BBC News
BBC News - Health
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.
How do cold weather health alerts work?
Thu, 08 Jan 2026 10:07:19 GMT
The weather alert service warns the public when high or low temperatures could damage their health.
'I was diagnosed with OCD at 10'. Here's how to spot the signs
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 01:18:01 GMT
Most of us will have intrusive thoughts at some point. Dr Nina Higson-Sweeney explains when you should seek help.
Prostate cancer screening: What you need to know
Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:47:11 GMT
Everything you need to know about the decision on who should be screened for prostate cancer.
Streeting says NHS 'falling short' on autism and ADHD
Thu, 22 Jan 2026 15:54:49 GMT
Wes Streeting said he was "very worried" about the issue of rising demand for services.
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.
Lockdown could have been avoided - key findings from Covid inquiry
Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:01:47 GMT
The long-awaited report is published into how well or badly the government handled the Covid pandemic.
Delayed action before 2020 Christmas lockdown 'inexcusable'
Fri, 21 Nov 2025 06:09:37 GMT
Baroness Hallet says ministers failed to take "decisive action" against an "entirely foreseeable" variant.
Mum with cervical cancer begged for scan after years of being 'fobbed off'
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:32:48 GMT
Jessica finally received a diagnosis after "begging" for an MRI scan revealing she needed urgent treatment.
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.
How some countries are rethinking exercise
Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:57:25 GMT
Dr Jo Blodgett from UCL explains an approach that considers how much you move - and don't move - across the day.
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?
How I proved hair loss and dizziness aren't just symptoms of 'being a mum'
Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:28:46 GMT
Iron deficiency is a relatively common problem, especially in women. Here's how to spot the symptoms.
Has flu peaked? What the figures tell us
Thu, 18 Dec 2025 16:23:10 GMT
NHS remains on high alert over flu, health bosses say, but there are signs infections are levelling off.
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.
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.
One day of planning went into Covid school closures, inquiry hears
Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:31:19 GMT
This part of the inquiry is looking at the impact the pandemic had on children and young people.
Aspirin prices 'rise 1,000%' amid supply shortage
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:35:20 GMT
Pharmacists say the cost to buy a box of aspirin from suppliers was 38p but is now around £7.
'I spent £2,000 on one event': Why Gen Z is obsessed with Hyrox
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:45:40 GMT
How young millennials and Generation Z - people in their twenties to early forties - have become obsessed with this fitness craze.
Hancock ignored call to test all NHS staff, Covid inquiry hears
Thu, 15 May 2025 18:23:21 GMT
Two Nobel prize-winning scientists worried about "asymptomatic transmission" between staff and patients.
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
'Just bad luck': The teenage cousins living with inoperable brain tumours
Tue, 20 Jan 2026 06:20:12 GMT
Lachlan Lindsay and Hazel Dempster were both diagnosed with brain tumours as children.
'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.
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.
DNA pioneer James Watson dies at 97
Sat, 08 Nov 2025 07:47:13 GMT
Watson co-discover the double-helix structure of DNA, but his reputation was later damaged by his comments on race and sex.
Inside Health
Tue, 20 Jan 2026 10:00:00 GMT
James inhales a lungful of fumes to see if he can see air pollution moving inside him
Libraries to host community events over winter
Thu, 27 Nov 2025 06:46:30 GMT
The sessions in December and January aim to bring people in Wolverhampton together during the colder months.
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.
Thousands of children facing 'catastrophic' waits for NHS community care
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:37:45 GMT
A quarter of the 300,000 children waiting for community NHS care have spent more than a year waiting.
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.
Ambulance demand spikes as flu season worsens
Tue, 02 Dec 2025 06:14:11 GMT
The service says calls increased by 20% in the past week, fuelled by illnesses such as the flu.
Flu: How are hospitals in your area affected?
Thu, 15 Jan 2026 11:38:13 GMT
Use our interactive tool to explore the latest flu numbers in your area
Boris Johnson left Inquiry in a hurry - he'll be pleased not to come back
Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:49:01 GMT
School closures seemed the only option but lockdowns probably went "too far" , former PM tells Covid Inquiry.
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?
What is happening to flu this winter - and should you buy a vaccine?
Thu, 08 Jan 2026 15:12:50 GMT
Flu has come early this year with a new mutated version of the virus circulating.
Toddler finally home from hospital for Christmas
Tue, 23 Dec 2025 06:08:34 GMT
Bertie Melly was in hospital for 18 months after his premature birth in May 2024.
Mum, 26, 'wants to be sterilised' due to problems accessing sickness drug
Thu, 22 Jan 2026 06:08:15 GMT
Chloe booked an abortion because her sickness was so severe she could not look after herself.
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.
Millionaire GP behind asylum seeker hotels
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:36:29 GMT
A firm founded by a GP tried to evict 100 people from flats while planning to move asylum seekers in.
Flu wave hits England's busiest A&E - hundreds of patients are arriving a day
Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:01:00 GMT
The BBC visits Leicester Royal Infirmary to witness first-hand how it's coping with an early surge in cases of winter bugs.
Maternity services rated inadequate at two hospitals
Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:33:59 GMT
The CQC finds that only minimal improvements have been made at two NHS hospitals.
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.
Much of £11bn Covid scheme fraud 'beyond recovery', report says
Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:48:32 GMT
The response to the pandemic led to "enormous outlays of public money which exposed it to the risk of fraud and error", a report says.
NHS tracker - are hospital waiting times improving near you?
Thu, 15 Jan 2026 11:15:44 GMT
Use our interactive tracker to see if treatment waits are getting better at your local hospital.
Some schools disrupted amid rise in flu cases
Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:52:04 GMT
Flu is on the rise, but ministers say schools should only close in extreme circumstances.
Feeling anxious? Take five minutes to do this
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:19:02 GMT
Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo suggests taking micro-moments to calm yourself.
Cosmetic doctor sorry for picking apart singer Troye Sivan's looks on TikTok
Sun, 25 Jan 2026 11:48:19 GMT
The singer hit out at Dr Zayn Khalid Majeed - who says he will try to have a positive impact with his content.
The private notes and secret documents that tell the inside story of the UK's Covid response
Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:12:50 GMT
The Covid inquiry is set to publish its second set of findings looking in detail at the huge political decisions that had to be made in 2020.
'Hospital's neglect in my son's death has ripped our hearts out'
Thu, 29 Jan 2026 06:01:39 GMT
Peter Dervin says he warned Broomfield Hospital staff not to leave his son alone before fatal fall.
'A predator in your home': Mothers say chatbots encouraged their sons to kill themselves
Sat, 08 Nov 2025 13:20:52 GMT
In her first UK interview Megan Garcia speaks to Laura Kuenssberg about the death of her teenage son.
'We weren't perfect', says bogus Covid lab accused
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 17:32:17 GMT
Evidence in pharmacist Faisal Shoukat's defence continues to be heard at Bradford Crown Court.
What's really going on with flu this winter?
Sat, 20 Dec 2025 00:06:36 GMT
We've been told we're facing an unprecedented superflu. Is it?
Sugar tax extended to milk-based drinks: What you need to know
Tue, 25 Nov 2025 14:33:18 GMT
Milkshakes and lattes to be included in UK sugar tax scheme for the first time.
ADHD services shutting door to new NHS patients as demand soars, BBC finds
Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:04:46 GMT
A BBC investigation finds that a host of areas in England are closing waiting lists and others are rationing care.
'Toxic' No 10 culture harmed Covid response, inquiry finds
Thu, 20 Nov 2025 22:32:49 GMT
Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings and Matt Hanock are all criticised for contributing to poor Covid decision-making.
AI model from Google's DeepMind reads recipe for life in DNA
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:03:22 GMT
It could transform our understanding of why diseases develop and the medicines needed to treat them, says researchers.
Assisted dying bill 'no hope' of passing unless Lords change approach, warns peer
Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:51:32 GMT
Lord Falconer said the bill has "absolutely no hope" of passing without a "fundamental change" in approach.
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.
Newborn baby dies after mum not woken for heart rate check
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:48:41 GMT
Sonny Taylor was "left distressed for a significant amount of time" before his birth, a report says.
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.
Inside Health
Tue, 13 Jan 2026 10:00:00 GMT
Should we be having regular saunas? Plus, a breakthrough result for Huntington’s disease.
What does it take to be a prison officer?
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 13:30:37 GMT
In a recent survey, 72% of prison officers say they are frequently stressed at work, 45% say they have been assaulted at least once.
Why more women are going to rage rooms
Tue, 20 Jan 2026 10:16:51 GMT
Some rage rooms say most of their customers are female - we talk to women about why they pay to smash up old TVs.
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.
Covid inquiry hears impact on firms and staff
Mon, 24 Nov 2025 12:50:37 GMT
Business owners describe breaking into tears as they were forced to lay off staff, while workers feared for their jobs
Menopause linked to Alzheimer's-like brain changes
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:04:46 GMT
Menopause is linked to a loss of grey matter in regions involved with memory and emotion, study suggests.
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.
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".
Inside Health
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 10:00:00 GMT
James is joined by an expert panel to discuss NHS plans.
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.
Private flu vaccine stocks running low as cases rise
Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:03:07 GMT
Those eligible for a vaccine can access jabs from the NHS, but experts say that people have turned to pharmacies for convenience.
Woman took her own life after benefits cut in error
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:16:20 GMT
A coroner wrote to the DWP to express her concerns after the death of Tamara Logan in Tameside.
How the NHS became the battleground in the trans debate facing workplaces
Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:54:39 GMT
What's next for employers and their staff in the aftermath of the Darlington nurses ruling?
'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
Trial launched to 'help spot health risks early'
Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:08:48 GMT
A pilot scheme is rolled out in the north of the Isle of Man by the public health directorate.
Critical incidents declared at two hospital trusts
Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:50:27 GMT
NHS bosses are urging people to only come to A&E if it is an emergency.
Why doing a mix of exercise could be the key to longer life
Wed, 21 Jan 2026 01:17:52 GMT
Don't just focus on one activity - doing a variety every week gives you more health benefits, a study suggests.
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.
What's in the Covid inquiry report... in 68 seconds
Thu, 20 Nov 2025 22:46:50 GMT
The report looks at whether lockdowns were timely and reasonable, and what impact rule-breaking at the heart of government had on public confidence.
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.
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.
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.
US officially leaves World Health Organization
Fri, 23 Jan 2026 09:18:30 GMT
Trump ordered the withdrawal a year ago, accusing the UN agency of failing to adopt reforms and mishandling the pandemic.
You can now book online to see your GP. But is it any easier to get an appointment?
Sat, 08 Nov 2025 01:57:44 GMT
A month since GPs in England started offering online appointment bookings, patients recount their experiences.
Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
Fri, 23 Jan 2026 14:34:22 GMT
Tony's quest to build connection soon spirals into isolation, addiction and mistrust...
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer and what should you check for?
Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:00:12 GMT
One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
UK did 'too little, too late', leading to thousands more Covid deaths - inquiry
Thu, 20 Nov 2025 20:42:03 GMT
Report on government decision-making says delays cost 23,000 lives in the first wave in England.
Gove apologises after Covid report alleges 'toxic' culture
Fri, 21 Nov 2025 18:42:12 GMT
The ex-senior minister apologises for mistakes in the pandemic, but defends some of the previous government's actions.
Inside Health
Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT
Cystic fibrosis care, AI in cancer screening & science of run clubs.
'It sounds dramatic but singing class saved my life'
Sun, 23 Nov 2025 07:16:11 GMT
Hundreds of peopling attending singing groups are being taught songs and breathing techniques.
Abortion at 15 'changed my life', says Senedd candidate
Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:59:25 GMT
Tessa Marshall has shared the experience to highlight issues such as women's rights and sex education.
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.
'You don't feel judged': Why we buy more at self-service terminals
Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:05:18 GMT
How restaurants and retailers use behavioural science to get us to increase our spending.
The hospitals where waiting times are getting worse. Is yours one of them?
Tue, 20 Jan 2026 01:31:46 GMT
Nearly a quarter of hospital trusts in England have seen waiting times deteriorate in the past year.
Government racks up £100m bill responding to Covid inquiry
Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:07:14 GMT
BBC analysis shows cost to taxpayer is 50% higher than thought, with inquiry's own costs at £192m.
Are there 'forever chemicals' in your floor cleaner?
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 13:58:31 GMT
Some floor cleaners contain PFAS - chemicals that never break down. Here’s how to spot them - and what you can use as alternative.
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.
What is the UK Covid inquiry and how does it work?
Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:02:05 GMT
The inquiry into the government's handling of the pandemic has heard from politicians, civil servants, experts and bereaved families.
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.
'Since having Covid my life has completely changed'
Thu, 02 Oct 2025 05:05:22 GMT
A teenager has told the Covid-19 inquiry she often feels "left out" after missing so much school.
Is it a cold, 'super flu' or Covid? How to tell the difference
Mon, 15 Dec 2025 12:28:03 GMT
How to identify whether you have cold, flu or Covid and how to look after yourself.
'I needed a coil to ease the bleeding but I just sat on a waiting list'
Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:01:04 GMT
Elaine Gracey was in a lot of pain but says she was expected to just put up with her menopausal symptoms.
Finger-prick blood test could be early warning for children with type 1 diabetes
Wed, 21 Jan 2026 01:19:40 GMT
A simple finger-prick blood test can find those at risk so they can get the right treatment.
Ever feel the need to switch off? Your vagus nerve might hold the key
Sun, 09 Nov 2025 02:04:22 GMT
You might not have heard of it, but can training your vagus nerve give you a moment or two of peace?
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?
Families 'failed' by trust meet ahead of inquiry
Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:26:52 GMT
Families and patients will discuss what want raised by an inquiry into the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Trust.
Is fibre the new protein? The surprising health benefits of the latest wellness trend
Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:34:11 GMT
It was once seen as an "unsexy nutrient" but its health benefits beyond the bowel are now in the spotlight.
Flu jabs offered in pub in vaccination drive
Mon, 01 Dec 2025 06:28:38 GMT
Regular pop-up vaccination clinics are available at The Bevy community pub in Brighton.
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.
The Covid Inquiry Podcast
Sat, 22 Nov 2025 07:00:00 GMT
Baroness Hallett makes her second report into the UK's pandemic response. With Jim Reed.
The clock is ticking for my five-year-old son with dementia
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 06:23:30 GMT
Tammy McDaid describes how she had a panic attack after waking up on Tate's birthday.
'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.
Why are resident doctors striking and how much are they paid?
Wed, 17 Dec 2025 08:06:44 GMT
Resident doctors in England are striking between 17 and 22 December, the 14th walkout since 2023.
NHS funds football pitch to help boost island health
Tue, 13 Jan 2026 12:28:59 GMT
Carloway Football Club in Lewis has received a grant of £22,000.
'I was diagnosed with OCD at 10'. Here's how to spot the signs
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 01:18:01 GMT
Most of us will have intrusive thoughts at some point. Dr Nina Higson-Sweeney explains when you should seek help.
Botched 'Turkey teeth' op victim warns of dangers
Wed, 21 Jan 2026 06:14:36 GMT
Leanne Abeyance, from Telford, is waiting for reconstructive surgery and remains in constant pain.
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.
Five ways weight-loss jabs are changing spending habits
Sun, 25 Jan 2026 01:11:19 GMT
With GLP-1 drugs rising in popularity, how are businesses adapting to a new type of consumer?
I wanted ChatGPT to help me. So why did it advise me how to kill myself?
Thu, 06 Nov 2025 17:03:17 GMT
ChatGPT wrote a woman a suicide note and another AI chatbot role-played sexual acts with children, BBC finds.
