BBC News

BBC News - Health

Effects of antidepressants on physical health ranked for first time

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 06:26:48 GMT

Find out which to avoid if you are concerned about weight gain.

LED mask ads banned over acne and rosacea claims

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 16:56:09 GMT

Adverts for cosmetic devices not registered with the medicines regulator must not make medical claims.

Covid inquiry told Treasury blocked NHS bed request

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 18:06:48 GMT

NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard says the decision, in July 2020, was very disappointing.

Why I'm challenging Nike, Adidas and Puma over single shoes

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 02:02:25 GMT

Former Para-athletic world champion Stef Reid says footwear companies are failing amputees.

'I feared a smear test would feel like being attacked again'

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 06:13:25 GMT

A clinic which helps survivors of rape and sexual assault feel more comfortable during cervical screening celebrates 10 years.

What is chickenpox and how can I get my child vaccinated?

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 11:51:59 GMT

The NHS in England and Wales will start offering the MMRV vaccine to young children from January 2026.

ADHD services shutting door to new NHS patients as demand soars, BBC finds

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:04:46 GMT

A BBC investigation finds that a host of areas in England are closing waiting lists and others are rationing care.

Mone accuses Covid inquiry of 'cover-up'

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:10:36 GMT

She says husband Doug Barrowman and her are targets of a "politically motivated witch hunt".

Calls for legal right to paid leave for IVF treatment

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 00:28:33 GMT

Campaigners say IVF treatment should be less stigmatised in the workplace and come with legal entitlements to time off

The English neighbourhood that claims to hold the secret to fixing the NHS

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 23:04:10 GMT

With public satisfaction in the NHS just 21%, one area has a plan to shake up its services that could reduce GP waiting lists, as well as unblock hospital beds - but can it really work nationwide?

Inside Health

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Cystic fibrosis care, AI in cancer screening & science of run clubs.

How the heart can 'create' emotions

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:45:54 GMT

In a special live episode, What's up Docs? explores the wonders of the human heart.

Is the system letting down people who were harmed by Covid vaccines?

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 05:48:59 GMT

People affected by rare blood clots say they feel they have been airbrushed out of the pandemic.

Ketamine helped me escape my negative thoughts - then it nearly killed me

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 23:08:50 GMT

Young people are taking dangerous amounts of ket because it's cheap, easily available and helps them "disconnect", experts say.

Call for allergy pens in schools after boy's death

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:44:27 GMT

Benedict Blythe's parents say lives and money could be saved by giving allergy pens to all schools.

Traitors star is 'grateful for abnormal anatomy'

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 11:51:21 GMT

A very rare condition led to an important diagnosis after years of pain for The Traitors star.

Illegal teeth-whitening industry exposed by BBC

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:06:25 GMT

A BBC investigation finds kits on sale containing more than 500 times the legal limit of bleach.

Widower backs new pancreatic cancer breath trial

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 06:24:37 GMT

The test detects compounds in the breath which are detectable in cancer patients, say scientists.

The doctor strike has ended - what comes next?

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 06:02:02 GMT

With doctors returning to work after five-day walkout, is there an opportunity for talks to re-start?

How many of us will end up being diagnosed with ADHD?

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 00:36:40 GMT

Experts suggest that the number of people with ADHD is actually going to remain steady.

Community health centre to open after £2.2m revamp

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 11:05:22 GMT

The Grade-II listed St Dunstan's House has been converted into a health and wellbeing.

Johnson wanted tighter Covid rules, inquiry hears

Thu, 22 May 2025 19:11:38 GMT

In his diaries, Lord Vallance wrote that ex-PM thought rules were not ruthless enough.

The junior doctors' strikes may be over. But is trouble ahead?

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:43:02 GMT

The end of the pay dispute sounded too good to be true. And now some are wondering if it might be.

How will weight-loss drugs change our relationship with food?

Sat, 19 Oct 2024 03:10:13 GMT

The rise of these treatments has major implications for how we think about obesity, says James Gallagher.

'My first cervical screening was over before I knew it'

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 01:06:51 GMT

The BBC speaks to six people about their first cervical screening, and what they wish they'd known beforehand.

Skip short strolls – a longer daily walk is better for your heart, says study

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 22:49:22 GMT

Walking for at least 15 minutes without stopping is ideal, according to new research.

How weight-loss injections are turning obesity into a wealth issue

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 07:02:26 GMT

With claims of a 'two-tier system', could it be that these drugs are exacerbating health inequalities?

Hancock criticises 'wholly naive' Covid inquiry

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:14:53 GMT

The former health secretary was giving evidence about medical equipment deals during the pandemic.

Maternity inquiry must include care culture - dad

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 06:12:16 GMT

Freyja Green died in March 2019 after a traumatic birth at St James's University Hospital in Leeds.

How close were hospitals to collapse in Covid?

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 00:06:04 GMT

The Covid inquiry restarts its live hearings this week, after senior staff in the NHS revealed just how close some hospitals were to collapse

How to avoid period leaks - the pros and cons of cups, pants and tampons

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 23:02:07 GMT

Here is a guide to how each product works and the pros and cons to help you decide what might suit you.

A facelift at 28? Why young people are turning to plastic surgery

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 01:05:48 GMT

Gone are the days when facelifts were for the ageing wealthy. Now younger people are going under the knife.

'New birth advice change is our girl's lasting legacy'

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 06:15:52 GMT

A mum says she was not warned of the potentially life-threatening risks of a uterine rupture.

Covid inquiry hears of 'generational slaughter'

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 15:55:44 GMT

Relatives of care home residents tell the Covid inquiry they will never get over how their loved ones died.

Menopause screening to be included in NHS health checks from next year

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:19:26 GMT

Despite the change - which will happen in 2026 - campaigners warn some women will lose out because the number who attend is too low.

'I have a sweating problem': What Alan Carr's Traitors admission tells us about how social taboos changed

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:47:10 GMT

Let's talk about sweat... From contestants on The Celebrity Traitors and scores of celebrities openly discussing it, to the trend of professionals using saunas for business meetings

How caffeine can help you manage headaches and other tips

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 02:45:03 GMT

If you're getting a pattern of milder, recurring headaches here are four things you can do to help manage it.

Inside Health

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT

We investigate the safety of melatonin as a sleep aid, and should you eat your placenta?

'My girl can't walk or talk': Searching for answers in Wales' rare disease cluster

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 04:58:54 GMT

Families affected by a rare inherited disease say they have had to "scramble" for information.

Prostate cancer symptoms and treatment: What to check for

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 08:42:25 GMT

One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

What is Mpox and why are cases rising in Europe?

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:38:13 GMT

UK health officials are encouraging gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men to be vaccinated.

Menopause screening to be included in NHS health checks from next year

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:19:26 GMT

Despite the change - which will happen in 2026 - campaigners warn some women will lose out because the number who attend is too low.

Medics got me through cancer but they can't help with my menopause

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 09:15:12 GMT

When Kat Denisi was diagnosed with breast cancer at 32 she was put into a medically induced menopause.

How does the disposable vape ban work, and how harmful is vaping?

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 11:56:48 GMT

The disposable vape ban is designed to reduce environmental damage and protect children's health.

BMA rejects fresh offer to end doctor strikes

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 19:21:00 GMT

An offer was made to avert the resident doctors' strike but the union said it did not go far enough.

Covid inquiry told top NHS doctor was terrified

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 17:34:34 GMT

Sir Stephen Powis says points-based tool was drawn up should need to prioritise patients have arisen.

Longer Daily Walk Better for Heart Health, Says Study

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 06:17:43 GMT

Walking for at least 15 minutes without stopping is ideal, new research shows

Sleep, exercise, hydrate - do we really need to stick to recommended daily doses?

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 00:08:06 GMT

As a study casts doubt on the daily steps maxim, we take a look at some other health benchmarks we’re often told to strive for.

Endometriosis patients call for national registry

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 06:59:28 GMT

Hayley Barlow-Ford says better data would have helped her make an "informed choice" about surgery.

What exactly is freshers' flu - and why do so many get it?

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 23:05:38 GMT

It's not an actual flu, and it's rarely serious, but when thousands of students arrive on campus they bring a cocktail of viruses.

Covid inquiry told of trust do-not-resuscitate rule

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 16:54:11 GMT

Patients' families were “horrified but not surprised” when told the blanket policy had been in place.

'Getting financial help through my GP has improved my health'

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 05:16:27 GMT

How linked are financial worries and health? GPs in London are trialling a financial support scheme.

What we know about rising autism rates and Trump's unproven Tylenol link

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 10:54:16 GMT

Some studies have suggested an association between the two, but experts say there is no causal relationship.

Doctors' union agrees to resume talks with Streeting

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 21:03:16 GMT

But the health secretary says he will not negotiate on pay, adding that the union has lost goodwill with their five-day walkout.

Fishing group 'devastated' after container fire

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 05:46:58 GMT

Craig Parkins says years of hard work has "just gone up in smoke".

Inside Health

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Shingles vaccine to reduce dementia risk? Antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea & tech trousers

Woman 'strung along' seriously ill man over kidney donation

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:32:59 GMT

Nicola Hutton was sentenced to five months in prison after being convicted of a false communication offence.

Magnesium: Can this 'miracle mineral' really help us sleep?

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 23:04:39 GMT

The global market in this supplement is worth almost £3bn - a figure set to nearly double over the next decade.

'Game-changing' HIV protection jab approved in England and Wales

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 08:18:39 GMT

The shot, given six times a year or every other month, is an alternative to taking daily pills to protect against ever catching the virus.

First place in British Isles set to approve right to die

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 13:02:21 GMT

Laws in the Isle of Man to let terminally ill adults end their own lives are in the last stages of debate.

Union and government to restart talks on ending doctor dispute

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 11:03:52 GMT

BMA says there is window of opportunity in coming weeks to reach a settlement after 12 strikes.

I thought my insides were falling out: The condition affecting one in 12 mums

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 23:43:23 GMT

Pelvic organ prolapse affects around one in 12 mothers, but many people have never even heard of it.

Michelle Mone-linked PPE firm evidence to be heard in private

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:16 GMT

Covid inquiry says hearings into the firm, led by Michelle Mone's husband, must be held in closed session.

The Covid Inquiry Podcast: 'I wasn't the decision maker'

Sat, 31 May 2025 06:00:00 GMT

The Inquiry hears from the lead of the test and trace unit

Covid care home policy was 'least worst decision' - Hancock

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 16:27:58 GMT

Former health secretary Matt Hancock denied claims the government's attempt to throw a protective ring around care homes in early 2020 was empty rhetoric.

CQC chief resigns over maternity failings

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 10:46:55 GMT

Families had been calling for Sir Julian's resignation over poor maternity care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Families failed by Covid jabs tell inquiry of pain

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 18:39:40 GMT

They said there was no support after the death and harm suffered by their loved ones.

Alan Partridge is a thoughtful employer

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:24:10 GMT

He knows exactly what to do when a member of staff is unwell.

Cancer survivors say their concerns were dismissed

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 06:05:43 GMT

Two women who had breast cancer say their concerns were dismissed by doctors at first.

The science behind how fake tan works on your skin

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 15:45:50 GMT

Sliced Bread looks into the chemical reaction that happens - and whether it's harmful.

My late husband's organs transformed the lives of four people

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 08:33:52 GMT

Mark Hutchinson was only 52 when he died unexpectedly last year after suffering two strokes "out of the blue".

Michael Gove denies trying to circumvent Dyson ventilator checks

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 12:29:20 GMT

Former cabinet minister says it would be ludicrous to suggest he tried to shortcut safety checks in the pandemic.

Life-changing eye implant helps blind patients read again

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:00:12 GMT

The results are astounding and a major advance, say surgeons involved in international research using the pioneering technology.

Councils should not cut 'vital' physical activity - former Olympian

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:45:50 GMT

The Accounts Commission says the amount councils are spending on culture and leisure services is not keeping up with rising costs.

Scientists win Nobel Prize for discovering why immune system does not destroy the body

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 10:28:37 GMT

The prize-winning discovery explains how the immune system attacks hostile infections, but not the body's own cells.

Generation K: The disturbing rise of ketamine abuse among young people

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 06:00:36 GMT

Increasing numbers of young people are using the drug, experts say. The health impacts can be catastrophic.

Exciting results from blood test for 50 cancers

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 07:13:48 GMT

The Galleri test looks for fragments of DNA that have broken off a tumour and are circulating in the blood.

NHS hours from PPE running out in Covid - Hancock

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:58:34 GMT

Former health secretary tells inquiry some healthcare settings did run out - "and it was awful".

Can your phlegm colour tell you when to see a doctor?

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:43:36 GMT

This episode of Sliced Bread looks at the myths behind cough and cold treatments.

Inside Health

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT

We try to figure out why drug deaths are at an all-time high - and what can be done.

Children paid 'huge price' in Covid pandemic, Johnson tells inquiry

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:22:44 GMT

The former PM says lockdown rules "probably did go too far" and says children could have been exempted.

CMAT's hack for chilling out

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:23:30 GMT

After a whirlwind year, CMAT tells Nick Grimshaw that she's found a new way to relax.

Is the most expensive lip balm always the best?

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 13:38:36 GMT

Do you need to spend more to get the best for your chapped lips?

The songs I've chosen to help me prepare for dying

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:28:03 GMT

Music can evoke powerful memories and offers a sense of normality for people dealing with illness or death.

Vapers overtake smokers for first time in Britain

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 13:15:17 GMT

Some 5.4 million adults use vapes daily or occasionally compared with 4.9 million using cigarettes, figures show.

Large UK-wide pandemic preparedness tests planned this year

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:36:01 GMT

The stress test will involve thousands of people to help the UK prepare for potential future threats.

Covid inquiry to look at impact on care services

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 01:10:05 GMT

The Covid inquiry will examine the impact of the pandemic on care services, starting on Monday.

Cash to isolate 'would have cut Covid deaths'

Wed, 28 May 2025 15:05:43 GMT

Baroness Dido Harding tells Covid inquiry Rishi Sunak blocked higher support payments.

UK facing long, tough flu season, NHS chiefs warn

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 11:08:55 GMT

Vulnerable urged to come forward for flu jab quickly as virus has come early this year.

Labour's plan for benefits throws up a bigger dilemma

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 06:06:29 GMT

The debate has sparked a wider dilemma about the broader purpose of welfare

Reports of OCD among under-25s triple in 10 years

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 05:08:07 GMT

More 16-24 year olds in England say they have symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder - BBC analysis finds.

'My wife died in childbirth but wasn't told she'd been given labour drug overdose'

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 06:08:17 GMT

Jacqui Hunter died less than 24 hours after being told that her daughter had died in the womb.

At 21, I was crushed by a stranger's joke about going bald. Then the way I looked at myself changed

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 00:52:35 GMT

There are multiple ways for men to combat hair loss now, but should they have to?

My eating disorder made me good at lying, says Victoria Beckham

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 10:08:18 GMT

The former Spice Girl's new Netflix documentary has landed - under the shadow of a reported family feud.

Why medical students are choosing Bulgaria over UK

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 05:15:42 GMT

The BBC has spoken to students choosing Bulgaria due to UK's strict cap on medical school places.

The teenage caffeine pouch trend troubling US experts

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:06:06 GMT

Some social media influencers are pushing products to young gym-goers and students, health experts warn.

We were not treated as parents, Covid inquiry told

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 14:11:38 GMT

Mum of premature twins says rigid restrictions on birthing wards during Covid were traumatic.

'I missed a £100 council tax bill while in hospital – the debt ballooned to £6k'

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 05:18:07 GMT

The government says it is taking action to protect people from “aggressive collection practices”.

NHS needs better plan around weight loss jabs, warn experts

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 07:27:18 GMT

Experts call for an urgent review of obesity treatment services amid booming demand for weight loss jabs.

EastEnders' Kellie Bright on the challenges of being parent of an autistic child

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:35:51 GMT

The soap actor meets families fighting for their children’s education for BBC Panorama.

We will not 'be held to ransom' by striking doctors, says minister

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 17:14:56 GMT

The health secretary is refusing to make concessions on pay after the BMA announced a further walkout.

Dr Xand: Five easy food swaps to improve your gut health

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:30:30 GMT

Instead of reaching for pricey probiotic shots or snacks, here are five easy food swaps to boost your gut health.

Why did resident doctors strike and what are they paid?

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 10:49:33 GMT

Resident doctors in England went on strike over pay for five days at the end of July 2025.

Assisted dying bill: What is in proposed law?

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 15:30:26 GMT

The proposed law would allow some terminally ill adults to end their own lives. But there are requirements.

Your nose gets colder when you're stressed. These thermal images show the change

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 23:28:34 GMT

Psychologists subjected a BBC reporter to a carefully designed thermal camera stress test.