BBC News

BBC News - Health

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

People fake weight to obtain skinny jabs, says GP

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 08:26:04 GMT

A doctor from Chelmsford calls for more checks to stop the drugs being sold inappropriately online.

Inside Health

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT

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

Flu: How are hospitals in your area affected?

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 12:37:35 GMT

Use our interactive tool to explore the latest flu numbers in your area

Children with cancer scammed out of millions fundraised for their treatment, BBC finds

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 01:25:32 GMT

Huge amounts appear to have been raised for seriously ill children who never received the money.

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.

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.

Plea after girl, 13, died copying social media trend

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 12:05:32 GMT

Sonia Hopkin says her daughter had been trying to replicate videos she had seen on TikTok.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Caesarean sections overtake natural vaginal births for the first time

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 15:35:14 GMT

Experts say there is a complex picture behind why more babies are being delivered through surgery.

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.

Hospitals facing unprecedented flu season, say NHS bosses

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 16:22:32 GMT

Record number of patients in hospital in England with flu for this time of year, figures show.

HIV warning to older women as infections increase

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 07:48:16 GMT

The Blue Sky Trust charity reacts to a rise in HIV infections among heterosexual women.

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.

US and UK agree zero tariffs deal on pharmaceuticals

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 16:58:35 GMT

The deal follows threats of tariffs as high as 100% on branded drug imports.

Streeting confirms public inquiry into NHS trust

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:18:24 GMT

The TEWV announcement comes after calls from families of three patients who died by suicide.

'Life being stressful is not an illness' - GPs on mental health over-diagnosis

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 07:49:01 GMT

Hundreds of GPs in England tell the BBC they are also worried about a lack of help for patients.

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.

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.

Operations and treatments cut back as NHS orders hospitals to save money

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:29:28 GMT

Documents seen by BBC show hospitals being ordered to slow down on activity to help balance the books.

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.

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.

Doctors failed to tell dad-of-seven he was dying

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 06:18:51 GMT

William Chapman only found out he had a terminal diagnosis when his GP mentioned it in passing.

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.

Group supports those with 'lonely condition'

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 06:41:44 GMT

Bethany Lewis, 18, set up the group after her polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis, in April.

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

Prostate cancer screening should not be offered to most UK men, say experts

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 16:27:42 GMT

It recommends that only men with a confirmed genetic risk of prostate cancer should be screened for the disease.

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.

NHS must take elderly infections more seriously, Chris Whitty warns

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 16:14:31 GMT

England's chief medical officer says doctors do not appreciate risk of heart attack and stroke, as flu cases rise.

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.

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

'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.

'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.

Streeting orders review into mental health and ADHD diagnoses

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 20:41:56 GMT

The health secretary says the aim is to tackle a rising demand for services and pressure on the NHS.

Why are sperm donors having hundreds of children?

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 00:09:51 GMT

The European sperm market is booming, but is some donors' sperm being used to make too many babies?

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.

Dentists to prioritise urgent care and save some patients more than £200 under plans

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:19:42 GMT

New incentives for dentists to offer longer-term packages of treatments for major issues such as gum disease.

One way to deal with OCD and intrusive thoughts

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 13:29:45 GMT

Complex presenter Kimberly Wilson speaks to Nina Higson-Sweeney about ways to manage OCD.

How you know if you've got a cold or a flu

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:25:14 GMT

GP Dr Oscar Duke explains the different symptoms you might experience.

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.

'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.

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.

Starmer calls doctors' strike 'dangerous' as five-day walkout begins

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 13:29:14 GMT

The doctors' union, the British Medical Association, said it was time the government came up with "a genuinely long-term plan" on pay and jobs.

NHS tracker - are hospital waiting times improving near you?

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 11:31:25 GMT

Use our interactive tracker to see if treatment waits are getting better at your local hospital.

Nicotine pouch rise driven by young men - study

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:22:30 GMT

Around 7.5% of 16 to 24-year-old-men are using the small sachets that fit under the top lip, research suggests.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

School taught me about bank accounts but not breast exams

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 06:27:35 GMT

Resources will be made available in schools on women's health topics to reduce the gender health gap.

Joe Wicks: Protein's not just for bodybuilders

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:21:09 GMT

The fitness coach explains how it helps and how you can meet your protein needs.

5 Live News Specials

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:08:00 GMT

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

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?

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.

Online gaming escaped Australia's social media ban - but critics say it's just as addictive

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:45:06 GMT

Parents and experts say gaming poses many of the same risks for kids as social media, and want them included.

I was poisoning myself - Ironman world champion

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:08:10 GMT

Lucy Charles-Barclay had been dealing with stress fractures, joint pain and low energy before her coeliac disease diagnosis.

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.

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.

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 is happening to flu this winter - and should you buy a vaccine?

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:06:26 GMT

Flu has come early this year with a new mutated version of the virus circulating.

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.

Inside Health

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT

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

Wellbeing support for terminally-ill islanders

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 12:34:09 GMT

A hospice offers a free programme for those with life-limiting or serious progressive illnesses.

Partial victory for nurse in NHS trans changing room row

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:17:03 GMT

A tribunal said NHS Fife harassed Sandie Peggie but dismissed other claims she made against the health board and a transgender doctor.

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.

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.

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.

Campaigners question ethics of puberty-blocker trial in legal letter to Streeting

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:25:00 GMT

Researchers and the UK regulator say the study is going to help improve care for children questioning their gender.

Young women call for better health education

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 06:24:28 GMT

New resources are being designed to improve understanding of common conditions.

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.

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.

MND took our son at 14 - anyone at any age can get it

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:43:40 GMT

Kyle Sieniawski, from Pontypridd, died last month, after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease in January.

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.

Sperm from donor with cancer-causing gene was used to conceive almost 200 children

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 05:06:53 GMT

Some children have already died and only a minority who inherit the mutation will escape cancer in their lifetimes.

'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

Masks to be worn in three hospitals as flu cases surge

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 07:48:18 GMT

Frimley Health NHS Trust is the latest to reintroduce masks as UK hospitals come under strain.

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.

Hungry mothers and dirty wards - maternity care 'much worse' than anticipated, review chief says

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 08:49:23 GMT

An interim report by Baroness Amos finds poor care and dirty wards are blighting England’s maternity services.

How do cold weather health alerts work?

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:22:58 GMT

The weather alert service warns the public when high or low temperatures could damage their health.

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.

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.

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.

'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.

Girls 'taught how to get a job but not about women's health'

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 08:04:09 GMT

Young women say they were taught how to open a bank account in school, but not about their own health.

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.

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.

Supermarket loyalty discounts to be allowed on baby formula

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:32:35 GMT

The government claims that parents who cannot or chose not to breastfeed could save £500 a year.

'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.

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?

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?

'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

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.