NSW hospitals could achieve annual savings equivalent to the cost of hiring 40 new nurses by recycling 40–60% of plastic waste, according to a report by NSW Circular. [ + ]

NeedleCalm, an Australian medical device aimed at reducing pain and fear around needle procedures, has won the 2021 Good Design Awards Week in the Product Design category. [ + ]

DePuy Synthes, the Orthopaedics business unit of Johnson & Johnson Medical Australia, and the Johnson & Johnson Institute, have launched a mobile training lab bringing training directly to surgeons and their teams around Australia. [ + ]

Australia needs to frame climate change as a health issue, first and foremost, according to Aussie researchers. [ + ]

Encephalitis Society has launched the inaugural Australian Encephalitis Information Week to support organisations to help disseminate resources on the devastating brain inflammation. [ + ]

Fractional carbon dioxide (CO₂) lasers — commonly associated with facial skin — are also promoted as an effective way to treat painful vaginal symptoms that can happen after menopause. [ + ]

Calvary Riverina Hospital in Wagga Wagga is trialling telementoring equipment for surgical training. [ + ]

A new program called 'Forward with Dementia' hopes to improve the diagnostic experience, post-diagnosis support and connections for people with dementia and their carers. [ + ]

Around 48% of Australian patients would choose to rely solely on face-to-face appointments once the country is out of the COVID-19 tunnel and half of respondents (49%) said they are now comfortable with receiving medical services remotely. [ + ]

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) has launched the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards. [ + ]

A group of international researchers has applied artificial intelligence (AI) technology to detect and monitor retinal diseases on a large scale more accurately. [ + ]

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has appointed Paul Wappett as its new CEO, starting Monday, 8 November. [ + ]

People with elevated blood pressure that falls within the normal recommended range are at risk of accelerated brain ageing, according to a study by The Australian National University. [ + ]

A collaborative study by Monash University and the Epworth Centre for Innovation in Mental Health (ECIMH) explores the benefits of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) on people with obsessive–compulsive disorder. [ + ]

Melbourne woman Jodie Talone is said to be the first patient in Australia to have a tumour removed with the assistance of the SCOUT radar technology. [ + ]