BBC News

BBC News - Health

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.

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.

Inside Health

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

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

'World-first' vaccine designed by artificial intelligence

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 23:29:06 GMT

Cambridge scientists say they have, for the first time, tested a vaccine designed by AI.

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.

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

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 15:36:53 GMT

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

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.

What a hair loss breakthrough could mean for women like me

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:42:35 GMT

As scientists edge closer to new treatments for hair loss, Victoria Derbyshire examines what such breakthroughs could mean for women.

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.

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.

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.

'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.

1 in 4 births in England now by emergency C-section

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:12:09 GMT

A quarter of all babies in England are now delivered by emergency caesarean operations, BBC analysis shows - marking a significant rise over the last five years.

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.

Could gut parasites be influencing your behaviour?

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:19:26 GMT

Could the parasite also impact human behaviour? Made in partnership with UKRI.

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.

Breakthrough ovarian cancer drug offers patients more time and better quality of life

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:34:59 GMT

Women taking the drug, which is kinder on the body, tell the BBC it has given them their lives back.

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.

1 in 4 births in England now by emergency C-section

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:12:09 GMT

A quarter of all babies in England are now delivered by emergency caesarean operations, BBC analysis shows - marking a significant rise over the last five years.

One in four births in England is now emergency caesarean, BBC analysis shows

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 23:41:16 GMT

The shift marks a significant rise over the last five years, but experts say there is no single, clear explanation for the increase.

Three Ebola vaccines in development amid growing outbreak fears

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:30:39 GMT

IAVI, Moderna and the University of Oxford are all working on new vaccines.

What are the plans for Liverpool Women's Hospital?

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 10:46:39 GMT

There are plans to move some maternity services to the Royal Liverpool - which could affect around 130 high-risk births each year

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.

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.

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.

'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.

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.

Genital herpes rising in England, despite overall drop in STIs

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 11:27:23 GMT

STIs are particularly common among young people, with health experts saying testing for them is vital.

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 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.

Inside Health

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

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

More black men to benefit from prostate cancer screening trial

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:52:06 GMT

Experts are trying to find the best way to screen for prostate cancer, since blood tests alone are not accurate enough for most men.

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.

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.

'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.

Supporting each other through walking and talking

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:35:39 GMT

A young man from Darwen who lost his father realised he needed support so decided to start a walking group

'World-first' vaccine designed by artificial intelligence

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 23:29:06 GMT

Cambridge scientists say they have, for the first time, tested a vaccine designed by AI.

Inside Health

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

James Gallagher examines the outbreak of bacterial meningitis in Kent.

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

'I've requested a full hysterectomy'

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:40:19 GMT

Emma Barnett shares her life-long struggle with endometriosis – a disease affecting one in ten women of reproductive age, which causes excruciating, often debilitating, pain.

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.

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

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 05:00:04 GMT

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

What are the plans for Liverpool Women's Hospital?

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 10:46:39 GMT

There are plans to move some maternity services to the Royal Liverpool - which could affect around 130 high-risk births each year

'I left a children's home – and was embraced by love'

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:55:43 GMT

How a new scheme for young people leaving care is tackling what was once a cliff-edge for this vulnerable group.

Can two hours of strength training a week reduce the risk of dying early?

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:52:33 GMT

Regular weight training can help you keep fit and strengthen muscles to live longer, research suggests.

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.

Genital herpes rising in England

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:08:49 GMT

New cases of genital herpes are increasing in England, bucking an overall fall in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the latest data shows.