BBC News

BBC News - Health

Hospitals coping well with doctors' strike so far - NHS boss

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:56:27 GMT

Resident doctors in England – the new name for junior doctors – are taking part in their 15th walkout in a long-running pay dispute.

What you need to know about latest meningitis cluster

Wed, 20 May 2026 18:25:45 GMT

After a fourth case of meningitis B has been confirmed in Reading, BBC South's health correspondent Alastair Fee shares what you need to know.

Ebola outbreak may be spreading faster than first thought, WHO doctor warns

Tue, 19 May 2026 19:32:22 GMT

Hundreds of cases are suspected in central Africa but experts fear the actual number may be much higher.

Wellbeing garden opens to combat isolation

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:07:31 GMT

The outdoor area at Yarm Wellness will officially open to the public on Saturday.

MPs call for sunbed advertising ban to help prevent skin cancer

Wed, 13 May 2026 10:37:30 GMT

A report by a cross-party group of MPs has found the majority of skin cancer cases are preventable.

Riskiest skin cancer cases hit UK record high

Thu, 21 May 2026 23:15:18 GMT

The number of melanoma skin cancer cases has risen above 20,000 a year for the first time in the UK.

Canadian from hantavirus-hit cruise ship tests positive

Sun, 17 May 2026 12:07:54 GMT

The individual is one of four former passengers on the MV Hondius isolating on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Should you really trust health advice from an AI chatbot?

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 23:04:43 GMT

Abi has had very mixed results when asking a chatbot for guidance about her health issues.

How is Keir Starmer getting on with his pledges to deliver change?

Tue, 12 May 2026 07:59:13 GMT

At the end of 2024, Keir Starmer announced key government targets including on NHS waiting lists and building new homes, how is he getting on?

Researchers look into island's health benefits

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 05:11:23 GMT

The team aims to find out what it is about the Isle of Wight that makes people feel better.

'Adenomyosis may be invisible, its impact is not'

Wed, 20 May 2026 05:10:39 GMT

One in 10 women live with adenomyosis yet sufferers say their pain is often dismissed.

Potential new treatment for pre-eclampsia

Tue, 19 May 2026 15:07:19 GMT

Pre-eclampsia causes more than 70,000 maternal deaths every year worldwide

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

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:20:11 GMT

The fourth report from the inquiry into the pandemic said the vaccine roll-out was an "extraordinary feat".

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

Fri, 15 May 2026 09:59:31 GMT

A college student has died and two people are being treated after cases of meningitis in Reading, Berkshire.

Rollout of Covid vaccines extraordinary feat - inquiry report

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:39:07 GMT

Covid vaccines saved hundreds of thousands of lives, but a small minority harmed need better support, says report.

Women-only mental health crisis house to open in town

Tue, 12 May 2026 10:13:02 GMT

Swindon's new mental health support facility for women will be an "alternative" to hospitalisation.

Inside Health

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:00:00 GMT

James Gallagher finds out how a hot flush feels - and delves into a new treatment.

What to do if you think someone has heat exhaustion or heatstroke

Wed, 20 May 2026 09:14:25 GMT

Know the signs and what to do if someone is unwell in hot weather.

Inside Health

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

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

'We're right on track,' says Streeting as key target for hospital waiting times hit

Thu, 14 May 2026 14:26:20 GMT

Government his its interim target of 65% of patients in England being treated within 18 weeks.

'Doctors strikes' and 'paw prints in space'

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 06:12:09 GMT

A round-up of stories from local newspapers and the BBC from the past week in the West of England.

How are countries responding to hantavirus?

Wed, 13 May 2026 08:36:54 GMT

The UK, US and EU are asking all citizens returning home from the virus-hit MV Hondius to self-isolate for about six weeks.

Inside Health

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

James Gallagher examines the outbreak of bacterial meningitis in Kent.

'Month of worry' over doctor strike surgery delay

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:32:52 GMT

The strike further delays Tom Lawson's gastric bypass surgery after a more than three-year wait.

Toilets and changing rooms must be used on basis of biological sex, guidance confirms

Thu, 21 May 2026 18:30:20 GMT

The guidance was published on Thursday following the landmark Supreme Court ruling last year.

Posh sandwich has more salt than nearly five cheeseburgers

Wed, 13 May 2026 10:57:35 GMT

Action on Salt & Sugar said people should not be exposed to a "hidden health risk every time they buy lunch".

UK alcohol deaths fall for first time since Covid pandemic

Mon, 11 May 2026 17:52:44 GMT

Experts say the “modest reduction” is “not cause for complacency”, with calls to redouble efforts to slash deaths further.

What we know about the Reading Meningitis B cases

Fri, 15 May 2026 18:38:27 GMT

Two people ill with meningitis in Reading have been confirmed as pupils at two schools

Bird flu vaccine trial against potential pandemic strain begins

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 23:00:08 GMT

The jab targets the H5N1 flu strain which has caused devastating infections in bird populations worldwide, but has yet to spread between humans.

How worried should we be about hantavirus?

Tue, 12 May 2026 10:01:52 GMT

Passengers potentially exposed to hantavirus are being repatriated, so what is the risk to the wider public?

Gonorrhoea and syphilis hit record levels in Europe

Thu, 21 May 2026 12:19:15 GMT

STIs have surged thanks to record cases and gaps in testing and prevention, a health agency reports.

Mums' choir leader 'baffled' by park fee structure

Wed, 06 May 2026 05:24:27 GMT

A postnatal choir leader says professional dog walkers pay less to use the city's parks.

Living with PMDD is like having the Grim Reaper visit every month

Sat, 16 May 2026 23:17:02 GMT

Women diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder discuss how it impacts their lives.

'I used to be the shy kid'

Thu, 21 May 2026 13:01:11 GMT

Tyler West opens up about his experience of school on Sort Your Life Out Unpacked.

How do weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy work?

Wed, 13 May 2026 13:38:41 GMT

Wegovy and Mounjaro are available to certain patients on the NHS, and can also be bought privately.

Why illegal children's homes are being paid up to £2m per child by councils

Wed, 20 May 2026 23:10:10 GMT

A ban was meant to bring an end to the practice - but councils continue to fund illegal placements.

Should you eat local yoghurt on holiday to prevent an upset stomach?

Thu, 21 May 2026 13:28:55 GMT

You might have heard the tip that eating local yoghurt as soon as your arrive on holiday can help your gut adjust to the new environment. But is it actually true?

Potential new treatment for pre-eclampsia

Tue, 19 May 2026 15:07:19 GMT

Pre-eclampsia causes more than 70,000 maternal deaths every year worldwide

Stay at home advice questioned and rules too tough - key findings from Covid report

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:00:23 GMT

An NHS close to collapse, patients failed and NHS staff put at risk - what you need to know.

Hantavirus survivor says sickness was like 'hell on earth'

Thu, 07 May 2026 13:57:43 GMT

Two survivors who caught the hantavirus years earlier told the BBC they both felt lucky to be alive.

Daily pill to help keep weight off after stopping obesity jabs

Tue, 12 May 2026 23:06:23 GMT

The tablet - orforglipron - is available in the US and could soon launch in the UK.

Sydney dentist's patients warned of viruses including HIV

Wed, 13 May 2026 06:17:55 GMT

Authorities urged patients to get tested due to "poor infection control practices" at the Australian clinic.

What is vegan collagen?

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:22:54 GMT

What's the latest on Collagen?

What does hot weather do to the body?

Wed, 20 May 2026 09:13:34 GMT

Hot weather during the summer can affect anyone, but some people run a greater risk of serious harm.

Vaccines a huge success, but public trust must be earned - key findings from Covid report

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:02:12 GMT

Immunisation saved hundreds of thousands of UK lives, but vaccine hesitancy remains an issue.

Inside Health

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

James Gallagher is joined by experts to answer key questions on the meningitis outbreak.

Why did resident doctors go on strike and how much are they paid?

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:04:33 GMT

Resident doctors in England have returned to work after the 15th walkout in a long-running dispute.

Who is James Murray, the new health secretary replacing Wes Streeting?

Fri, 15 May 2026 13:55:54 GMT

What are the most pressing priorities for the new minister in charge of health?

'New cancer test makes me feel women's health matters'

Sun, 17 May 2026 05:37:49 GMT

A patient praises a new test for womb cancer being trialled at hospitals in Suffolk and Essex.

I tried the UK's 'saltiest' sandwich - here's what I learned

Fri, 15 May 2026 23:56:15 GMT

Health correspondent James Gallagher absorbs more than the recommended daily limit in just one meal to find out how salt affects our bodies.

Doctors' strikes can have surprising benefits - but are they sustainable?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 23:06:45 GMT

Some hospital trusts tell the BBC previous action has seen shorter waits, faster decisions and calmer corridors.

Calls for Reformer Pilates regulation amid boom

Mon, 04 May 2026 06:15:44 GMT

Reformer Pilates businesses in the UK rose nearly ten-fold between 2024 and 2025.