Monthly media digest: June/July 2026

National Pain Week

FPM Dean Professor Michael Veltman was interviewed in a 15 minute segment on 27 July on the ABC Radio Perth Drive program.

Professor Veltman discussed National Pain Week, the incidence of chronic pain in the community and took calls from listeners.

The segment starts at 1:40:00 and ends at 1:54:00.

Pain devices

Former FPM director of professional affairs, Associate Professor Mick Vagg  was interviewed for an 18 July  feature article  in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald about pain device implants.

The article said A/Professor Vagg referred to "the faculty's 2023 guidelines advising members there was no reason to think the pain pumps were any better than oral painkillers."

‘‘They are probably the riskiest pain management technique that is still in use,’’ he was quoted as saying.

Cultural safety

ANZCA's media release Cultural safety a critical part of patient care in response to leadership changes at the Medical Council of New Zealand was reported in NZ Doctor and the Scoop website on 19 June.

SNaPP study trial results released  

The Sugammadex, neostigmine and postoperative pulmonary (SNaPP) complications trial findings were released in Lancet Respiratory Medicineon 10 June and reported by Radio New Zealand and The Limbic.

Radio New Zealand interviewed Melbourne trial investigator FANZCA, Associate Professor Jai Darvall for their report on the four year ANZCA Clinical Trials Network Study on 15 June.

The Limbic reported the findings on 12 June.