Rachel Thomas, Science Media Centre Journalist Profile

Articles

Union says 44 senior jobs to go at Health NZ

Jul 24, 2024 | thepress.co.nz | Rachel Thomas

Professor Lester Levy officially began his role of Health NZ commissioner on Wednesday. Chris McKeen/Stuff / StuffA total of 44 jobs are proposed to go at Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora including managers for hospital and specialty services, disabled people’s health, Māori health and commissioning, the PSA says.
Treating anxiety and depression in mesothelioma patients

Jun 14, 2024 | rcn.org.uk | Rachel Thomas

Mesothelioma is a relatively rare cancer that affects the pleura around the lung or around the abdominal cavity. According to Cancer Research UK, there are approximately 2,700 patients diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. Most patients (56%) diagnosed with mesothelioma are over 75 years old, however there are many cases where patients are much younger. For example, I cared for one patient who was 29 years old at diagnosis.
Dyson Unveils AR Cleaning Tool for a Precise Spring Clean

Apr 12, 2024 | atap.co | Rachel Thomas

Say goodbye to missed spots: Dyson’s CleanTrace™ uses augmented reality to ensure a thorough clean every time. Dyson has just unveiled its latest innovation – the CleanTrace™ tool – designed to transform your spring cleaning routine with augmented reality (AR) technology. CleanTrace™ tackles the age-old frustration of missed spots and wasted effort during cleaning.
First Contact Physiotherapy: An evaluation of clinical effectiveness and costs

Feb 4, 2024 | bjgp.org | Nicola Walsh |Serena Halls |Rachel Thomas |Alice Berry

AbstractBackground: First Contact Physiotherapy Practitioners (FCPPs) are embedded within general practice, providing expert assessment, diagnosis and management plans for patients with musculoskeletal disorders (MSKDs), without the prior need for GP consultation. Aim: To determine the clinical effectiveness and costs of FCPP-led compared to GP-led models of care. Design and Setting: Multiple site case study design. UK GP practices.
Toomath building road closure likely to lift next week

Oct 20, 2023 | thepost.co.nz | Rachel Thomas

Demolition of the Toomath building in Ghuznee St could begin as early as next week. MONIQUE FORD / THE POSTA road closure around the condemned Toomath Building in central Wellington, damaged by fire last weekend, is expected to be lifted early next week as careful demolition begins. Wellington City Council says the building’s owners have secured a contractor to begin tearing the unsafe heritage building down.
The chef behind the new exploratory menu aboard Virgin's new cruise ship

Oct 19, 2023 | thepost.co.nz | Rachel Thomas

New Zealand Michelin-starred chef Matt Lambert. Supplied / Not-For-SyndicationThere seems to be something hard-wired into New Zealanders that triggers an excited puppy reaction any time we find a link to home when we’re far away from it. Perhaps it’s the fact there are only a few million of us floating around the planet, or that only we understand just how much of an effort it is getting to the rest of the world.
Lab workers to hold six-hour picket outside employer’s conference

Sep 19, 2023 | thepost.co.nz | Rachel Thomas

Staff from Awanui Labs during a strike in Christchurch on August 24. Iain McGregor / The PressMedical labs will be processing urgent work only on Wednesday as staff strike for better pay for the 10th time, ramping up action by picketing outside a major conference their employer is hosting in Wellington. Awanui Labs has labelled the union’s claim “unrealistic” and unaffordable, and braced for further strike action.
Meet CJ Pearce, a male midwife-in-training

Aug 29, 2023 | thepost.co.nz | Rachel Thomas

CJ Pearce, 22 is believed to be the second man to study midwifery in Aotearoa. JUAN ZARAMA PERINI / The PostCJ Pearce, 22, is understood to be the second ever man to study midwifery in Aotearoa. He’s also a choir singer, comic book collector and recently launched a crowdfunding pageto help his fiancé, David, get hip surgery. What part of Wellington do you live in, and why? I live in Newlands.
AI and Power: The Ethical Challenges of Automation, Centralization, and Scale

Jul 29, 2023 | fast.ai | Rachel Thomas

The People ImpactedAnother thing I want to highlight about the healthcare example is that the people whose healthcare was incorrectly cut saw the problem right away, but there was no way to get that mistake acknowledged or addressed. Another tragic example of people recognizing an issue but not being able to get it addressed is Facebook’s role in the genocide in Myanmar.
AI and Power: The Ethical Challenges of Automation, Centralization, and Scale

Jul 29, 2023 | tinyurl.com | Rachel Thomas

The People ImpactedAnother thing I want to highlight about the healthcare example is that the people whose healthcare was incorrectly cut saw the problem right away, but there was no way to get that mistake acknowledged or addressed. Another tragic example of people recognizing an issue but not being able to get it addressed is Facebook’s role in the genocide in Myanmar.