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BBC News - Health

Mental health chat encouraged at coffee mornings

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 06:48:39 GMT

Three coffee mornings are being held in Wolverhampton as part of a national mental health event.

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?

Women calling for greater support with menopause

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 06:04:05 GMT

Women who experienced challenges during the menopause set up businesses to help others.

Couple to re-start trek around Britain's coastline

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:26:52 GMT

After having to halt their first attempt due to an injury, the couple are ready to set off again.

Sepsis warning after woman's quadruple amputation

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 06:10:56 GMT

Manjit Sangha, from Penn, near Wolverhampton, says her life drastically change in one weekend.

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.

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.

I was full of shame at being sacked after having endometriosis surgery

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 07:43:28 GMT

Sanju Pal wins an employment appeal tribunal that could affect how employers can treat staff with endometriosis.

'The kindness of people got me to the finish line'

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:16:24 GMT

Farmer Sam Stables walks from Herefordshire to London to raise awareness of mental health.

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.

Firm assessing Covid vaccine harm replaced after costs spiral to £48m

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 05:55:44 GMT

The figure paid to Crawford & Company Adjusters is eight times the original estimate for the work.

Radio 1’s Life Hacks: Mental Health Special

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 08:15:00 GMT

Greg James and a panel of guests sensitively discuss male mental health and suicide.

Witness History

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 07:00:00 GMT

In the 1980s, deaths were linked to super-absorbent tampons

Children injured by NHS can claim damages for lifetime lost earnings, court rules

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:37:34 GMT

The decision from the Supreme Court, on the case of a child who sustained a brain injury at birth in 2015, could have significant cost implications for the NHS.

'It was like buying groceries' - Woman calls for tighter weight-loss jabs checks

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:05:01 GMT

Emma Dyer says she collapsed on her bathroom floor and began vomiting blood after buying jabs online.

Inside Health

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:00:00 GMT

How is EBV triggering autoimmune disease?

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.

'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.

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.

Doctor who sold stolen PPE on eBay is struck off register

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:50:13 GMT

Dr Attiya Sheikh and her husband Omer Sheikh made almost £8,000 from selling personal protective equipment during the covid pandemic.

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.

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.

5 Live News Specials

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 10:49:00 GMT

That Time of the Month with Naga Munchetty, Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi

Stop dithering on Brazilian butt lift crackdown, say MPs

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 02:03:55 GMT

A committee of MPs warns tighter restrictions on high-risk cosmetic procedures are needed immediately.

Does taking Vitamin C help to stop a cold?

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:38:09 GMT

The doctors speak to Professor of Immunology, Dan Davis.

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.

Inside Health

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:00:00 GMT

James Gallagher is joined by a panel to explore the side effects of weight loss drugs.

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.

Single vaccine could protect against all coughs, colds and flus, researchers say

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 22:30:35 GMT

A Stanford University team have tested their nasal spray vaccine in animals but still need to do human clinical trials.

First British baby born using transplanted womb from dead donor

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:39:50 GMT

Grace Bell, who was born without a viable womb, says her little boy is "simply a miracle".

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.

'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.

Woman's regret over botched Brazilian butt lift

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:27:39 GMT

Josephina Finch says the surgery left her with a "gaping wound".

GPs to get £3,000 bonus to maximise weight loss drug prescriptions

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 01:04:42 GMT

Bid to improve access to Mounjaro in England, but experts warn eligibility still tightly restricted.

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.

Streeting says he takes Leeds maternity care inquiry concerns 'extremely seriously'

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 05:44:45 GMT

The health secretary will meet bereaved families on Monday, as delay into maternity care probe drags on.

What does 'quiet resilience' look like?

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:10:03 GMT

Kimberley Wilson talks to psychologist and therapist Dr Sula Windgassen on how to build "quiet" or "flexible" resilience.

How to check whether you have bowel cancer

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:49:43 GMT

What are the main symptoms and causes of bowel cancer, and how can you reduce your risk of getting it?

Sunbed ads spreading harmful misinformation to young people

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 06:05:19 GMT

Hundreds of TikTok, Instagram and Facebook ads made misleading claims about health benefits, BBC finds.

Why are fewer people donating their organs?

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 06:21:27 GMT

The number waiting for an organ is at a record high as loved ones increasingly block donations.

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.

Inside Health

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The new wave of ME research that could bring clarity to this perplexing condition.

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.

Multi-cancer blood test missed key goal in NHS trial

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 04:23:11 GMT

The company behind the test said there were positive signs that some of the most aggressive cancers could be prevented.

Inside Health

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Is NHS dentistry on 'life support'?

GPs told to guarantee same-day appointments for urgent cases

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 16:05:58 GMT

New contract will require patients in England to be given immediate appointment if needed.

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 joint ops disrupted amid bone cement supply problems

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 20:25:37 GMT

Around 1,000 operations a week rely on the product as patients are warned delays are inevitable.

Sperm swim more quickly in summer, study finds

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 17:18:08 GMT

Understanding the seasonal patterns of sperm could improve fertility treatments, by optimising the timing of treatment, the reasearchers say.