BBC News

BBC News - Health

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.

Trans woman leaves role with women's health charity

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 05:03:16 GMT

Steph Richards' endometriosis charity work was criticised by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

'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, 10 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

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

'I was kicked out of bar because of my wheelchair'

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:17:11 GMT

Maddie Haining, 18, says she was told she was a safety risk and escorted out of a Manchester nightspot.

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.

Poetry, rhyme and rhythm saved my life

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:12:56 GMT

People with diabetes are twice as likely to have depression, a charity backing tailored support says.

I feared my son had a brain tumour but he'd been poisoned with vitamin D

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:08:07 GMT

Investigations found Roo had been accidentally poisoned with a dose of vitamin D prescribed for growing pains.

Caffeine pouch craze: A teenage trend troubling some 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.

Three young people contract meningitis in Weymouth

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:48:19 GMT

Young people are to be offered the MenB vaccine after three cases of meningitis were confirmed.

Incontinence problems leave me 'leaking while competing'

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:19:03 GMT

Aimee Oliver never imagined that giving birth would ultimately cause her to need surgery for incontinence.

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

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:59:20 GMT

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

'My lonely start to adulthood with endometriosis'

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 05:05:53 GMT

Evie Solomon has started a support group for women due to her experience while being diagnosed.

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.

What is vegan collagen?

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:22:54 GMT

What's the latest on Collagen?

'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.

Don't feel like exercising? Maybe it's the wrong time of day for you

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 23:54:08 GMT

Time your workout to your body clock, health researchers advise based on latest evidence.

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.

ChatGPT 'uncovered woman's rare condition' after years of misdiagnosis

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:11:43 GMT

Phoebe was told she'd be treated as a mental health patient if she kept returning to A&E.

Breakthrough £90,000 Alzheimer's drugs unlikely to benefit patients, report suggests

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:01:52 GMT

A major review has provoked a backlash after concluding the medicines provide too little benefit to be noticed.

New light shed on who benefits most from weight-loss jabs

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:07:19 GMT

People who carry variations in two genes linked to appetite and digestion can lose more weight when taking drugs to treat obesity, research suggests.

Men's group hopes to ease strain on NHS services

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 05:25:00 GMT

"I want to tackle loneliness and we feel like this group can do that," the organisation's founder says.

'I'm not being listened to' - new health plan launched as women say they are still ignored

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:01:48 GMT

New plans to improve healthcare for women and girls have been set out, but will they change anything?

Senior midwife appointed to maternity inquiry

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:03:52 GMT

Senior midwife Donna Ockenden will review maternity services in Sussex after a campaign by families.

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'm the lucky one' - more than one in three young men now live with their parents

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 23:16:33 GMT

Last year, the highest proportion of men aged 20-34 were still living at home since at least 2007 as the rising cost of living takes hold.

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.

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.

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.

'I'm not being listened to' - new health plan launched as women say they are still ignored

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:01:48 GMT

New plans to improve healthcare for women and girls have been set out, but will they change anything?

What does hot weather do to the body?

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:46:50 GMT

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

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.

Women's network for mid-life wellbeing launches

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 06:12:58 GMT

The support group was set up by a woman who challenged herself to try 50 new things before turning 50.

Podcaster advocating for endometriosis awareness

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 05:12:35 GMT

Alexandra Morris said women can be dismissed by doctors when describing symptoms of endometriosis.

Inside Health

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

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

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.

Health visitors call for limits on 'impossible' 1,000-family caseloads

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:08:51 GMT

BBC analysis shows the number of health visitors in England has almost halved in the last 10 years.

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.

I've been a sex educator for six years. Why did I start doubting my contraception choices?

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 23:15:17 GMT

Misinformation about contraception has been spreading on social media, alongside the "very real frustrations" of women complaining about side effects.

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.

A cold could kill my daughter - hospital visits feel like a death sentence

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:57:53 GMT

Rebecca Quayle, who has terminal cancer, has had to wait in A&E with people coughing and taking Covid tests.

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.

World Cup winner Kildunne reveals body dysmorphia struggle

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:56:33 GMT

England rugby star Ellie Kildunne says she slipped into disordered eating and unhealthy weight loss during Covid.

Lawmakers clash with RFK Jr as he shifts focus away from vaccines

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:55:15 GMT

During a three-hour hearing, the US health secretary tried to focus on chronic disease while being pressed on vaccines.

NHS tracker - are hospital waiting times improving near you?

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:00:58 GMT

Use our interactive tracker to see if treatment waits are getting better at your local hospital.

Pregnancy vaccine reduces baby hospital admissions for RSV by 80%

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 23:35:23 GMT

A study confirms the vaccine gives excellent protection for babies against life-threatening chest infections.

Why is walking in the rain good for your mental health?

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:08:48 GMT

Why is walking in the rain good for your mental health?

Deep-fried food banned in new plans for school dinners

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 08:36:55 GMT

Schools are being told to cut down on sugary desserts, and provide more vegetables and whole grains.

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.

Mental health support to be offered to people with diabetes in UK first

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:47:31 GMT

People with diabetes are twice as likely to have depression, a charity backing tailored support says.

'Men should discuss their feelings more'

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:37:33 GMT

Men should discuss their feelings more

Inside Health

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

James Gallagher examines the outbreak of bacterial meningitis in Kent.

Should we be using cotton buds to clean our ears?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:33:39 GMT

Greg Foot asks whether we should be using cotton buds to clean our ears.

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".

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.

Single-sex space guidance for organisations to be published after May elections

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:54:17 GMT

Equalities minister Bridget Phillipson says election rules mean a new draft cannot be published until next month.

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.

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.

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.

Hundreds contact BBC about mystery skin condition 'hell' - but doctors can't agree it exists

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:41:47 GMT

Some think it's a severe case of eczema. Others say it's a condition called TSW. But doctors are stuck in a dilemma.

Redesigned ball could reduce heading impact - scientists

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:29:27 GMT

Scientists believe footballs could be designed to reduce the impact of heading after new research discovered the action caused a previously unreported pressure wave energy transfer to the brain.

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.

'Two weeks will make such a difference': UK first as NI brings in miscarriage leave

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:10:03 GMT

Northern Ireland becomes first part of UK to bring in legal entitlement for parents affected by miscarriage at any stage of a pregnancy to have paid leave.

Is the bite of the false widow spider dangerous?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:41:57 GMT

Experts say noble false widow spiders could be to blame for an increase in bites being treated in hospital.

The Food Chain

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:01:00 GMT

So you think you eat enough fibre? You probably don't. Here's what to do about it.