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What NHS challenges does the election winner face?

BBC News – Health - Fri, 04/24/2026 - 10:13
There are currently 687,958 people waiting for any type of NHS treatment in Wales.
Categories: National News

What NHS challenges does the election winner face?

BBC News – Health - Fri, 04/24/2026 - 10:13
There are currently 687,958 people waiting for any type of NHS treatment in Wales.
Categories: National News

One in 10 operations in England cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice

Guardian – Society – Health - Fri, 04/24/2026 - 06:00

Nearly 40% of cancellations could be avoided, researchers say

About one in 10 operations in England are cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice or postponed, according to research..

A study of elective surgery at 91 English NHS trusts found that 10% of operations were cancelled the day before the planned surgery date; while 9% were postponed when patients had their pre-op appointment.

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Categories: National News

Baby died after NHS trust failed to warn mother of ‘unsafe’ home birth, coroner finds

Guardian – Society – Health - Thu, 04/23/2026 - 19:34

Seven-day-old Poppy Hope Lomas died after complications during home birth encouraged by midwives at Barnet hospital

A mother who lost her baby a week after an “unsafe” home birth that went against medical advice was failed by the NHS, an inquest has found.

Poppy Hope Lomas was seven days old when she died at University College hospital in London on 26 October 2022 after complications during a home birth that, according to her mother, was encouraged by midwives at Barnet hospital.

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Categories: National News

The surprising health benefit that could be in your pint

BBC News – Health - Thu, 04/23/2026 - 18:38
Drinking the odd pint of beer can provide "substantial levels" of an essential brain-boosting vitamin in your diet, according to new research in a respected journal.
Categories: National News

Doing a Mandelson when you’re caught short | Letter

Guardian – Society – Health - Thu, 04/23/2026 - 18:11

We should demand more public toilet facilities – and be sympathetic when we see someone of any gender or age ‘doing a Mandelson’, writes Doug Maughan

Let me reassure Melanie Jones (Letters, 21 April) that my sympathy for Peter Mandelson’s plight, when he was caught short late one evening, would extend to women in the same circumstance. If you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go. The serious side to this is that there are people who rarely venture from home owing to bladder problems. So, instead of criticising or sniggering, perhaps we should demand that basic toilet facilities are provided on more of our streets. And we should avoid having a fit of the vapours if, on rare occasions, we see someone (of any gender or age) going to the edge of the pavement and “doing a Mandelson” into a drain.
Doug Maughan
Dunblane, Stirling

• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.

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Categories: National News

What is the UK Biobank project and what are the privacy concerns around it?

Guardian – Society – Health - Thu, 04/23/2026 - 17:54

Volunteers’ data has enabled medical breakthroughs, but there are questions over how that data is protected

With the revelation that the confidential health records of half a million British volunteers have been put up for sale on a Chinese website, we take a look at what the UK Biobank project has achieved – and why concerns have been raised.

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Categories: National News

Asbestos toy warnings

BBC News – Health - Thu, 04/23/2026 - 15:16
Asbestos toy warnings
Categories: National News

Trump administration reclassifies cannabis as less dangerous

BBC News – Health - Thu, 04/23/2026 - 14:32
Medical marijuana was moved into a lower category of drugs in order to increase research and access.
Categories: National News

I'm on six different NHS waiting lists - it's taking over my life

BBC News – Health - Thu, 04/23/2026 - 12:52
Amy-Jane Davies is one of 687,958 waiting for any type of NHS treatment in Wales.
Categories: National News

I'm on six different NHS waiting lists - it's taking over my life

BBC News – Health - Thu, 04/23/2026 - 12:52
Amy-Jane Davies is one of 687,958 waiting for any type of NHS treatment in Wales.
Categories: National News

UK Biobank health data listed for sale in China, government confirms

BBC News – Health - Thu, 04/23/2026 - 12:45
The government said medical data of 500,000 people was affected but no personally identifiable information had been made available.
Categories: National News

Senior Lucy Letby hospital boss arrested

BBC News – Health - Thu, 04/23/2026 - 12:22
The arrest was made as part of a wider investigation into leadership at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Categories: National News

Girl, 6, has sight restored through gene therapy

BBC News – Health - Thu, 04/23/2026 - 08:53
Saffie's mum says Luxturna therapy at Great Ormond Street has been like "someone waved a magic wand".
Categories: National News

'Adenomyosis ruined my life'

BBC News – Health - Thu, 04/23/2026 - 06:07
Rachel Moore is raising awareness for adenomyosis a womb disease which she said has ruined her life.
Categories: National News

'I gave up my job due to the stress of my child's food allergies'

BBC News – Health - Thu, 04/23/2026 - 06:05
The former lawyer says she "didn't trust anyone" with her five-year-old's allergies so gave up work.
Categories: National News

'Toxic culture' at NHS trust left staff suicidal

BBC News – Health - Thu, 04/23/2026 - 06:03
A&E manager Sam Carter was under investigation by the Portsmouth trust when she took her own life.
Categories: National News

High Street mini-marts selling cocaine, cannabis and prescription drugs, BBC secret filming reveals

BBC News – Health - Thu, 04/23/2026 - 05:59
Across the UK, shopfronts are being exploited by criminal gangs pushing illegal drugs, experts say.
Categories: National News

Why can't newly qualified midwives get jobs?

BBC News – Health - Thu, 04/23/2026 - 05:45
Some midwives are working as receptionists but the government says it has invested in maternity jobs.
Categories: National News

'My baby scratches and scratches': Families say their homes are making their children sick

BBC News – Health - Thu, 04/23/2026 - 01:35
A cross-party report has called for safer conditions for the record number of families living in temporary accommodation.
Categories: National News
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