BBC News

BBC News - Health

Daily pill doubles survival time for pancreatic cancer patients

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 02:50:00 GMT

The drug, daraxonrasib, has been hailed as a breakthrough in managing the deadliest of all the major cancers.

Why renaming my health condition could help other women

Sun, 31 May 2026 06:13:43 GMT

Rochelle Lewis is among more than 170 million woman globally to be diagnosed with PCOS.

Ebola risk raised to 'very high' in DR Congo

Fri, 22 May 2026 16:23:08 GMT

The head of the UN health agency says the risk in the wider region is "high", but it remains "low" at the global level.

Abolishing patient watchdog leaves NHS 'marking own homework', councils warn

Sat, 30 May 2026 00:08:23 GMT

The plans are part of a government bill to modernise the NHS in England, which is currently going through parliament.

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.

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?

'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.

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

Wed, 27 May 2026 14:57:29 GMT

In June, resident doctors in England will walk out for the 16th time in a long-running dispute over pay.

What does hot weather do to the body?

Thu, 28 May 2026 09:03:55 GMT

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

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer and what should you check for?

Thu, 28 May 2026 14:26:32 GMT

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

Millions of breast cancer patients could safely avoid chemotherapy, study suggests

Sat, 30 May 2026 13:14:42 GMT

A new DNA test could help screen whether patients require the treatment or not, according to a new international trial.

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.

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

Inside Health

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

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

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.

Inside Health

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

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

Australia confirms first diphtheria death amid worst outbreak in decades

Tue, 26 May 2026 07:09:38 GMT

Most cases are in the Northern Territory with some also in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.

Why the gut is known as the second brain

Thu, 28 May 2026 09:33:05 GMT

Your gut doesn't just respond to your brain - it helps shape your emotions. Professor of Biomolecular Medicine Jon Swann explains why.

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, 17 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

James Gallagher examines the outbreak of bacterial meningitis in Kent.

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".

Prostate cancer screening: What you need to know

Thu, 28 May 2026 11:00:06 GMT

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

PCOS name change 'more representative of condition'

Tue, 26 May 2026 05:27:03 GMT

Health experts in Jersey say the change helps people realise it is not an ovaries-only condition.

Can a rooftop garden help very ill patients heal faster?

Thu, 28 May 2026 13:16:23 GMT

Still in her hospital bed, connected to feeding tubes and life support, Hollie is the first patient to try out the new intensive care rooftop ward at King's College Hospital in south London.

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.

Trump in 'excellent health' but should lose weight and exercise more, his doctor says

Sat, 30 May 2026 08:44:23 GMT

The White House releases the results of the US president's latest medical examination, which states he is "fully fit" to carry out his duties.

Checks reveal young women with deadly 'silent' heart risk

Sun, 31 May 2026 23:21:41 GMT

Sudden cardiac death can happen without warning, and it's not just a problem for sporty young men, say experts.

'We knew somebody would die': Teenage patients 'ignored' before fatal NHS trust failures

Tue, 26 May 2026 21:18:44 GMT

Mental health patients say nobody listened to their concerns about a north-east England trust.

Resident doctors in England to strike for 16th time over pay

Wed, 27 May 2026 15:16:45 GMT

British Medical Association resident doctor members in England announce new strike for four days from 15 June.

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.

UK scientists developing Ebola vaccine that could be ready for trials in months

Fri, 22 May 2026 15:03:51 GMT

The rare species of Ebola involved - known as Bundibugyo - kills around a third of those infected and has no proven vaccine yet.

Excessive social media 'negatively impacts wellbeing'

Sat, 23 May 2026 06:27:17 GMT

The World Happiness Reports finds the more time spent on social media the greater loss of wellbeing.

'When I was 14 I thought I was dying'

Wed, 27 May 2026 13:43:23 GMT

BBC Radio Sheffield presenter Ellie Colton's symptoms of endometriosis started when she was a young teenager. But she wasn't diagnosed until she was 24.

What are UV levels and how can you protect yourself?

Tue, 26 May 2026 10:17:03 GMT

Some UV exposure is essential for our wellbeing, but too much is damaging and can cause skin cancer.

Hundreds of children die within months as measles cases soar in Bangladesh

Wed, 27 May 2026 01:34:42 GMT

The country has recorded more than 60,000 suspected cases of measles in just over two months.

What in the World

Thu, 28 May 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Doctors are warning that some cancers are becoming more common in people in their 20s

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

Wed, 27 May 2026 14:57:29 GMT

In June, resident doctors in England will walk out for the 16th time in a long-running dispute over pay.

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.

'It's not a nice world to bring children into': Births fall to the lowest level in 50 years

Wed, 27 May 2026 16:45:27 GMT

Live births in England and Wales are at their lowest since 1977, while the age of first-time mothers has also risen.

'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.

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.

Gethin trains to be Dr Oscar's guide runner

Fri, 29 May 2026 15:25:06 GMT

Gethin Jones trains to be Dr Oscar's guide runner

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.

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.

'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.

Emma Barnett: We can't ignore this disease that leaves one in 10 women like me in agony

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 05:00:08 GMT

Women tell the BBC presenter how endometriosis affects their lives, as she challenges ministers to take action.

'Don't be too kind': Maternity staff used offensive terms to refer to patients

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 05:00:04 GMT

BBC Panorama has seen documents and spoken to former midwives from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

'I forgot what it's like to be outside': Intensive care ward opens on rooftop

Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:10 GMT

The outdoor ward, at King's College Hospital in London, will monitor how much it boosts the recovery of seriously ill patients.

Prostate cancer screening only for 'a few thousand' high risk men

Thu, 28 May 2026 11:00:15 GMT

Only men with a dangerous genetic variant and a family history of cancer should be offered screening, say UK advisors.

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.

'I forgot what it's like to be outside': Intensive care ward opens on rooftop

Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:10 GMT

The outdoor ward, at King's College Hospital in London, will monitor how much it boosts the recovery of seriously ill patients.

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.