The Guardian Health

Resident doctors in England to stage four-day strike in June

BMA blames new health secretary for decision to stage 16th strike in long-running jobs and pay disputeUK politics live – latest updatesResident doctors in England will next month stage the 16th strike in their long-running jobs and pay dispute, and have blamed the new health secretary for their decision.They will strike for four days from 7am on Monday 15 June until 6.59am on Friday 19 June. Announcing the move, the British Medical Association warned that resident doctors would mount a further s

health  May 27, 2026

The Guardian Health

Trump completes annual physical after year of public attention to health issues

US president, who turns 80 next month, frequently casts himself as fit but recent photos have added to questions about his healthSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailDonald Trump, the oldest inaugurated president in US history, completed a physical exam on Tuesday at Walter Reed national military medical center, amid questions around his health.“Everything checked out PERFECTLY,” the US president declared in a social media post. Continue reading...

health  May 26, 2026

The Guardian Health

The Guardian view on support for youth: someone in government should grab hold of school sports | Editorial

With concerns about childhood obesity and screen use sky-high, cuts to primary PE are an unforced errorWith remarkably poor timing, days before closing a consultation on children’s social media use, the government announced last week that it is cutting an annual £320m sports premium for primary schools in England. A new scheme worth £193m will cover secondaries too, and resurrect a previous model whereby outside clubs and coaches play a bigger role. But primary school leaders are understandably

health  May 26, 2026

The Guardian Health

Inequalities in health are the result of where you’re born, live, work and grow old | Letter

Our life expectancy is not simply our personal responsibility, writes Jennie PopayHaving spent several decades as a researcher in the health equity field, I was irritated to see that well-worn, misleading trope about personal responsibility for poor health being given the oxygen of publicity by the Guardian (At least 80% responsibility for ill health in old age down to individual, study says, 20 May).The Oxford Longevity Project’s study gave the impression that the main cause of poor health and

health  May 26, 2026

The Guardian Health

Labour says Reform UK ‘in chaos’ as Zia Yusuf publicly tells Jenrick he’s got party’s deportation policy wrong – as it happened

‘Robert’s answer is not Reform policy’, Yusuf said about an answer that Jenrick gave to journalists days earlierKeir Starmer has said that SNP leaders need to explain why they did not realise that Peter Murrell was stealing more than £400,000 from the party.Asked about yesterday’s court proceedings in Edinburgh, where Murrell admitting embezzling money from the party to spend on luxury goods, Starmer said:I think anybody looking at what’s happening up in Scotland will be baffled that those at th

health  May 26, 2026

The Guardian Health

Image of ‘twin babies’ used by anti-abortion activist appears to show sugar gliders

Joanna Howe says the image was sent to her by a woman ashamed of her abortion, and used it to support ‘rally for Emma and Ruth’ in favour of NSW billFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn image posted by anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe claiming to show aborted twin girls called “Ruth and Emma” appears to be a picture of newborn sugar gliders.The two little pink bodies are displayed on a clean white background and exp

health  May 26, 2026

The Guardian Health

Why Trump administration’s plan to attempt to destroy Pfas is ‘nonsensical’

The EPA said it was cutting Biden-era regulations on Pfas in drinking water, but advocates say the move will harm public health and benefit industryA new Trump administration plan to ditch Pfas drinking water regulations and instead attempt to destroy “forever chemicals” on a wide scale tears a page from the fossil fuel industry’s carbon capture playbook, and will benefit the industry while harming public health.The US Environmental Protection Agency last week announced it is moving to kill stro

health  May 26, 2026

The Guardian Health

I lost my beloved husband after 35 years, then my sister and my father. Here’s how I rebuilt my old happy self

I tried everything from gong baths to junk food and intermittent crying as I attempted to deal with my grief. Nothing helped – until I started tuning in to what my body was telling meI didn’t think I could survive the death of my husband, Graham. We met at university when I was 18, and for 35 years we made a great team. We both worked full-time and, while I organised our many marathon and backpacking trips abroad, and pursued my ambition of becoming an author and hypnotherapist, he supported me

health  May 26, 2026

The Guardian Health

The curse of burnout Britain affects politicians as much as everyone else: give Carla Denyer a break | Gaby Hinsliff

The Green MP’s decision to take time out has angered some – but many more will see endemic stress and anxiety as a blight we must addressCarla Denyer is taking some time out.The Bristol Central MP and former Green party co-leader says she is suffering from burnout after trying to juggle health issues on top of the job and has been advised by her doctor to take a break. In an ideal world, most people would just wish her a swift recovery and get on with their lives, as quite a lot of MPs from norm

health  May 26, 2026

The Guardian Health

Abortion regret is a myth. Irish women don’t need laws to make them ‘reflect’ on their choices | Roe McDermott

More people regret knee surgery than abortion. So why is the patriarchy still scaring us with lifelong torment?Ireland’s parliament, the Dáil, voted down a reproductive rights amendment bill this month that would have abolished the country’s mandatory three-day waiting period for access to an abortion. Supporters of the unsuccessful reform bill, tabled by the Social Democrats, argued that the delay serves no medical purpose.As the bill moved through political debate and media coverage, those def

health  May 26, 2026

The Guardian Health

A job that changed me: As an anxious first-time surgical assistant, the casual workplace dynamics surprised me

I was primed to sweat my way through a high-stakes procedure. But once the patient was sedated, a welcome warmth entered the roomRead more in this series hereI’ve had quite a few surgical procedures over the years but one always sticks in my mind. The 7am arrival to hospital, the injustice of being deprived a morning coffee in the name of “fasting”, the apprehension as I lay on the operating table waiting for it to begin. It was my second spinal operation in a few months because the surgical tea

health  May 25, 2026

The Guardian Health

Misinformation about perimenopause on social media ‘putting women at risk’

Dangers include unintended pregnancies, taking unnecessary medication and missed diagnoses, say expertsMisinformation about perimenopause is putting women at risk of unintended pregnancies, unnecessary medication and missed diagnoses, experts have said.Awareness of menopause and treatments such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been raised by efforts including a prominent documentary by Davina McCall. Continue reading...

health  May 25, 2026

The Guardian Health

Key facts to counter online misinformation about perimenopause

Experts say some social media advice could obscure underlying health problems or create risk of unintended pregnanciesA growing number of women are seeing misleading information about perimenopause on social media – prompting concerns that some could be led to false conclusions that obscure real underlying health difficulties or even create the risk of unintended pregnancies.Here are some of the key facts behind the problem. Continue reading...

health  May 25, 2026

The Guardian Health

NHS spends record £241m outsourcing scan analysis to private firms

Radiologists say ‘ballooning’ costs reflect staffing failures, forcing a reliance on lower-quality private scan reportsThe NHS is paying private firms record sums to analyse diagnostic scans because hospitals are too busy and understaffed to do the work themselves, research has revealed.The amount being spent on outsourced the interpretation of CT and MRI scans is “spiralling out of control” and reflects a short-sighted failure to train enough doctors, ministers are being told. Continue reading.

health  May 25, 2026

The Guardian Health

Half of UK adults say they spend less than three hours a week outside in nature

Most people have joyful memories of playing outside as children – and now wildlife charities are urging people to ‘rewild their inner child’Climbing trees, squelching in mud, paddling in ponds or making dens in the woods – people’s memories of playing outside as children are often vivid and, a new poll has found, overwhelmingly positive, even those who remember falling in cowpats.Almost 90% of UK adults had rosy memories of the excitement and the feeling of freedom that outdoor play had brought

health  May 25, 2026

WHO News

Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly – Daily update: 23 May 2026

Summary of discussions of 23 May at the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly.

health  May 23, 2026

WHO News

Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly – Daily update: 22 May 2026

Summary of discussions of 22 May at the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly.

health  May 22, 2026

WHO News

First meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee regarding the epidemic of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda 2026 – Temporary recommendations

The Committee’s advice aligned with the determination by the WHO Director-General that the event constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), but does not meet the criteria for pandemic emergency. The DG, considering the advice of the Committee, he is hereby issuing the following temporary recommendations to all States Parties.

health  May 22, 2026

WHO News

Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly – Daily update: 21 May 2026

Summary of discussions of 21 May at the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly.

health  May 21, 2026

WHO News

Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly – Daily update: 20 May 2026

Summary of discussions of 20 May at the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly.

health  May 21, 2026