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Showing posts from January, 2025

Top supermarkets running 'prohibited' tobacco ads

Trading Standards says adverts for heated tobacco products are banned, but some supermarkets disagree.

Campaigner launches bid to ban cross-sex hormones for under-18s

Lawyers write to health secretary warning him to take action or they will seek a judicial review.

AstraZeneca ditches £450m investment in UK plant

The drugs giant blames "protracted" talks with the government as well as differences over funding.

Farmers in bird flu 'panic' call for UK vaccine plan

Vaccinating poultry against bird flu is still not allowed in the UK despite a rise in farm outbreaks.

Nurse dies as Uganda confirms new Ebola outbreak

The victim was a 32-year-old nurse who died from multi-organ failure, the health ministry says.

Staff seen dragging children in hospital - report

CCTV footage revealed the abuse of patients at the Coventry hospital, a watchdog says.

'Life-changing' tablet for dust mite allergies

The National Institute for Healthcare and Care Excellence backs a tablet for dust mite allergies.

Algorithm study 90% accurate predicting bowel cancer

The method could be used to develop a blood test to identify inflammatory-bowel-disease patients most at risk.

Cardiff uni job cuts 'threaten supply of nurses'

Some lecturers at Cardiff University have begun getting letters advising them their post is at risk.

Scientists trial patch to mend failing hearts

The technology could give patients with advanced heart failure new hope, based on early trial results.

'I was diagnosed with dementia in my 40s'

A group of people with dementia have made a film called Hear Our Voice to tackle common stereotypes.

Girl, 12, died after drink made in unwashed blender

The 12-year-old girl's milkshake was contaminated with nuts used to prepare a previous drink.

GPs asked to identify potential gambling addicts

The health watchdog says gambling should be given the same weight as alcohol and nicotine addiction.

Farm worker contracts human case of bird flu

The UK Health Security Agency says cases of bird-to-human transmission were rare.

Pharmacists in warning over weight-loss jab sales

Pharmacists say they are aware of people being wrongly prescribed weight-loss drugs.

Sewage leaks and ops delayed - life at hospitals awaiting rebuild

A host of hospital building projects have been put back to the 2030s. How will they cope?

Hair loss drug finasteride 'biggest mistake of my life'

Some online sites prescribe a potentially risky hair loss drug without consistent safety checks, BBC finds.

Surge in vomiting bug keeps pressure on hospitals

Norovirus cases are the highest they have been since January 2020.

Large UK-wide pandemic preparedness tests planned this year

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

Ointment appeal for disabled teen on 'last tube'

George Rabbett-Smith's mum criticises online sellers for inflating the discontinued product's price.

'Filming me sleep on ward made my mental health worse'

Former mental health patients are worried camera surveillance is being used without explicit consent.

Man had unnecessary chemotherapy for 14 years

His lawyers say his case is "just the tip of the iceberg" and 12 other patients may be affected.

Treat eating disorders as an emergency, MPs urge

The alarming rise in disorders such as anorexia and bulimia is now an emergency, a cross-party group says.

First drug consumption room user figures revealed

The Safer Drugs Consumption Facility in Glasgow opened on 13 January, letting people take substances under supervision.

Trump orders US to leave World Health Organization

Trump has long been critical of how the Geneva-based institution handled the Covid-19 pandemic.

'I break the law to buy my child's life-saving cannabis drug'

Parents going to extreme lengths to get medicinal cannabis oils for their epileptic children speak to the BBC.

Cervical screening knowledge gap 'costing lives'

Women can ask for adjustments and this may encourage some people to get tested, the Eve Appeal says.

Calorie labels have small effect on eating habits - study

The policy was brought in two years ago in England to try to encourage healthier food choices.

Deaths of 56 babies at Leeds hospitals may have been preventable, BBC told

Two whistleblowers also believe the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s maternity units are unsafe.

Singer 'helpless' after baby girl contracted RSV virus

The country singer says her baby daughter spent 10 days in hospital with respiratory syncytial virus.

Tanzania denies suspected Marburg outbreak after WHO alert

Samples analysed in all suspected cases are negative for Marburg virus, Tanzania's health minister says.

Patients dying in hospital corridors, say nurses

The Royal College of Nursing details harrowing cases from more than 5,000 nurses across the UK.

Rise of vaccine distrust - why more of us are questioning jabs

Confidence in all types of vaccination has taken a hit. The question is why, and what can be done about it?

Families failed by Covid jabs tell inquiry of pain

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

MPs say fix Send system or face 'lost generation'

A report finds the special educational needs and disabilities system in "disarray" and lacking funds.

Obesity needs new definition, says global report

There is a risk too many people are being diagnosed as obese, with weight-loss drugs in high demand.

MPs call for miscarriage bereavement leave

Paid leave should be extended to parents who lose a pregnancy before 24 weeks, a report by MPs says.

Over-50s in England offered home bowel-cancer tests

More than 850,000 extra people will now be able to return a stool sample to be checked for blood.

GPs turn to AI to help with patient workload

Should more AI be used to help GPs with consultations and administrative work?

Women seeking abortions after using 'natural' contraception

Researchers have seen a shift from "more reliable" hormonal contraceptives to fertility tracking apps.

'We re-mortgaged to buy our kids ADHD medication'

BBC research finds nearly 400,000 private prescriptions for ADHD were issued in 2023-24.

Attempted murder charge after nurse stabbed

A 37-year-old man will appear in court on Tuesday after a nurse was stabbed at a hospital in Oldham.

Nurse stabbed in hospital's acute medical ward

A 37-year-old man is in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Could a mango-flavoured pill end intestinal worms?

The pill is a combination of two existing anti-parasitic drugs that, used together, appear more effective.

I woke from a coma to find my baby had been born

Atlanta McIntyre hopes to raise awareness of hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition that affects 1 in 100 pregnant women.

'I paid fake doctor thousands for fillers - now I look like a gargoyle'

Cosmetics clinic says it has "totally reviewed all procedures" since treating Andrea.

Inside the UK's first legal drug consumption room

The Thistle will open its doors next week after nearly a decade of deadlock over drug laws.

BBC goes inside hospital battling unprecedented winter pressures

As pressures on the NHS bite, doctors are facing terrible decisions about who should get a bed.

'I can't keep running my pharmacy from my savings'

Dipak Pau says pharmacists like him are using their own savings to cover the rising cost of drugs.

Alarm as skyrocketing flu cases add to NHS strains

More than 5,400 patients in hospital with flu as delays in A&E and for ambulances mount.

'Patients are collapsing in the waiting room': A&E nurses speak out

Nurses working on the front line of emergency care have spoken to the BBC about pressure they are facing.

Mum told by 999 to give seriously ill son painkillers over ambulance delay

Brian Rooney is in an induced coma after suffering a heart attack at the doors of a Belfast hospital.

Glass of milk a day cuts bowel cancer risk - study

Dark leafy greens, bread and non-dairy milks containing calcium were also found to offer protection.

Streeting says he is ashamed of NHS winter problems

The health secretary sees patients left crying and distressed, as hospitals declare critical incidents.

What to know about China's cases of HMPV virus

Pictures from China, where cases of the virus are surging, have people worried on social media.

A&E patients facing waiting time of up to 50 hours

The Royal Liverpool University Hospital declares a "critical incident" due to the pressures on A&E.

Cases double in NHS trust death and injury investigation

Sussex Police began with an initial 105 cases, but the BBC understands there are now more than 200.

Child mental health crisis: Better resilience is the solution, say experts

The surge in mental health referrals among young people has prompted debate among experts about the cause - and the most effective solution

'My second chance at life after liver transplant'

Bianca Perea, a 32-year-old trainee lawyer, is now "cancer-free" after a pioneering liver transplant.

Woman had eight organs removed in cancer treatment

Horsham's Fay Louise planned her own funeral after doctors found a tumour in her appendix in 2023.

Government unveils plan to cut NHS waiting list backlog

The government pledged to cut the list of patients waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment in England by nearly half a million over the next year.

NHS App upgrade to give patients more choice over treatment

Plans for an upgraded NHS app to allow more patients in England to book treatments will be announced by the health secretary on Monday.

Heartbroken mum's vaccine plea after flu death

Meg Hughes is calling for flu jabs to be made mandatory as she raises awareness in her son's memory.

Social care reforms in pipeline for 2028, say ministers

The government announces first steps to creating a National Care Services - but reform is several years away.

Hospital visits severely restricted amid flu spike

It comes as hospitals across the region urge people to wear face masks as cases of seasonal viruses increase.

Cold weather health alerts issued ahead of snow

A major clean-up operation is also ongoing in part of the country after New Year's Day flooding.

Early cancer diagnosis in England at record level, NHS figures show

Awareness campaigns and new screening approaches are having an impact, says NHS England.