Health
The NHS, medicines and public health in the UK, based on what the health departments, NHS bodies and medicines regulators put on the record.
Free NHS flu vaccine 2026 in England: who can get it and how to book
Eligible people can book online, in the NHS App, at a pharmacy or through a GP surgery, and the NHS says the vaccine can be given with the COVID-19 and shingles vaccines.
Cold weather can make the heart work harder
The British Heart Foundation says cold narrows blood vessels in the skin, and the extra strain can be harder for people who already have a heart condition.
A very large meal or too much alcohol can trigger a gout attack
NICE says there is not enough evidence that any specific diet prevents flares, while the NHS suggests some alcohol-free days each week.
PSA test: the limits, and who can ask for one
The NHS page, last reviewed in September 2024, says routine PSA testing is not offered, though people can ask a GP about one; a screening committee backs a targeted…
Do joints really ache more in cold weather?
The Manchester study linked the worst pain days to low pressure and high humidity, while a review of osteoarthritis research found a link with temperature.
Bronchiolitis in babies: what the signs look like
The NHS lists four signs that mean calling 999 and eight that mean an urgent GP appointment or a call to 111.
Sinusitis: how long it usually lasts
The NHS lists salt-water nose cleaning among home treatments, but a Cochrane review said the trials of rinses for colds and similar infections were generally small.
Central heating can make dry eyes worse
The NHS lists eight things that make dry eyes more likely, from contact lenses to windy weather, and says a pharmacist may be able to help.
Pope Leo needs no further treatment after lung cancer surgery
Leo was discharged from hospital on 17 October and held the weekly General Audience in St Peter’s Square on the day of the statement.
Is 18°C warm enough indoors in winter?
Age UK called 21°C and above ideal for living rooms in a 2013 release, while the NHS and the World Health Organization name 18°C.
Sore throats normally clear up within a week without antibiotics
A Cochrane review found antibiotics bring a modest symptom reduction, and the NHS lists the signs that call for a GP, 111 or 999.
Vitamin D in winter: the NHS advice and the studies
The NHS says some groups, including all children aged 1 to 4, should take a daily supplement all year round, not just in the colder months.
Covid inquiry: Hancock’s care home ‘protective ring’ claim ‘unfounded’
The inquiry’s report on the care sector said action to protect care workers and residents came too late, and counted more than 43,000 care home deaths involving Covid-19.
Ear infections often clear up on their own within three days
A Cochrane review found antibiotics did not reduce children’s ear pain at 24 hours, though NICE names groups who may benefit more.
NHS prescription charge in England: £9.90 an item
In England, a 12-month prepayment certificate costs £114.50 and covers all NHS prescriptions for the year.
Heartburn: why extra pillows can make it worse
The NHS suggests raising the head of the bed instead, but the authors of a 2021 review of trials say the research is too limited for definitive recommendations.
NHS trust sacks 15 staff over Nottingham attack victims’ records
NUH has told the Information Commissioner’s Office and Nottinghamshire Police, and aims to bring in a system to flag suspicious access in early 2027.
Colds and cold air can set off asthma symptoms
Asthma usually starts in children but can happen at any age, and adults with asthma needing a steroid inhaler or tablets can get a free flu vaccine, the NHS says.
Taking migraine painkillers too often can mean more headaches
NICE counts painkiller days by the month and sets different thresholds for triptans and for paracetamol, aspirin and similar drugs.
UK government accepts vaccine damage payment scheme needs reform
The government also agrees the medicines regulator should get linked health records, but gives no cost for it.
Fibre and constipation: two reviews, two different results
A 2025 review of seven trials in older adults found no significant gain in stool frequency, but significantly less use of laxatives or enemas.
Antidepressant leaflets to get boxed warning on suicidal thoughts
The aim is “not to discourage use”, says the MHRA’s Dr Alison Cave, with a new patient card also planned.
Eczema can flare as the weather turns cold
Atopic eczema cannot be cured, the NHS says, but treatment can help manage the symptoms.
Winter vomiting bug: why hand gel is not enough
UKHSA figures show hospital outbreaks of norovirus in England 25.4% below the five-season average for the 2026/2027 season so far, though laboratory reports are above it.
Itchy fingers and toes after the cold? It may be chilblains
NHS advice says not to warm cold hands or feet on a radiator or under hot water, and lists diabetes as one reason to see a GP.
High cholesterol: why only a blood test can find it
The NHS guide puts a healthy total cholesterol level for adults at below 5mmol/L.
Lung cancer: the signs and when to see a GP
Symptoms range from a lingering cough to feeling tired all the time, and some people notice none at first, the NHS says.
Vatican: Pope Leo has lung cancer, surgery ‘successful’
Dr Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora said the Pope woke up normally and went back to a room on the tenth floor after a brief period of observation.
Food recalls: the products on the FSA’s alert list since September
Salmonella lies behind three alerts and Listeria behind two; four more are allergy warnings, one concerns cans that may rupture and one an oat drink.
Females with autoimmune disease report more psychiatric misdiagnosis
The researchers want doctors to consider autoimmune disease before giving a psychiatric or psychosomatic diagnosis.
Cold, flu or COVID-19? Symptoms alone can’t settle it
The NHS says flu tends to be more severe than a cold and comes on within hours, while a cold appears gradually.
Mould at home can affect more than your lungs
Social landlords in England must investigate significant damp and mould within 10 working days of a report, and Awaab’s Law will extend to more hazards from 30 November…
Carbon monoxide can feel like flu: the signs to know
The NHS advises an alarm in every room with a gas, oil, coal or wood appliance, and government guidance sets alarm rules for landlords in England.
England plans CQC regulation of ADHD and autism assessments
The response to the Fonagy review also promises help before a clinical diagnosis, but gives no date for regulation.
Tired all the time? Six everyday things worth checking
Regular meals, a short walk and less caffeine are among the NHS tips, and the health service says tiredness lasting a few weeks with no clear reason is a reason to see a…
Longer NHS waits linked to more time on benefits in England
NHS England commissioned the work, and the ONS says its modelled estimates should not be read as direct causal effects.
Shingles vaccine linked to fewer dementia diagnoses
A study in Wales put the relative reduction at 20% over seven years, while the authors of a second say their findings could help design a large trial to confirm a…
Flu still low but above recent winters: who can get a jab
UKHSA says September flu activity was higher than in the past four winters, though levels remain very low, and the autumn COVID-19 vaccine is open for booking.
Vitamin B12 and folate: who runs short
Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency affects around 1 in 10 people aged 75 or over, the NHS says, and the most common cause of B12 deficiency in the UK is not diet.
Five a day: what counts, and what studies found
Potatoes do not count towards five a day, but sweet potatoes and parsnips do, the NHS says.
What the evidence says about SAD lamps
Many people find a SAD lamp helps their symptoms, the NHS says, but it also says to speak to a GP before trying one.
Coffee and an irregular heartbeat: what a trial found
NHS advice for people with atrial fibrillation lists caffeine among the triggers to avoid.
Ultra-processed food: linked to ill health, but why?
In an April 2025 update, the government’s nutrition advisers said the evidence is almost all observational, with only one small randomised trial identified.
How much salt is too much – and where it hides
A 2020 review of 133 trials in the BMJ found that blood pressure was lower, on average, on reduced sodium than on people’s usual intake.
Most adults eat about 20g of fibre a day – the target is 30g
A Lancet review of 185 studies and 58 trials found risk reductions were greatest at 25g to 29g a day, though the certainty of the evidence was moderate.
Five things to try when sleep will not come
Five suggestions from NHS pages, plus NICE’s first-choice treatment for long-term insomnia: cognitive behavioural therapy.
Daily vitamin C: no shield against colds, a little time saved
A Cochrane review found no consistent effect on how long colds lasted from taking high doses of vitamin C only after symptoms began.
Melatonin: the sleep aid that needs a prescription in the UK
The MHRA found melatonin that was not on the label in a children’s gummy product sold online as a food supplement.
What honey does for a cough – and who should avoid it
A Cochrane review found honey probably had no advantage over a placebo beyond three days, and the NHS says it is not suitable for babies under 1 year old.
Blue-light glasses: what they promise – and what the evidence shows
The review covered 17 trials and 619 people, and its lead author said the findings do not support prescribing the glasses to the general population.
