Health Secretary Wes Streeting has dismissed suggestions that private healthcare services could soon be subject to VAT, despite reports that the Treasury was exploring the option. Asked directly whether the idea was being considered, he…

The government has announced plans to roll out a nationwide online hospital service in England within the next two years, aiming to ease pressure on waiting lists. Sir Keir Starmer is expected to unveil the…

From 1st October, thousands of pharmacies across England will for the first time provide free NHS flu nasal sprays to young children. Until now, the vaccine was only available for two and three-year-olds at GP…

Doctors in London have achieved a major milestone in treating Huntington’s disease, a rare but devastating genetic disorder that destroys brain cells. For the first time, patients given a new form of gene therapy saw…

Scientists have unveiled an artificial intelligence system capable of predicting an individual’s risk of developing health problems years in advance. The model, known as Delphi-2M, can assess the likelihood of more than 1,200 conditions by…

A fresh Covid-19 variant, known as Stratus, is now spreading rapidly across the UK and Ireland, with health officials monitoring its impact closely. The strain has two forms, XFG and XFG.3, with the latter already…

More than 1,000 people with suspected dementia are set to take part in a UK trial of a pioneering blood test that could transform the way Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed. The test, which detects biomarkers…

For the first time, more children worldwide are living with obesity than being underweight, according to new Unicef research. The study shows nearly one in ten children and adolescents aged five to nineteen – around…

Ministers have announced proposals to prevent anyone under 16 in England from buying energy drinks such as Monster, Red Bull and Prime. The restriction, which would cover shops, restaurants, cafes, vending machines and online sales,…

A patient safety initiative known as Martha’s Rule will now be introduced across all acute hospitals in England. The scheme, designed to give families a direct route to request urgent second opinions, was created in…

East Surrey Hospital in Redhill has been rated “requires improvement” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), a step down from its previous “outstanding” grade. Inspectors visited in September 2024, and although the report has only…

From January next year, the NHS will begin offering a free chickenpox vaccine to children in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The jab will be given in two doses at 12 and 18 months, alongside…