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Henrietta Cook

Henrietta Cook

Henrietta Cook is a senior reporter covering health for The Age. Henrietta joined The Age in 2012 and has previously covered state politics, education and consumer affairs.

Robbie Dettmann recently tried to access STI testing at the state’s only public sexual health clinic but was turned away.

Victoria’s only public sexual health clinic axes a key service as STI rates soar

When Robbie tried to access the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, the doors were locked. It was then he discovered the walk-in service had been axed.

  • Henrietta Cook and Alexander Darling

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Stacey Warnecke died in September after giving birth at home.

Banned doula ordered to break silence over influencer’s fatal free birth

Controversial free-birth advocate Emily Lal has been ordered to give evidence to an inquest into the death of Stacey Warnecke, who died hours after delivering her son at home.

  • Henrietta Cook
There has been an anecdotal rise in the number of women choosing to freebirth.

‘These are avoidable’: Dozens of babies dead or permanently injured after freebirths

Data has uncovered the catastrophic consequences of a rise in women choosing to give birth without the aid of medically trained professionals.

  • Henrietta Cook
The turf war between GPs and pharmacists is heating up after the Victorian government announced plans to allow pharmacists to prescribe oral contraceptives to patients without a doctor’s script

GPs reveal dossier of pharmacy blunders as prescription fight ramps up

A turf war has erupted between GPs and pharmacists over changes that allow patients to get the pill from pharmacies without a doctor’s script.

  • Henrietta Cook
Premier Jacinta Allan and Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas

A bitter pill: Tension between premier and minister over contentious health plans

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas liked a scathing social media post about the state government, drawing attention to internal friction over two big policy calls.

  • Henrietta Cook and Kieran Rooney
Wayne Earle is keen to speak out about his experience with penile cancer to help others navigating the disease.

‘I didn’t see myself as a man any more’: The silent rise of this rare and stigmatised cancer

Australia has experienced a more than doubling of penile cancer cases over the last two decades and it’s puzzling health experts.

  • Henrietta Cook
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The contraceptive pill will be available at Victorian chemists without a script.

Contraceptive pill will become available without a script in Victoria

Women will be able to see a pharmacist instead of a doctor to access the pill, but the move has doctors worried.

  • Kieran Rooney and Henrietta Cook
Mum-of-two Jess Armstrong was 35 when she was diagnosed wih breast cancer.

Beyond the mammogram: How AI is spotting hidden breast cancer risks

A new tool provides a personalised risk score for developing breast cancer, and can reduce unnecessary investigations.

  • Henrietta Cook
Rachel’s aunt Nell had her rings stolen from her as she was dying in an aged care home in Kew in December.

Nell was dying in aged care when her precious rings vanished. She wasn’t the only one

There has been a 40 per cent surge in reported thefts in Victorian nursing homes since 2021, which has prompted calls for services to do better for vulnerable residents.

  • Henrietta Cook
Mark Latham and his lawyer Zali Burrows in October.

Mark Latham’s lawyer Zali Burrows breaks bread with his ‘enemy’

The controversial MP’s legal eagle Zali Burrows was spotted with Australian Turf Club chairman Tim Hale in Randwick.

  • John Buckley and Henrietta Cook