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Disability benefit claims hit record 4.1 million as system faces overhaul

Personal Independence Payment claims have reached a record 4.1 million people in England and Wales as of July 2026, up 7% year-on-year. A government review has concluded the system is "not fit for purpose" and final recommendations are expected in autumn 2026.

5 min read

Close up shot of a person looking at bills and receipts on a table next to a calculator in their kitchen. They are wearing a blue jumper and the kitchen sink is in the background.

Thirlwall Inquiry finds 'complete failure' to protect babies from Lucy Letby

A public inquiry into Lucy Letby's crimes at Countess of Chester Hospital has found a "complete failure" to protect babies, with systemic failures in hospital management and governance allowing preventable deaths and attacks to continue.

7 min read

Image shows Lucy Letby, wearing a blue hooded top, being led in handcuffs from her house, in footage captured on a police body camera.

Assisted dying laws now cover 300 million people worldwide—here's how they differ

More than 300 million people now live in countries with legalised assisted dying. Laws vary widely globally—some restrict access to the terminally ill, others permit assistance for unbearable suffering. Jersey has become the first British Isles jurisdiction to legalise the practice.

7 min read

Pedestrians walk past the posters promoting the Assisted Dying bill at Westminster Underground station in London, Britain, on 27 November 2024

Belfast Trust chief expresses 'deep shame' over Muckamore Abbey abuse scandal

Belfast Trust chief Jennifer Welsh has expressed deep shame over abuse at Muckamore Abbey Hospital, telling lawmakers the scandal represents a dark chapter in care history. The inquiry found 124 people referred for prosecution, with 58 prosecutions directed so far.

4 min read

A blue hospital sign that says Muckamore Abbey Hospital on a blue background in white writing. A red brick building is in the background.

Northern Ireland Assembly to debate conversion practices ban bill

The Northern Ireland Assembly will debate a bill to criminalise conversion practices on 10 September 2026, with a vote expected around 13:00. The legislation could impose a two-year jail sentence and has backing from Sinn Féin and the SDLP but faces opposition from unionist parties.

5 min read

Two men, pictured from behind, holding hands.

Wolverhampton women offered free home HPV testing kits

Women in Wolverhampton can now order free home HPV self-testing kits to check for cervical cancer risk, part of an NHS rollout targeting nearly 4 million women who have missed screening appointments.

3 min read

A medic, pictured from the shoulders to waist wearing purple scrubs, with a stethoscope around their neck, wearing white gloves and holding a sample tube.

NHS mental health unit staff slept as patient was killed, inquest finds

An inquest has found that staff at an NHS mental health unit in east London falsified records, slept on duty and were distracted on the night a patient was fatally attacked by another. Hugo Flint Cahan, 34, was strangled while receiving treatment at Newham Mental Health Centre. The coroner identi...

7 min read

Two 25-year-old men die after collapsing during Great North Run

Two 25-year-old men have died after collapsing during the Great North Run half-marathon in north-east England on Sunday. Both participants received immediate medical attention but passed away despite efforts by the event's medical team.

2 min read

The backs of hundreds of runners running across the Tyne Bridge which is partially covered by scaffolding on the left. Spectators stand on the right, many holding up colourful signs and looking to the runners on the left.

Grandfather's four-day hospital chair vigil leaves family 'horrified' over ED crisis

A 72-year-old man spent four days in a hospital chair awaiting a bed, prompting his family to call for urgent action on emergency department funding and capacity at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry.

5 min read

A woman with dark hair, wearing a green jacket, stands beside her grandfather. He is wearing a black shirt and black trousers. They are in a restaurant.

Aberdeenshire Care Home Faces Closure After Safety Inspection Failures

Bonnyton House in Ellon faces closure after Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership cancelled its contract, citing unresolved safety concerns. The home currently houses two residents and 24 jobs are at risk.

4 min read

A photo of an elderly person's hands which are resting on their lap and on the arm of a black chair. The person is wearing a purple knitted jumper.

East London's largest food redistribution hub opens to tackle rising hunger

East London's largest food redistribution hub opens in Barking on 10 September 2026, aiming to deliver 10 tonnes of food weekly to charities and food banks serving 7,000 residents. The facility addresses rising food insecurity, with Trust for London reporting a 23% increase in affected households...

4 min read

A group of people stand in a row and cheer as colourful confetti falls around them.

Woman spent 11 years on chemotherapy for a brain tumour she never had

A woman spent 11 years undergoing chemotherapy for a brain tumour she never had. Becky Jones was misdiagnosed by a consultant and has now joined over 40 patients taking legal action against the NHS trust involved.

7 min read

Becky Jones has shoulder-length brown hair with a fringe. She is standing in a park and is wearing a dress with multi-coloured flowers on it.