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NHS Wales to End Automatic Follow-up Appointments to Free Up Specialist Slots

Welsh government plans to eliminate automatic follow-up appointments after NHS treatment to free up consultant time for first-time specialist assessments, backed by £145m in funding and aiming to reduce waiting lists to pre-Covid levels by end of Senedd term.

7 min read

Widow warns of mounting farm safety crisis as deaths hit decade high

The widow of a farmer who died after falling into a slurry pit warns that farm deaths are reaching crisis levels, with 22 workers killed in 2025-26—the highest in a decade.

5 min read

Belfast Heart Procedure Review Expands as 670 Patient Records Examined

Belfast Health Trust is reviewing approximately 670 patient records following concerns that over 160 patients may have received unnecessary heart device implants from cardiologist Dr Ernest Lau between 2007 and 2023. The investigation was triggered by a 2023 patient complaint, though colleagues h...

4 min read

Health minister to meet NHS committee over Welsh Gender Service pause

Wales' health minister will meet the NHS committee overseeing a pause on gender-affirming surgeries at the Welsh Gender Service. The suspension, announced on 28 August 2026, halted new referrals and operations following concerns about referral volumes, though non-surgical care continues.

5 min read

Swinney pledges no compulsory redundancies as Scotland's health boards face radical overhaul

First Minister John Swinney has promised that plans to reduce Scotland's health boards from 14 to two will not result in compulsory redundancies, despite inevitable job losses across the public sector. The restructuring is part of his broader programme for government reform.

4 min read

Down hurler credits gym partners with saving his life after cardiac arrest

Former Down hurler Stephen Keith credits his gym training partners with saving his life after cardiac arrest. He spent nearly a month in hospital and now advocates for CPR training and community defibrillators.

4 min read

Breast cancer survivor: heart trial freed me from lifelong medication

A clinical trial shows most breast cancer survivors whose treatment damaged their hearts can safely stop taking precautionary medication, with 98% experiencing no decline in heart function after one year.

5 min read

Women Buying Testosterone Online After Struggling to Access NHS Prescriptions in Wales

Women in Wales are buying testosterone from online pharmacies by posing as men due to inconsistent NHS access. Specialists warn of health risks from unmonitored use, while calling for standardised prescribing across health boards.

9 min read

Families endure months or years waiting for dementia diagnosis

Hundreds of families report waiting months or years for dementia diagnoses, affecting their work, finances and wellbeing. The Alzheimer's Society is calling for an 18-week diagnostic standard to match cancer care pathways.

5 min read

Home urine test detects over 90% of bladder cancers in NHS trial

An NHS-trialled home urine test has shown 92% accuracy in detecting bladder cancer, potentially reducing the need for invasive cystoscopy procedures. The Galeas test is now being rolled out across the West Midlands and Wales.

4 min read

A&E visits by children in mental health crisis surge 36% in six years

Emergency department visits by children in mental health crisis surged 36% between 2019 and 2025, with over 6,200 young people waiting more than 12 hours. Medical leaders warn A&Es are unsuitable for vulnerable children and call for urgent investment in community crisis support.

6 min read

Updated flu vaccine rollout begins as NHS prepares for winter after record summer pressure

The NHS has begun rolling out an updated flu vaccine designed to protect against the subclade K strain that caused last winter's early and severe flu season. Schoolchildren and pregnant women can receive free vaccination from 1 September 2026, with most other eligible adults able to access it fro...

6 min read