BBC News

BBC News - Health

The songs I've chosen to help me prepare for dying

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:28:03 GMT

Music can evoke powerful memories and offers a sense of normality for people dealing with illness or death.

Inside Health

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Shingles vaccine to reduce dementia risk? Antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea & tech trousers

'I feared a smear test would feel like being attacked again'

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 06:13:25 GMT

A clinic which helps survivors of rape and sexual assault feel more comfortable during cervical screening celebrates 10 years.

CQC chief resigns over maternity failings

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 10:46:55 GMT

Families had been calling for Sir Julian's resignation over poor maternity care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Medics got me through cancer but they can't help with my menopause

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 09:15:12 GMT

When Kat Denisi was diagnosed with breast cancer at 32 she was put into a medically induced menopause.

Longer Daily Walk Better for Heart Health, Says Study

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 06:17:43 GMT

Walking for at least 15 minutes without stopping is ideal, new research shows

Life-changing eye implant helps blind patients read again

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:00:12 GMT

The results are astounding and a major advance, say surgeons involved in international research using the pioneering technology.

'Getting financial help through my GP has improved my health'

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 05:16:27 GMT

How linked are financial worries and health? GPs in London are trialling a financial support scheme.

Is the system letting down people who were harmed by Covid vaccines?

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 05:48:59 GMT

People affected by rare blood clots say they feel they have been airbrushed out of the pandemic.

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.

Mone accuses Covid inquiry of 'cover-up'

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:10:36 GMT

She says husband Doug Barrowman and her are targets of a "politically motivated witch hunt".

Generation K: The disturbing rise of ketamine abuse among young people

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 06:00:36 GMT

Increasing numbers of young people are using the drug, experts say. The health impacts can be catastrophic.

Skip short strolls – a longer daily walk is better for your heart, says study

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 22:49:22 GMT

Walking for at least 15 minutes without stopping is ideal, according to new research.

What is chickenpox and how can I get my child vaccinated?

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 11:51:59 GMT

The NHS in England and Wales will start offering the MMRV vaccine to young children from January 2026.

How many of us will end up being diagnosed with ADHD?

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 00:36:40 GMT

Experts suggest that the number of people with ADHD is actually going to remain steady.

Covid inquiry to look at impact on care services

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 01:10:05 GMT

The Covid inquiry will examine the impact of the pandemic on care services, starting on Monday.

'My first cervical screening was over before I knew it'

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 01:06:51 GMT

The BBC speaks to six people about their first cervical screening, and what they wish they'd known beforehand.

How does the disposable vape ban work, and how harmful is vaping?

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 11:56:48 GMT

The disposable vape ban is designed to reduce environmental damage and protect children's health.

'Poor' insulation that left houses mouldy needs wider investigation, government told

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 05:56:44 GMT

Botched insulation damaged many homes and left a legacy of health problems for residents.

Assisted dying bill: What is in proposed law?

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 15:30:26 GMT

The proposed law would allow some terminally ill adults to end their own lives. But there are requirements.

Why did resident doctors strike and what are they paid?

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 10:49:33 GMT

Resident doctors in England went on strike over pay for five days at the end of July 2025.

Cash to isolate 'would have cut Covid deaths'

Wed, 28 May 2025 15:05:43 GMT

Baroness Dido Harding tells Covid inquiry Rishi Sunak blocked higher support payments.

Is the most expensive lip balm always the best?

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 13:38:36 GMT

Do you need to spend more to get the best for your chapped lips?

Magnesium: Can this 'miracle mineral' really help us sleep?

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 23:04:39 GMT

The global market in this supplement is worth almost £3bn - a figure set to nearly double over the next decade.

Covid inquiry hears of 'generational slaughter'

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 15:55:44 GMT

Relatives of care home residents tell the Covid inquiry they will never get over how their loved ones died.

The Covid Inquiry Podcast: 'I wasn't the decision maker'

Sat, 31 May 2025 06:00:00 GMT

The Inquiry hears from the lead of the test and trace unit

Michelle Mone-linked PPE firm evidence to be heard in private

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:16 GMT

Covid inquiry says hearings into the firm, led by Michelle Mone's husband, must be held in closed session.

Reports of OCD among under-25s triple in 10 years

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 05:08:07 GMT

More 16-24 year olds in England say they have symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder - BBC analysis finds.

Health officials worried as flu season comes five weeks early

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:35:13 GMT

UK Health Security Agency urges people to get vaccinated with cases on the rise.

We were not treated as parents, Covid inquiry told

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 14:11:38 GMT

Mum of premature twins says rigid restrictions on birthing wards during Covid were traumatic.

Covid inquiry told of trust do-not-resuscitate rule

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 16:54:11 GMT

Patients' families were “horrified but not surprised” when told the blanket policy had been in place.

Fishing group 'devastated' after container fire

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 05:46:58 GMT

Craig Parkins says years of hard work has "just gone up in smoke".

Community health centre to open after £2.2m revamp

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 11:05:22 GMT

The Grade-II listed St Dunstan's House has been converted into a health and wellbeing.

Covid inquiry told Treasury blocked NHS bed request

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 18:06:48 GMT

NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard says the decision, in July 2020, was very disappointing.

The English neighbourhood that claims to hold the secret to fixing the NHS

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 23:04:10 GMT

With public satisfaction in the NHS just 21%, one area has a plan to shake up its services that could reduce GP waiting lists, as well as unblock hospital beds - but can it really work nationwide?

Scientists win Nobel Prize for discovering why immune system does not destroy the body

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 10:28:37 GMT

The prize-winning discovery explains how the immune system attacks hostile infections, but not the body's own cells.

Illegal teeth-whitening industry exposed by BBC

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:06:25 GMT

A BBC investigation finds kits on sale containing more than 500 times the legal limit of bleach.

Inside Health

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT

We investigate the safety of melatonin as a sleep aid, and should you eat your placenta?

NHS hours from PPE running out in Covid - Hancock

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:58:34 GMT

Former health secretary tells inquiry some healthcare settings did run out - "and it was awful".

What we know about rising autism rates and Trump's unproven Tylenol link

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 10:54:16 GMT

Some studies have suggested an association between the two, but experts say there is no causal relationship.

Prostate cancer symptoms and treatment: What to check for

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 08:42:25 GMT

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

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.

Eat kiwi fruit to relieve constipation, says guidance

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 16:24:03 GMT

New guidance for doctors says focusing on fruit in our diets can help with a really common complaint.

Children paid 'huge price' in Covid pandemic, Johnson tells inquiry

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:22:44 GMT

The former PM says lockdown rules "probably did go too far" and says children could have been exempted.

Long A&E waits causing heartbreaking suffering, charity says

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:41:34 GMT

Patients are dying in corridors and others left for hours in soiled clothes, says Age UK.

The junior doctors' strikes may be over. But is trouble ahead?

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:43:02 GMT

The end of the pay dispute sounded too good to be true. And now some are wondering if it might be.

Hancock criticises 'wholly naive' Covid inquiry

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:14:53 GMT

The former health secretary was giving evidence about medical equipment deals during the pandemic.

Ketamine helped me escape my negative thoughts - then it nearly killed me

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 23:08:50 GMT

Young people are taking dangerous amounts of ket because it's cheap, easily available and helps them "disconnect", experts say.

We will not 'be held to ransom' by striking doctors, says minister

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 17:14:56 GMT

The health secretary is refusing to make concessions on pay after the BMA announced a further walkout.

Johnson wanted tighter Covid rules, inquiry hears

Thu, 22 May 2025 19:11:38 GMT

In his diaries, Lord Vallance wrote that ex-PM thought rules were not ruthless enough.

Call for allergy pens in schools after boy's death

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:44:27 GMT

Benedict Blythe's parents say lives and money could be saved by giving allergy pens to all schools.

Your nose gets colder when you're stressed. These thermal images show the change

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 23:28:34 GMT

Psychologists subjected a BBC reporter to a carefully designed thermal camera stress test.

The Documentary Podcast

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 00:30:00 GMT

People with the condition tell us how it affects their lives

The science behind how fake tan works on your skin

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 15:45:50 GMT

Sliced Bread looks into the chemical reaction that happens - and whether it's harmful.

I thought my insides were falling out: The condition affecting one in 12 mums

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 23:43:23 GMT

Pelvic organ prolapse affects around one in 12 mothers, but many people have never even heard of it.

How close were hospitals to collapse in Covid?

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 00:06:04 GMT

The Covid inquiry restarts its live hearings this week, after senior staff in the NHS revealed just how close some hospitals were to collapse

My eating disorder made me good at lying, says Victoria Beckham

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 10:08:18 GMT

The former Spice Girl's new Netflix documentary has landed - under the shadow of a reported family feud.

Covid care home policy was 'least worst decision' - Hancock

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 16:27:58 GMT

Former health secretary Matt Hancock denied claims the government's attempt to throw a protective ring around care homes in early 2020 was empty rhetoric.

What exactly is freshers' flu - and why do so many get it?

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 23:05:38 GMT

It's not an actual flu, and it's rarely serious, but when thousands of students arrive on campus they bring a cocktail of viruses.

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?

How will weight-loss drugs change our relationship with food?

Sat, 19 Oct 2024 03:10:13 GMT

The rise of these treatments has major implications for how we think about obesity, says James Gallagher.

'My child won't walk again after failed surgery'

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 07:07:29 GMT

Cambridge University Hospitals says it "should not have happened" and changes are being made.

'I have a sweating problem': What Alan Carr's Traitors admission tells us about how social taboos changed

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:47:10 GMT

Let's talk about sweat... From contestants on The Celebrity Traitors and scores of celebrities openly discussing it, to the trend of professionals using saunas for business meetings

Why I'm challenging Nike, Adidas and Puma over single shoes

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 02:02:25 GMT

Former Para-athletic world champion Stef Reid says footwear companies are failing amputees.

What is Mpox and why are cases rising in Europe?

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:38:13 GMT

UK health officials are encouraging gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men to be vaccinated.

How to avoid period leaks - the pros and cons of cups, pants and tampons

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 23:02:07 GMT

Here is a guide to how each product works and the pros and cons to help you decide what might suit you.

A facelift at 28? Why young people are turning to plastic surgery

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 01:05:48 GMT

Gone are the days when facelifts were for the ageing wealthy. Now younger people are going under the knife.

'My girl can't walk or talk': Searching for answers in Wales' rare disease cluster

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 04:58:54 GMT

Families affected by a rare inherited disease say they have had to "scramble" for information.

Widower backs new pancreatic cancer breath trial

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 06:24:37 GMT

The test detects compounds in the breath which are detectable in cancer patients, say scientists.

'I missed a £100 council tax bill while in hospital – the debt ballooned to £6k'

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 05:18:07 GMT

The government says it is taking action to protect people from “aggressive collection practices”.

My late husband's organs transformed the lives of four people

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 08:33:52 GMT

Mark Hutchinson was only 52 when he died unexpectedly last year after suffering two strokes "out of the blue".

Alan Partridge is a thoughtful employer

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:24:10 GMT

He knows exactly what to do when a member of staff is unwell.

To nap or not to nap…

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 12:57:01 GMT

Drs Chris and Xand explore why we nap, if it’s actually good for us, and whether we should all be making time for it.

Exciting results from blood test for 50 cancers

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 07:13:48 GMT

The Galleri test looks for fragments of DNA that have broken off a tumour and are circulating in the blood.

Menopause screening to be included in NHS health checks from next year

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:19:26 GMT

Despite the change - which will happen in 2026 - campaigners warn some women will lose out because the number who attend is too low.

Michael Gove denies trying to circumvent Dyson ventilator checks

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 12:29:20 GMT

Former cabinet minister says it would be ludicrous to suggest he tried to shortcut safety checks in the pandemic.

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.

First place in British Isles set to approve right to die

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 13:02:21 GMT

Laws in the Isle of Man to let terminally ill adults end their own lives are in the last stages of debate.

Why medical students are choosing Bulgaria over UK

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 05:15:42 GMT

The BBC has spoken to students choosing Bulgaria due to UK's strict cap on medical school places.

Watchdog vows Botox crackdown after BBC exposé

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 05:01:36 GMT

BBC researchers caught pharmacists trying to sell Botox without assessing patients first.

Menopause screening to be included in NHS health checks from next year

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:19:26 GMT

Despite the change - which will happen in 2026 - campaigners warn some women will lose out because the number who attend is too low.

'New birth advice change is our girl's lasting legacy'

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 06:15:52 GMT

A mum says she was not warned of the potentially life-threatening risks of a uterine rupture.

'Game-changing' HIV protection jab approved in England and Wales

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 08:18:39 GMT

The shot, given six times a year or every other month, is an alternative to taking daily pills to protect against ever catching the virus.

Labour's plan for benefits throws up a bigger dilemma

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 06:06:29 GMT

The debate has sparked a wider dilemma about the broader purpose of welfare

Uruguay legalises assisted dying after 10-hour debate

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:47:31 GMT

The Dignified Death bill was passed in the senate, with 20 out of 31 legislators voting in favour.

I thought my insides were falling out: The condition affecting one in 12 mums

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 23:43:23 GMT

Pelvic organ prolapse affects around one in 12 mothers, but many people have never even heard of it.

Inside Health

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Cystic fibrosis care, AI in cancer screening & science of run clubs.

NHS stripped ex-footballer of dignity, say family

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 05:13:21 GMT

Failings in Colin Flatt's care in the final months of his life are laid bare in a new report.

'My wife died in childbirth but wasn't told she'd been given labour drug overdose'

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 06:08:17 GMT

Jacqui Hunter died less than 24 hours after being told that her daughter had died in the womb.

Cut and bulk: Teenagers explain why they want to get ripped

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 05:06:27 GMT

The quest for brick-like abs has become serious business - even if you're only in Year 8.

Cancer survivors say their concerns were dismissed

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 06:05:43 GMT

Two women who had breast cancer say their concerns were dismissed by doctors at first.

EastEnders' Kellie Bright on the challenges of being parent of an autistic child

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:35:51 GMT

The soap actor meets families fighting for their children’s education for BBC Panorama.

Damning report finds 'culture of mistrust' at maternity unit

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 15:39:19 GMT

A review said staffing shortages also contributed to delays and patients being harmed at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Effects of antidepressants on physical health ranked for first time

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 06:26:48 GMT

Find out which to avoid if you are concerned about weight gain.

Families failed by Covid jabs tell inquiry of pain

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 18:39:40 GMT

They said there was no support after the death and harm suffered by their loved ones.

Covid inquiry told top NHS doctor was terrified

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 17:34:34 GMT

Sir Stephen Powis says points-based tool was drawn up should need to prioritise patients have arisen.

Inside Health

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT

We try to figure out why drug deaths are at an all-time high - and what can be done.

The British UFC fighter on how he copes with OCD

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 08:01:57 GMT

British UFC fighter Nathaniel Wood opens up on his struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety, detailing how it has affected his MMA career.

Councils should not cut 'vital' physical activity - former Olympian

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:45:50 GMT

The Accounts Commission says the amount councils are spending on culture and leisure services is not keeping up with rising costs.

Large UK-wide pandemic preparedness tests planned this year

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:36:01 GMT

The stress test will involve thousands of people to help the UK prepare for potential future threats.

NHS needs better plan around weight loss jabs, warn experts

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 07:27:18 GMT

Experts call for an urgent review of obesity treatment services amid booming demand for weight loss jabs.

Endometriosis patients call for national registry

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 06:59:28 GMT

Hayley Barlow-Ford says better data would have helped her make an "informed choice" about surgery.

At 21, I was crushed by a stranger's joke about going bald. Then the way I looked at myself changed

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 00:52:35 GMT

There are multiple ways for men to combat hair loss now, but should they have to?

How weight-loss injections are turning obesity into a wealth issue

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 07:02:26 GMT

With claims of a 'two-tier system', could it be that these drugs are exacerbating health inequalities?

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.