unsafe,' the New South Wales health secretary, Susan Pearce, said in her own video. Ryan Park, the state's health minister, called the workers' comments 'an act of bastardry' and said 'those people, subject to that investigation, will not ever be working for New South Wales Health again,' Mr. Park and Ms. Pearce both offered apologies. 'I want to assure the Jewish community today that they have my utmost sorrow,' Mr. Park said, 'but more importantly, my utmost energy, dedication and time, along with the secretary, to reassure them that our hospitals will continue to provide them high quality, safe care every time and anytime they present.'
Al Arabiya
12-02-2025
- Health
- Al Arabiya
Two nurses suspended in Australia for making antisemitic remarks to Jewish patient
Two nurses in a Sydney hospital have been suspended from work for threatening to kill Jewish patients and refusing to treat them in a video on TikTok, triggering an investigation by police, authorities said on Wednesday. The video was shared by a TikTok user named Max Veifer, who says he is from Israel, and shows him talking to a man and woman wearing medical scrubs. 'I'm so upset that you're Israeli ... eventually you're going to get killed and go to (hell)', the man in medical scrubs said, after Veifer mentioned he is from Israel in a video chat. When asked why he would be killed, the woman in medical scrubs said: 'It's Palestine's country, not your country' and used an obscenity. The woman said she would not treat any Jewish patients and instead kill them. The man, with a threatening gesture, said he had already send many Israelis, who visited the hospital, to 'Jahannam', the term for hell in Arabic. Reuters could not independently verify the footage and it was not immediately clear if the full video of the conversation had been uploaded by the user. Some of the woman's words have been beeped out in the video. Reuters could not immediately contact the two nurses. New South Wales state Health Minister Ryan Park said the nurses have been 'stood down immediately', pending an investigation. 'Obviously, the investigative process now takes place. I do not want to leave a sliver of light to allow any of them to be able to think that they will ever work for New South Wales Health again,' Park told reporters. New South Wales state police said its antisemitic taskforce is investigating a social media video depicting alleged health workers making antisemitic threats. Police said the individuals involved were now assisting detectives. Max Veifer, who regularly posts videos mostly about the Middle East on TikTok, has 102,000 followers and his videos have been liked by 4.2 million users. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australian federal police has offered 'whatever assistance' to New South Wales state police. 'I have seen this antisemitic video. It's driven by hate and it's disgusting. The comments are vile, the footage is sickening and it is shameful,' Albanese said in parliament. Australia has seen an escalating series of attacks on synagogues, buildings and cars since the Israel-Gaza war began in October 2023, sparking fear among Australia's nearly 115,000 Jewish people.
Reuters
12-02-2025
- Health
- Reuters
Two nurses in Australia suspended for reportedly making antisemitic comments
Summary Companies Nurses suspended for antisemitic threats in TikTok video Police anti-semitic taskforce investigates video NSW Health Minister vows nurses won't work again Australian PM condemns video as vile and shameful SYDNEY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Two nurses in a Sydney hospital have been suspended from work for threatening to kill Jewish patients and refusing to treat them in a video on TikTok, triggering an investigation by police, authorities said on Wednesday. The video was shared by a TikTok user named Max Veifer, who says he is from Israel, and shows him talking to a man and woman wearing medical scrubs. "I'm so upset that you're Israeli ... eventually you're going to get killed and go to (hell)", the man in medical scrubs said, after Veifer mentioned he is from Israel in a video chat. When asked why he would be killed, the woman in medical scrubs said: "It's Palestine's country, not your country" and used an obscenity. The woman said she would not treat any Jewish patients and instead kill them. The man, with a threatening gesture, said he had already send many Israelis, who visited the hospital, to "Jahannam", the term for Islamic hell in Arabic. Reuters could not independently verify the footage and it was not immediately clear if the full video of the conversation had been uploaded by the user. Some of the woman's words have been beeped out in the video. Reuters could not immediately contact the two nurses. New South Wales state Health Minister Ryan Park said the nurses have been "stood down immediately", pending an investigation. "Obviously, the investigative process now takes place. I do not want to leave a sliver of light to allow any of them to be able to think that they will ever work for New South Wales Health again," Park told reporters. New South Wales state police said its antisemitic taskforce is investigating a social media video depicting alleged health workers making antisemitic threats. Police said the individuals involved were now assisting detectives. Max Veifer, who regularly posts videos mostly about the Middle East on TikTok, has 102,000 followers and his videos have been liked by 4.2 million users. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australian federal police has offered "whatever assistance" to New South Wales state police. "I have seen this antisemitic video. It's driven by hate and it's disgusting. The comments are vile, the footage is sickening and it is shameful," Albanese said in parliament. Australia has seen an escalating series of attacks on synagogues, buildings and cars since the Israel-Gaza war began in October 2023, sparking fear among Australia's nearly 115,000 Jewish people.
