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NHS updates, health guidance, wellbeing issues and public health stories explained clearly.
New findings from the World Cancer Research Fund highlight a concerning increase in cancer diagnoses among people under 50, with obesity and poor diet identified as primary contributing factors. Experts call for bolder government action akin to past anti-smoking campaigns to tackle the growing health challenge.
NHS England’s mental health, ADHD, and autism services face being overwhelmed without a radical overhaul, a major independent review has warned. The report highlights a substantial increase in mental distress and an exponential rise in those seeking assessment for neurodevelopmental conditions, prompting calls for a needs-led system and new regulation for private providers.
A comprehensive review published in The BMJ suggests that widely used calcium and vitamin D supplements offer little meaningful protection against falls or fractures for the majority of older people. The findings prompt a call for a re-evaluation of current clinical recommendations.
Researchers have found that primary aldosteronism, a hormone disorder linked to up to one in five cases of high blood pressure, can be missed by standard blood tests because of hidden overnight hormone surges detected using a new wearable monitor.
A new study conducted across Ontario, Canada, has revealed that widely used medications, including statins and iron supplements, can sometimes initiate a series of additional prescriptions in older adults. This occurs when a drug's side effect is mistakenly identified as a new medical condition, leading to the unnecessary prescription of a second medication.
An investigation by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has found that NHS health boards across England are enforcing minimum wait times for planned procedures, with some patients facing delays of up to 16 weeks for surgeries. Professional bodies have raised concerns over the impact on patient welfare and equitable access to treatment.
New research, the world's largest study of its kind, suggests that regularly consuming "very hot" tea or coffee could triple the risk of developing a specific type of oesophageal cancer. Experts advise allowing hot beverages to cool until comfortable to drink.
The NHS is facing a significant shortfall in blood supplies for patients with sickle cell disease, prompting an urgent call for 16,000 additional donors of black heritage. The appeal marks 20 years since nationwide newborn screening began, highlighting a growing reliance on transfusions.
The NHS in England is introducing free cholesterol tests and blood pressure checks in high street pharmacies for people aged 40 to 84, following a successful London pilot. A public health academic says the scheme should go further, with a five-point annual "health MOT".
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has issued a public apology after finding that adults abused as children have been misdiagnosed, re-traumatised and left without the long-term support they need from mental health services.
Readers across the UK describe how the closure of local maternity units has forced pregnant women to travel long distances in labour, as the new health secretary considers reintroducing binding national maternity standards.
New research from the University of Toronto indicates that incorporating three daily servings of full-fat dairy into one's diet may not negatively affect body weight, composition, energy metabolism, or blood lipid levels, challenging traditional dietary advice.
Parents of premature babies at risk of respiratory syncytial virus can access updated government information about RSV immunisation, including a new leaflet version that includes clesrovimab.
New Nursing and Midwifery Council figures show the UK nursing and midwifery register is at a record size, but growth has slowed as fewer UK and overseas trained professionals join.
The Department of Health and Social Care has updated its official twice yearly statistics on medicine supply issues and discontinuations reported by pharmaceutical suppliers.
Public health officials have updated England’s measles surveillance data, adding 2026 confirmed case figures by month, age, region and local authority area.
A strength and conditioning lecturer says sit-ups rely more on the hip flexors than many people realise, and may place strain on the lower back if overused.
Draft NHS guidance could allow some GP practices in England and Wales to offer non-invasive tests to help identify endometriosis, a condition that can take years to diagnose.
Pharmaceutical sector representatives say reformed pricing arrangements could help more NHS patients receive new treatments, while critics warn about pressure on health spending.
Canadian doctors say an 11-year-old boy died after waking to find a bat on his face, underlining why possible bat exposure should be assessed quickly even when no bite is visible.
Researchers say a UK-US agreement on branded medicines could place major extra pressure on NHS budgets, but the Department of Health and Social Care says it does not recognise the figures.
Snoring is often linked to sleep position, alcohol, weight, nasal congestion or smoking, but persistent noisy breathing at night can sometimes point to a condition such as obstructive sleep apnoea.
An innovative treatment using genetically modified immune cells has put lupus into remission for patients in early UK trials. The approach offers hope for lasting relief from this chronic autoimmune disease and may extend to other conditions like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
As new political forces gain ground in the UK, health organisations face growing challenges around defending evidence-based practice. Understanding potential risks and preparing for changes in government attitudes to expertise is critical to protecting public health.
A recent study finds that people consuming large amounts of ultra-processed foods have a significantly higher risk of developing dementia. Experts highlight key foods to support brain health and the importance of long-term dietary habits.
Australia is confronting its worst diphtheria outbreak in over 30 years, with the Northern Territory reporting its first fatality since 2018. Health officials are intensifying vaccination campaigns, particularly in remote Indigenous communities, to control the spread of this vaccine-preventable disease affecting respiratory and skin health.
Public interest in how much exercise best protects the heart surged this week after fresh media coverage suggested people may need more activity than they reali
A national effort to put creative health at the heart of care is expanding across England, with health leaders and cultural partners moving to make arts-based a
Two campaign groups are threatening legal action against the Department of Health and Social Care over new powers that could let ministers overrule the NHS drug advisory body NICE, potentially impacting drug prices and treatment access. The dispute raises questions about transparency and the long-term cost of a key UK-US pharmaceutical agreement.
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