BBC News

BBC News - Health

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.

Our daughter battled Meningitis B despite being vaccinated in 'very rare' case

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:04:08 GMT

After Noa-Rose became critically ill, the four-year-old spent two weeks fighting for her life.

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.

'Having coeliac disease aged 9 means I'm normal with a tiny twist'

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 07:07:33 GMT

Nine-year-old Eliza's mum says she was relieved when her daughter was diagnosed with the disease.

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?

Pupil art sessions 'bring joy' to hospice

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 16:06:55 GMT

The Hospice in the Weald in Pembury runs the sessions for people with life-limiting conditions.

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".

What are the symptoms of meningitis and how is it spread?

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:22:02 GMT

Two people have died following an "unpredecented" outbreak of meningitis in Kent.

Our son loved the outdoors - invisible illness means he now can't walk or talk

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:11:52 GMT

Tomos is one of thousands with ME in Wales, with services described as “a desert” for those most affected.

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.

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.

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.

Streeting praises response to meningitis outbreak

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 18:59:17 GMT

Wes Streeting praises the "Herculean efforts" to protect people from the Kent meningitis outbreak.

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.

'You feel forgotten' - the reality for boxers after the fights stop

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:03:29 GMT

Retired boxer Stephen Smith shares how boxers can struggle to "fill the void" after hanging up their gloves.

'I nearly broke trying to help my partner with addiction issues'

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 23:02:39 GMT

Claire Harkin believes the experiences of people who are supporting loved ones with an addiction can be overlooked.

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.

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.

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.

Ultrasound delays putting pregnant women and cancer patients at risk, sonographers say

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 08:08:42 GMT

Demand for ultrasound has increased but too few people are being trained for the job, sonographers warn.

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.

Why has this meningitis outbreak spread so fast?

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:34:33 GMT

There have been 20 cases since the weekend in one small area of Kent - but this isn't the normal pattern, so what could have happened?

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.

Are UK students at risk of more deadly meningitis outbreaks?

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 00:15:07 GMT

The worst seems to be over, but questions remain about why this happened and whether it could happen again.

New hope for children with severe epilepsy

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:10:26 GMT

Researchers says millions of people globally could be carriers of the faulty gene behind the disorder.

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?

Is a morning cup of hot water better than cold?

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:43:11 GMT

A GP looks at the social media trend of drinking hot water in the morning.

Inside Health

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

James Gallagher examines the outbreak of bacterial meningitis in Kent.

Woman with 'agonising' condition to 'give back'

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:14:01 GMT

The Worcester woman says she wants endometriosis patients to be "met with a little extra comfort".

Lab-grown food pipe offers new hope for young patients

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:41:40 GMT

UK scientists have grown fully functioning food pipes and successfully transplanted them into mini pigs, paving the way for human trials.

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.

'I shampooed with raw egg to try and get pregnant'

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:39:13 GMT

Tired of health misinformation on social media, Barbora Gray is fighting back by sharing facts.

NHS dentistry is rotting. Will the plan to fix it work?

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 01:26:40 GMT

As patients struggle to find NHS dentists, Labour has a plan but not everybody is convinced it will work

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.

Inside Health

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

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

Our skin is falling off and no-one can tell us why

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:06:18 GMT

People sharing pictures and accounts on socials of red, inflamed skin have triggered the first UK research into TSW.

Hospital waited two days before raising alarm about meningitis outbreak

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:56:47 GMT

Experts say the wait was indefensible and possibly delayed identification of the outbreak.

Jersey's wellbeing score is below UK and France

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:58:57 GMT

Jersey's wellbeing score is below UK and France in survey of data from 41 countries.

I spent five months in a mother and baby mental health unit - here's what I want mums to know

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 07:09:49 GMT

Sofii Lewis was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis tendencies and OCD after giving birth.

UK's transplant system was world-leading - now it lags behind other Western nations

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 06:00:07 GMT

The UK has failed to keep pace with the rest of the world. Can it regain its status, and how?

Is screen time always bad and how do I manage it?

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:52:41 GMT

How do you manage screen time, does it have a bad impact and what steps can you take to mitigate the problem?

Screen time for under-fives should be limited to one hour a day, parents told

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:15:51 GMT

New government guidance also suggests children under-two should not be watching screens alone.

'I froze my eggs because I was born without a womb'

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:46:01 GMT

Betty Mukherjee talks to Naga Munchetty about living with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome.

Why is MenB vaccine not given to teenagers in UK and should they be offered it?

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:09:46 GMT

Students and older teens are not routinely vaccinated against the meningitis strain behind the Kent outbreak.

Meningitis outbreak passes peak, says health agency

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:31:17 GMT

"We could still see cases continuing to come in, we need to keep an eye on those, the UKHSA says.

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.

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.

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.

'You feel forgotten' - the reality for boxers after the fights stop

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:03:29 GMT

Retired boxer Stephen Smith shares how boxers can struggle to "fill the void" after hanging up their gloves.

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

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:02:45 GMT

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

Cuba's mothers-to-be prepare to give birth in a country plunged into darkness

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 05:58:19 GMT

Two pregnant women tell the BBC's Will Grant of their hopes and fears as their nation is mired in crisis.

Man fears stroke or heart attack due to aspirin shortage

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 05:07:55 GMT

David Slater, 72, says ministers need to step up and sort out issues with the medication.

Hospital waiting lists in Wales see record drop

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:14:15 GMT

Wait times for planned care are falling but diagnostic and cancers waits are up, latest figures indicate.

Inside Health

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

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

Inside Health

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

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

'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.

Better NHS care might have saved 58 babies, BBC finds

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:47:55 GMT

There are growing calls for a statutory public inquiry into maternity services in Oxford.

'Women's health must be taken more seriously'

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 06:46:46 GMT

Dr Liz O'Riordan says it is important women seek help from professionals not "Google and Chat GPT".

'I froze my eggs because I was born without a womb'

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:46:01 GMT

Betty Mukherjee talks to Naga Munchetty about living with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome.

File on 4 Investigates

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Is the UK's heart and lung transplant service still world beating?

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.

Doctors announce six-day strike in England as talks break down

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:15:05 GMT

The walkout over jobs and pay is one of the longest yet in the dispute, and will begin on 7 April in England.

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.

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

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:53:39 GMT

The third report from the inquiry into the government's handling of the pandemic says the NHS was close to collapse.

I spent five months in a mother and baby mental health unit - here's what I want mums to know

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 07:09:49 GMT

Sofii Lewis was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis tendencies and OCD after giving birth.

Patients harmed as Covid pandemic brought NHS close to collapse, inquiry finds

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:38:03 GMT

Third report into the pandemic says patients and staff were failed as health service only just coped.

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.