BBC News
BBC News - Health
Adolescence lasts into 30s - new study shows four pivotal ages for your brain
Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:11:12 GMT
Brain scans on thousands of people reveal the dramatic shifts the brain goes through between birth and death.
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.
NHS tracker - are hospital waiting times improving near you?
Thu, 13 Nov 2025 11:14:27 GMT
Use our interactive tracker to see if treatment waits are getting better at your local hospital.
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.
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.
UK did 'too little, too late', leading to thousands more Covid deaths - inquiry
Thu, 20 Nov 2025 20:42:03 GMT
Report on government decision-making says delays cost 23,000 lives in the first wave in England.
What's in the Covid inquiry report... in 68 seconds
Thu, 20 Nov 2025 22:46:50 GMT
The report looks at whether lockdowns were timely and reasonable, and what impact rule-breaking at the heart of government had on public confidence.
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.
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".
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?
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.
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.
Three-year-old Oliver is 'wonderful' after world-first gene therapy
Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:45:44 GMT
Toddler Oliver and his dad Ricky join Jon and Sally on the Breakfast sofa, to discuss his progress after his ground-breaking gene therapy.
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.
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.
'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
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.
Boy with rare condition amazes doctors after world-first gene therapy
Mon, 24 Nov 2025 11:03:00 GMT
Oliver has an inherited condition called Hunter syndrome, which causes progressive damage to the body and brain.
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.
NHS doctor suspended over alleged antisemitic social media posts
Wed, 26 Nov 2025 22:30:42 GMT
The tribunal ruled the doctor's posts "may impact on patient confidence" in both her and the profession.
Man donates kidney to woman he met after crash
Wed, 26 Nov 2025 06:17:38 GMT
Transplant donor says "anyone with a heart would give something to keep someone else alive".
'A predator in your home': Mothers say chatbots encouraged their sons to kill themselves
Sat, 08 Nov 2025 13:20:52 GMT
In her first UK interview Megan Garcia speaks to Laura Kuenssberg about the death of her teenage son.
You can now book online to see your GP. But is it any easier to get an appointment?
Sat, 08 Nov 2025 01:57:44 GMT
A month since GPs in England started offering online appointment bookings, patients recount their experiences.
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".
Lockdown could have been avoided - key findings from Covid inquiry
Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:01:47 GMT
The long-awaited report is published into how well or badly the government handled the Covid pandemic.
'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.
Lord Cameron reveals he had prostate cancer
Mon, 24 Nov 2025 09:13:46 GMT
The former PM is calling for more men to be screened for the disease, which is the most common cancer in males in the UK.
Nurses penalised for trans complaint, says lawyer
Tue, 11 Nov 2025 17:42:17 GMT
Closing submissions are being made in an employment tribunal brought by eight female nurses.
JFK's granddaughter raises awareness of rare leukaemia with poignant essay
Mon, 24 Nov 2025 22:18:53 GMT
Doctors say Tatiana Schlossberg's struggle - even with the best care as a member of a prominent family - emphasises the need for more research.
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.
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.
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.
Why are resident doctors striking and how much are they paid?
Thu, 13 Nov 2025 13:58:17 GMT
Resident doctors in England are striking between 14 and 19 November, in their 13th walkout since 2023.
Boris Johnson left Inquiry in a hurry - he'll be pleased not to come back
Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:49:01 GMT
School closures seemed the only option but lockdowns probably went "too far" , former PM tells Covid Inquiry.
Hospitals knew a heart device led to more patients' deaths - but they kept using it
Wed, 12 Nov 2025 22:00:03 GMT
Almost half of patients given a heart pump, after the NHS had raised concerns about it, died soon after.
Council to support workers with endometriosis
Sat, 29 Nov 2025 10:07:33 GMT
Deputy mayor Ceri Cawley plans to start a support group for women with endometriosis.
DNA pioneer James Watson dies at 97
Sat, 08 Nov 2025 07:47:13 GMT
Watson co-discover the double-helix structure of DNA, but his reputation was later damaged by his comments on race and sex.
NHS waiting list down - how is your hospital doing?
Thu, 13 Nov 2025 10:23:12 GMT
At the end of September, the backlog stood at 7.39 million in England.
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.
I wanted ChatGPT to help me. So why did it advise me how to kill myself?
Thu, 06 Nov 2025 17:03:17 GMT
ChatGPT wrote a woman a suicide note and another AI chatbot role-played sexual acts with children, BBC finds.
Ultra-processed food is global health threat, experts warn
Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:53:04 GMT
It is increasing our risk of a range of chronic diseases, including obesity and depression, a major review says.
Three-year-old Oliver is 'wonderful' after world-first gene therapy
Mon, 24 Nov 2025 11:24:54 GMT
The toddler has astounded doctors with his progress, nine months after the ground-breaking treatment.
Gove apologises after Covid report alleges 'toxic' culture
Fri, 21 Nov 2025 18:42:12 GMT
The ex-senior minister apologises for mistakes in the pandemic, but defends some of the previous government's actions.
Wellbeing support for terminally-ill islanders
Fri, 14 Nov 2025 12:34:09 GMT
A hospice offers a free programme for those with life-limiting or serious progressive illnesses.
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.
Call for medical notes alert for maternity scandal families
Fri, 28 Nov 2025 06:25:55 GMT
Kayleigh Griffiths says the alert came about because families had to keep retelling their stories.
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?
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.
The Covid Inquiry Podcast
Sat, 22 Nov 2025 07:00:00 GMT
Baroness Hallett makes her second report into the UK's pandemic response. With Jim Reed.
Prostate cancer screening should not be offered to most UK men, say experts
Fri, 28 Nov 2025 16:27:42 GMT
It recommends that only men with a confirmed genetic risk of prostate cancer should be screened for the disease.
Inside Health
Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT
Cystic fibrosis care, AI in cancer screening & science of run clubs.
How do cold weather health alerts work?
Tue, 18 Nov 2025 09:33:35 GMT
The weather alert service warns the public when high or low temperatures could damage their health.
AI vs superbugs: UK invests millions to tackle drug-resistant infections
Tue, 18 Nov 2025 06:10:18 GMT
The UK turns to artificial intelligence (AI) to reverse the rising numbers of infections that shrug off antibiotics.
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.
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.
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?
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.
'Traumatic wait' for women facing breast cancer diagnoses
Wed, 19 Nov 2025 10:04:01 GMT
Dr Jilly O'Hagan says she is "hugely concerned" after three patients in her surgery received a late cancer diagnosis.
Trans people could be barred from services based on appearance
Fri, 21 Nov 2025 10:44:53 GMT
The new code of practice on access to single-sex services cannot gain legal force until it gets sign-off from ministers.
Lord Cameron Successfully Treated for Prostate Cancer
Mon, 24 Nov 2025 13:26:36 GMT
Former PM was diagnosed earlier this year and received electrical pulse therapy
Advice for PCOS has not changed for 30 years, says patient
Mon, 17 Nov 2025 05:54:45 GMT
Alex Allan says she feels "sad" that treatment for the condition has not moved forward in that time.
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.
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.
What is the UK Covid inquiry and how does it work?
Mon, 24 Nov 2025 16:03:57 GMT
The inquiry into the government's handling of the pandemic has heard from politicians, civil servants, experts and bereaved families.
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.
The private notes and secret documents that tell the inside story of the UK's Covid response
Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:12:50 GMT
The Covid inquiry is set to publish its second set of findings looking in detail at the huge political decisions that had to be made in 2020.
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?
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?
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
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.
'Toxic' No 10 culture harmed Covid response, inquiry finds
Thu, 20 Nov 2025 22:32:49 GMT
Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings and Matt Hanock are all criticised for contributing to poor Covid decision-making.
New puberty blockers trial to begin after UK ban
Sat, 22 Nov 2025 11:38:27 GMT
Those taking part in the study will be children under 16 who are going through puberty.
Ever feel the need to switch off? Your vagus nerve might hold the key
Sun, 09 Nov 2025 02:04:22 GMT
You might not have heard of it, but can training your vagus nerve give you a moment or two of peace?
Will my favourite drink cost more?
Tue, 25 Nov 2025 17:48:18 GMT
Packaged milk drinks, including some packaged coffees, will be included in the "sugar tax", the Health Secretary has announced.
Review of unpaid carer debts announced after damning report
Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:39:31 GMT
Former charity boss Liz Sayce found confusing guidance on Carer's Allowance had left thousands with fines and surprise bills.
One day of planning went into Covid school closures, inquiry hears
Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:31:19 GMT
This part of the inquiry is looking at the impact the pandemic had on children and young people.
Doctor strike inflicting pain and misery on patients, says health secretary
Fri, 14 Nov 2025 18:08:03 GMT
Health Secretary Wes Streeting says the five-day strike by resident doctors is "completely irresponsible".
Mother had 'agonising' health test without consent
Mon, 17 Nov 2025 06:04:43 GMT
Dawn Lord says she had no idea what was happening to her during her "traumatic" hysteroscopy.
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.
Libraries to host community events over winter
Thu, 27 Nov 2025 06:46:30 GMT
The sessions in December and January aim to bring people in Wolverhampton together during the colder months.
'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.
Inside Health
Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT
Shingles vaccine to reduce dementia risk? Antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea & tech trousers
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer and what should you check for?
Mon, 24 Nov 2025 09:27:45 GMT
One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
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.
Prostate cancer screening: what you need to know
Fri, 28 Nov 2025 19:06:43 GMT
Everything you need to know about the decision on who should be screened for prostate cancer
'Price of sports bras shouldn't stop us competing'
Mon, 17 Nov 2025 06:18:32 GMT
A former Team GB athlete is calling for free sports bras and fittings for secondary school girls.
Eleven countries added to methanol poisoning warning list
Tue, 18 Nov 2025 13:22:45 GMT
The Foreign Office list now includes India, Morocco and Nepal following a "global increase" in reported cases.
Women 'traumatised' by breast cancer treatment at NHS trust
Fri, 28 Nov 2025 05:55:16 GMT
More than 200 patients suffered harm, including unnecessary mastectomies, the BBC has been told.
Sugar tax extended to milk-based drinks: What you need to know
Tue, 25 Nov 2025 14:33:18 GMT
Milkshakes and lattes to be included in UK sugar tax scheme for the first time.
HIV battle is not over, warns It's a Sin creator
Sun, 30 Nov 2025 07:08:23 GMT
Russell T Davies says misinformation about the virus made him "despair".
HIV warning to older women as infections increase
Mon, 01 Dec 2025 07:48:16 GMT
The Blue Sky Trust charity reacts to a rise in HIV infections among heterosexual women.
Covid inquiry hears impact on firms and staff
Mon, 24 Nov 2025 12:50:37 GMT
Business owners describe breaking into tears as they were forced to lay off staff, while workers feared for their jobs
Delayed action before 2020 Christmas lockdown 'inexcusable'
Fri, 21 Nov 2025 06:09:37 GMT
Baroness Hallet says ministers failed to take "decisive action" against an "entirely foreseeable" variant.
'It sounds dramatic but singing class saved my life'
Sun, 23 Nov 2025 07:16:11 GMT
Hundreds of peopling attending singing groups are being taught songs and breathing techniques.
Illuminated
Sun, 23 Nov 2025 17:45:00 GMT
Poet Paul Farley faces up to the fact that it’s time to address his hearing loss.
Obesity jab drug fails to slow Alzheimer's
Mon, 24 Nov 2025 17:13:38 GMT
There were initial hopes that the drug in weight loss jab Wegovy could slow progression of dementia.
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.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer and what should you check for?
Mon, 24 Nov 2025 09:27:45 GMT
One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
Biggest prostate cancer screening trial in decades begins in UK
Fri, 21 Nov 2025 01:45:04 GMT
The study aims to find the best way to detect prostate cancer - the most common cancer in men in the UK.
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.
Hancock ignored call to test all NHS staff, Covid inquiry hears
Thu, 15 May 2025 18:23:21 GMT
Two Nobel prize-winning scientists worried about "asymptomatic transmission" between staff and patients.
'Since having Covid my life has completely changed'
Thu, 02 Oct 2025 05:05:22 GMT
A teenager has told the Covid-19 inquiry she often feels "left out" after missing so much school.
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.
'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”.
Move over fillers - here's why people are having facial injections made from fish sperm
Sat, 22 Nov 2025 00:07:45 GMT
Celebs including Charlie XCX swear by them. But what are polynucleotides and do they work?
