BBC News
BBC News - Health
'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.
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, 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.
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.
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.
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.
'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.
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.
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.
'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.
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.
The tragedy of the 'invisible killer' of the young
Fri, 22 May 2026 05:05:56 GMT
Bereaved families are calling for a national cardiac screening programme for over-14s
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".
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.
Inside Health
Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT
James Gallagher is joined by experts to answer key questions on the meningitis outbreak.
'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.
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.
'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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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 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.
'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.
'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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
'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.
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.
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.
Inside Health
Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT
James visits Hackney, which has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country.
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, 17 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT
James Gallagher examines the outbreak of bacterial meningitis in Kent.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
'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.
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.
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.
Endometriosis: 'I thought I was dying'
Wed, 27 May 2026 08:43:19 GMT
The BBC's Ellie Colton shares her experience of living with endometriosis - and meets a scientist hoping to cut the length of time it takes to be diagnosed with a simple new test.
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.
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?
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.
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.
