BBC News

BBC News - Health

Charity hopes new HQ can bring people together

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 06:12:24 GMT

Health Connections is to renovate six floors of its new base as spaces for people to come together.

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.

What is chickenpox and who can get an NHS vaccine?

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 00:31:12 GMT

The standard NHS childhood vaccination programme will include chickenpox from 2 January 2026.

Maternity inquiry chair named in government U-turn

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:51:37 GMT

Donna Ockenden is appointed to lead the maternity services inquiry at Leeds hospitals.

What does 'quiet resilience' look like?

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:10:03 GMT

Kimberley Wilson talks to psychologist and therapist Dr Sula Windgassen on how to build "quiet" or "flexible" resilience.

Alternative to HRT for menopausal hot flushes now on NHS

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:54:56 GMT

The non-hormonal daily pill could benefit 500,000 women for whom HRT is not suitable.

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.

Mental health chat encouraged at coffee mornings

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 06:48:39 GMT

Three coffee mornings are being held in Wolverhampton as part of a national mental health event.

NHS tracker - are hospital waiting times improving near you?

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:02:58 GMT

Use our interactive tracker to see if treatment waits are getting better at your local hospital.

'It was like buying groceries' - Woman calls for tighter weight-loss jabs checks

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:05:01 GMT

Emma Dyer says she collapsed on her bathroom floor and began vomiting blood after buying jabs online.

Firm assessing Covid vaccine harm replaced after costs spiral to £48m

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 05:55:44 GMT

The figure paid to Crawford & Company Adjusters is eight times the original estimate for the work.

NHS England pauses new prescriptions of cross-sex hormones for under-18s

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:39:36 GMT

The health service said young people who already receive the drugs will continue to do so.

GPs told to guarantee same-day appointments for urgent cases

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 16:05:58 GMT

New contract will require patients in England to be given immediate appointment if needed.

Hundreds of GPs tell BBC they have never refused a fit note for mental health concerns

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:21:42 GMT

The number of fit notes issued has been rising, with more than 11.2m approved in England last year.

Mother given wrong antibiotics died from sepsis

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 06:11:12 GMT

Bank cashier Aleisha Rochester died two weeks after undergoing a routine procedure to remove an abscess.

The family donating kidneys to their siblings

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:40:47 GMT

"When people say to you, 'what have you done in your life?' I can say I've saved someone's life."

Police probe breast cancer treatment allegations

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:22:14 GMT

The inquiry is being held over concerns of poor care at the County Durham and Darlington trust.

Dentists return £900m for not seeing NHS patients

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 08:12:08 GMT

Sum represents £1 out of every £7 they have been given by NHS as dentists opt to chase private work.

Woman with rare blood feels 'honoured' to donate

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:22:13 GMT

A woman whose blood is so rare that it is frozen for up to three decades feels "very special".

Inside Health

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

James investigates penis fillers, where hyaluronic acid is injected to increase girth.

How to check whether you have bowel cancer

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:49:43 GMT

What are the main symptoms and causes of bowel cancer, and how can you reduce your risk of getting it?

What is the UK Covid inquiry and how does it work?

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 13:32:48 GMT

The inquiry into the government's handling of the pandemic has published two reports with eight more to follow.

Covid inquiry chair defends £200m cost and four-year process on final day

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 17:04:55 GMT

Baroness Heather Hallett said completing the hearings in under four years was an achievement but critics have questioned its cost.

Uni student among two dead in Kent meningitis outbreak

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 21:50:56 GMT

Eleven people in the Canterbury area are also seriously ill in hospital, the BBC understands.

Sculpting jaws, giving scores: Inside the world of looksmaxxing

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:01:21 GMT

Growing numbers of young men are going to great lengths to achieve what they see as the perfect face.

Could weight-loss jabs be behind rising gallbladder removals?

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:03:39 GMT

Last year, there was a 15% annual increase in the operations and surgeons want more research.

Pregnant women's brains shed grey matter to prime them for motherhood, study suggests

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 07:05:45 GMT

It is time to move beyond the “baby brain” cliche, say scientists who scanned dozens of women’s brains.

Why are resident doctors striking and how much are they paid?

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 08:06:44 GMT

Resident doctors in England are striking between 17 and 22 December, the 14th walkout since 2023.

'My son can now enjoy life': Children with severe form of epilepsy helped by new drug

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 22:06:19 GMT

Families say the groundbreaking medicine is transforming the lives of children with Dravet syndrome.

What are the symptoms of meningitis and is there a vaccine?

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:58:38 GMT

Two people have died following an outbreak of meningitis, including one student at the University of Kent.

GPs tell BBC they've NEVER refused sick note for mental health

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 17:15:40 GMT

BBC News sent a questionnaire to more than 5,000 GPs in England.

Inside Health

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The new wave of ME research that could bring clarity to this perplexing condition.

'I have four months left to preserve my fertility'

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 13:40:15 GMT

Iona Hall is freezing her eggs after surgery for endometriosis left her reserves "critically low".

Sperm swim more quickly in summer, study finds

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 17:18:08 GMT

Understanding the seasonal patterns of sperm could improve fertility treatments, by optimising the timing of treatment, the reasearchers say.

'My hotel bill is £12,000': British holidaymakers stranded by Iran war

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:56:07 GMT

Flights are restricted due to the conflict leaving people stuck running up bills for rooms and food.

Furlough not perfect but prevented mass unemployment, Sunak says

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:06:00 GMT

The former PM, who was chancellor during the crisis, says there was no "playbook" of how to respond to the pandemic.

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?

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.

Women with endometriosis face 'systemic misogyny'

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 06:17:12 GMT

Women share their experiences of living with endometriosis so the condition can be better understood.

AI toys for children misread emotions and respond inappropriately, researchers warn

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:10:53 GMT

In first study of its kind, Cambridge researchers found AI toys could misread some children's emotions.

Proton beam hope for asbestos cancer patients

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:04:41 GMT

Mesothelioma is an incurable cancer linked to asbestos, but a trial hopes to prolong patient lives.

Inside Health

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

James visits Hackney, which has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country.

Prostate cancer screening: What you need to know

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:47:11 GMT

Everything you need to know about the decision on who should be screened for prostate cancer.

What are the signs of meningitis, and how does it spread?

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:09:03 GMT

BBC Health Correspondent Dominic Hughes explains the signs to look out for.

Taking collagen keeps skin more elastic but won't stop wrinkles, say scientists

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:11 GMT

The new review brings together the strongest evidence to date on collagen supplementation, say experts.

Endometriosis study aims for safer diagnosis

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:18:24 GMT

Researchers in Worcestershire are using electrodes as a non-invasive diagnosis tool.

Alternative to HRT for menopausal hot flushes now on NHS

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:54:56 GMT

The non-hormonal daily pill could benefit 500,000 women for whom HRT is not suitable.

Sunbed ads spreading harmful misinformation to young people

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 06:05:19 GMT

Hundreds of TikTok, Instagram and Facebook ads made misleading claims about health benefits, BBC finds.

Couple to re-start trek around Britain's coastline

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:26:52 GMT

After having to halt their first attempt due to an injury, the couple are ready to set off again.

How I proved hair loss and dizziness aren't just symptoms of 'being a mum'

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:28:46 GMT

Iron deficiency is a relatively common problem, especially in women. Here's how to spot the symptoms.

'I'm in constant pain after vaginal mesh surgery'

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:12 GMT

Susan McLarnon travelled to Downing Street later to call for "urgent action" to be taken on redress for those harmed by pelvic mesh implants.

'My daughter died in her sleep, with no warning'

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:35:42 GMT

Jo-Ann Burns says her daughter Nicola wasn't told about Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy.

Why are fewer people donating their organs?

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 06:21:27 GMT

The number waiting for an organ is at a record high as loved ones increasingly block donations.

First British baby born using transplanted womb from dead donor

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:39:50 GMT

Grace Bell, who was born without a viable womb, says her little boy is "simply a miracle".

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.

One-off £2,000 grant gives care leavers head start, study finds

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 01:13:30 GMT

Participants were less likely to become homeless or spend time in hospital or prison, researchers say.

Fears of two-tier health system as more turn to private care, says watchdog

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:35:08 GMT

The patient watchdog warns of two-tier service as polling shows numbers paying for care is on the rise.

Relying on drugs to stop obesity would be 'societal failure', says Chris Whitty

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 15:00:32 GMT

England's top doctor says the drugs should be for a minority and more effort is needed to prevent obesity in the first place.

BBC investigation finds 50,000 people waited over 24 hours in A&E corridor care

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 06:27:59 GMT

Known as "corridor care", patients are lining up on trolleys or sitting on chairs due to a lack of beds.

'I'm still haunted that he died alone': The last voices of the Covid inquiry

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 04:52:33 GMT

Bereaved families have the final say as the Covid inquiry completes three years of public hearings.

Woman found out she had terminal brain cancer after suitcase fell on her head

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:53:09 GMT

Lauren Macpherson was travelling home from a festival in London when her life changed forever.

Inside Health

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:00:00 GMT

James Gallagher is joined by a panel to explore the side effects of weight loss drugs.