Trending Health News
Alarm at NHS patient records being put under control of US private equity firm
US private equity firm TPG has acquired Optum UK, which controls electronic patient record systems used by more than half of England’s GP practices, raising concerns about NHS data security and regulatory oversight.
Medical colleges condemn scrapping of NHS placements for overseas doctors
The NHS has discontinued its Medical Training Initiative, which provided 400-500 overseas doctors annual placements in UK hospitals since 2011, drawing criticism from medical colleges citing loss of international collaboration and concern over workforce shortages.
The real reason child vaccination rates are falling
Childhood vaccination rates across Britain have declined significantly over the past 15 years, with experts attributing the drop primarily to reduced contact between parents and healthcare professionals rather than anti-vaccine sentiment.
Everyone’s talking about hormone therapy for menopause. Should I be on it?
Menopausal hormone therapy has gained renewed medical support for treating hot flashes and certain symptoms, but experts warn against claims it serves as a fountain of youth or prevents chronic disease.
Kalshi and Polymarket bets on clinical trials criticized as ‘ghastly’
Prediction market sites Kalshi and Polymarket now allow betting on clinical trial outcomes and FDA drug approvals, sparking concerns from researchers about potential insider trading and trial integrity.
What is UV, why is it dangerous and how can you protect yourself?
UK forecasters predict high UV levels this week as extreme heat approaches. Excessive UV exposure damages skin cells and increases melanoma risk, though some sun exposure is essential for vitamin D production.
Endometriosis sufferers ‘are not alone’, Chatham woman says
A Chatham woman diagnosed with endometriosis in 2023 is campaigning for a dedicated wellbeing hub in Medway to support women and girls with reproductive health conditions, highlighting long diagnostic delays.
We must fix social care before allowing assisted dying, says Burnham
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the assisted dying debate should wait until palliative and social care systems are improved, citing the need to fix foundational care infrastructure first.
‘You have to sit quietly until you die’: The families failed by England’s social care system
England’s social care system faces criticism as families struggle with inadequate support and substantial financial burdens, prompting officials to accelerate an independent review with recommendations expected by summer 2027.
NHS mental health trust plans £25m in cuts to jobs and services
East London mental health trust plans £25m in cuts affecting 330 jobs and at least 10 key services, sparking concerns about longer wait times and patients being forced toward private care.
Woman has pioneering surgery for unborn baby with intestines outside its body
Doctors successfully performed pioneering surgery on an unborn baby with gastroschisis, a birth defect where intestines develop outside the body, while the mother was 26 weeks pregnant.
Dr. Erica Schwartz confirmed as CDC director, filling a leadership vacuum
The U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director with a 51-44 vote, nearly a year after the previous permanent director was fired over vaccine policy disputes with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
New walk-in mental health centres to open in banks and libraries across England
England’s government plans to establish nearly 200 community mental health centres and mental health A&Es by 2029, including walk-in hubs in banks and libraries to provide immediate crisis support.
NHS must plan for heatwaves like it does for winter, health secretary says
England’s health secretary calls for the NHS to implement annual heatwave preparation plans comparable to winter planning, citing increased A&E attendance and equipment failures during recent extreme heat.
Covid can reactivate dormant viruses, according to study
A study published in Nature found that Covid-19 infections can reactivate dormant viruses like Epstein-Barr and cytomegalovirus, with reactivation correlated to disease severity in hospitalized patients.
U.S. moves to shut a Kentucky organ donation group, citing safety failures
The Trump administration announced plans to shut down a Kentucky organ procurement organization, citing persistent safety failures and cases where staff allegedly pressured hospitals to retrieve organs from patients showing signs of life.
Free NHS meningitis jab available for some teenagers – what you need to know
England is offering free meningitis B vaccines to approximately one million young people, primarily teenagers and first-year university students, following an outbreak in Kent earlier this year.
Endometriosis: I had to stop modelling because I kept passing out
A former model diagnosed with endometriosis at 25 had to leave her career after experiencing repeated collapses. The condition, which affects one in six women enough to leave work, often goes undiagnosed for years, causing severe complications.
Calls for change after fertility appointment inside maternity unit
A woman undergoing fertility treatment called for separating gynaecology and fertility services from maternity units after attending an appointment located within a maternity ward in Northern Ireland.
UK warned about ‘explosive diarrhoea’ cyclospora infection
UK health authorities warn of rising cyclosporiasis cases, with 67 reported since April, primarily among travelers returning from Mexico. The parasitic infection causes severe watery diarrhea and has affected thousands across the US.
Ultra-processed food companies hindering health drives by suing countries, says WHO
Ultra-processed food corporations are suing governments worldwide to block or delay obesity-prevention policies, according to a WHO investigation involving 235 legal cases across multiple countries.
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The Invisible Epidemic: How the Digital Workspace is Redefining Occupational Health
When society thinks of "workplace injuries," the images that typically come to mind are dramatic: a fall from a construction scaffolding, a severe burn in a commercial kitchen, or an accident involving heavy manufacturing machinery. We have spent over a century...
Why Personal Appearance Is a Booming Global Market
Personal appearance is no longer a niche interest reserved for celebrities and fashion elites. Around the world, people are increasingly aware that how they look is closely connected to how they feel, how they present themselves, and how they’re perceived by others....
Dangerous Roads in California
According to the National Safety Council, tens of thousands of people die in traffic-related crashes and accidents every year. A high number of related fatalities in California often cause the state to rank on lists about the nation's most dangerous roads. The...
Anavex Life Sciences Reports Advances for Oral Alzheimer’s Disease Medication in Phase IIb/III Trial
Anavex Life Sciences Corp. has announced promising results from its Phase IIb/III clinical trial of blarcamesine (ANAVEX®2-73), an oral Alzheimer's disease medication, at the 2024 Alzheimer's Association International Conference. The study demonstrated that...