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NHS England orders trans patients to use hospital wards based on biological sex

NHS England has issued new guidance requiring trans patients to use hospital wards based on biological sex rather than gender identity, reversing previous policy. The change follows a 2025 Supreme Court ruling and comes amid rising breaches of single-sex accommodation rules.

5 min read

Rear view of a person in a hospital gown being guided by a healthcare professional

Fewer than 800 Scots access weight loss jabs on NHS despite three-year approval

Fewer than 800 Scots have received weight loss injections on the NHS despite approval three years ago, while 300,000 access them privately. Only six health boards offer the treatment through small pilot schemes, with doctors calling the disparity discriminatory.

7 min read

Kathleen McLaughlin with blonde hair and a flowery top has lost 4 stone on NHS Forth Valley's trial of weight loss drugs

Women advised to consult GPs as HRT patch shortages persist

Women facing HRT medication shortages are being urged to consult their GP or pharmacist for guidance on alternatives rather than self-medicating. Supply disruptions affecting Estradot and FemSeven Conti patches are expected to persist until late 2026 and January 2027 respectively.

4 min read

A senior woman wearing a blue vest sits on a bed while applying a hormone replacement therapy patch to her arm.

Contraceptive coil led to cancer discovery that saved her life

Caroline Bailey credits her contraceptive coil with saving her life after it led to the discovery of stage three ovarian cancer. A 13cm tumour pressing against the device caused severe abdominal pain she initially attributed to the coil itself. Following chemotherapy and surgery, she now has no e...

6 min read

This image is a composite of two pictures of Caroline. In the picture on the left, she is smiling at the camera in a restaurant setting. She has long brunette hair and dark eyes. she is wearing a spotty blouse in various shades of pink, brown, orange and white. In the picture on the right, she is seen smiling in a selfie sat in a hospital bed. She is bald, with medical tubing and catheter lines behind her ear and going down her left shoulder

Health minister vows to reintroduce private insurance rebate bill; Albanese rejects 'monoculture' vision

Health Minister Mark Butler commits to reintroducing legislation on private health insurance rebates for over-65s. Communications Minister Anika Wells addresses execution livestream concerns and introduces digital duty of care bill. Prime Minister Albanese rejects characterisation of Australia as...

9 min read

Ben Carroll’s Victorian Labor will today announce that – if re-elected in November – they will make Victoria the first state to offer free abortion care.

Kenya confirms second Ebola case linked to first victim

Kenya confirms a second Ebola case in a 39-year-old relative of the first victim, who died on 5 October after travelling from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The patient was already quarantined when symptoms emerged, improving recovery prospects and limiting transmission risk.

5 min read

A medical worker in Kenya dons Ebola protective gear: a yellow suit, blue gloves, white hood, an eye mask and face mask.

Man, 70, died of eye cancer after recommended follow-up scan was never scheduled

A 70-year-old man died from eye cancer after a recommended follow-up appointment was never scheduled, an inquest found. The coroner warned that 140,000 ophthalmology follow-up appointments await review in Wales, with only 65 consultant ophthalmologists available.

5 min read

Rear view of an ophthalmologist using a modern eye test equipment tool to perform a vision exam with his patient at an ophthalmologist's clinic

Woman dies months after paint canister explodes in garden fire

Katie Louise Marshall, 32, died at Bristol Royal Infirmary three months after a paint canister exploded in a garden fire, causing burns to 45-55% of her body. She died from bacterial pneumonia related to smoke inhalation and burn injuries. A full inquest is scheduled for June 2027.

2 min read

A woman with long blonde hair and a flowery dress looking at the camera. She is half-smiling

Amputee Denied Blue Badge Renewal Despite Previous Approval

A 71-year-old amputee has been denied renewal of his Blue Badge despite having received one three years ago, after Norfolk County Council demanded additional medical evidence. Ward submitted photographs of his amputation but was told this was insufficient, leaving him concerned about his independ...

5 min read

A person sits in a wheelchair in a living room, facing the camera. One leg is visible while the other appears to be amputated above the knee. The room contains armchairs, a television, a rug and a window behind the wheelchair.

Swimmer Archie Goodburn to meet prime minister over brain cancer research funding

Scottish swimmer Archie Goodburn, who has three inoperable brain tumours, meets the prime minister to demand increased funding for brain cancer research and a dedicated national lead to improve patient access to clinical trials.

5 min read

Archie Goodburn following his Men's 50m Breaststroke final at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre during day four of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He is leaning out of the water on a red lane guide. He is wearing a white swimming cap with blue writing on it and goggles on his forehead.

Creating a memorial garden at home to honour loved ones

Emma Moore created a memorial garden at home after her daughter Mabel died at just two days old. Rather than rely on distant cemetery visits, the family planted flowers, a willow tree, and a bench beneath it—a space where they feel close to Mabel every day.

5 min read

Child standing in a garden in the foreground, holding a hose spray nozzle above their head and watering raised wooden planters. Water arcs from the nozzle across the planters, which contain various flowers and leafy plants. A wooden bird-table-style structure stands beside the planters, and a mushroom-shaped garden ornament is visible at the corner of one planter. A wooden fence and dense hedging form the background.

Man born without ear hears for first time after receiving custom prosthesis

Stephen Gilbert, 74, was born without an external ear and unable to hear on his left side. After 29 years of treatment at the Ulster Hospital, he received a custom prosthetic ear fitted with a hearing aid, finally allowing him to hear on his previously silent side for the first time.

8 min read

An older man, with short, dark grey hair, wearing a check shirt and a purple jumper. He is sitting in front of a cabinet with prosthetics inside.

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