Health

Tessa Marshall, 28, told sixth form students she had an abortion at 15 and said the experience shaped her views on bodily autonomy and sex education. She is standing for the Senedd in May and spoke about the issue at a Cardiff school hustings.

Malawi launched a three-day cholera vaccination campaign this week in Blantyre as unusually heavy rains and regional flooding increased concerns about outbreaks; officials said the initial effort aimed to distribute about 24,000 oral doses while noting unsafe water sources in some neighborhoods.

Reports say colorectal cancer deaths have risen among people under 50, and the article notes common early signs include abdominal pain, changes in bowel movements and blood in the stool.

A PROSTaid group in Leicester meets monthly to offer peer support to men diagnosed with prostate cancer. The regional charity also funds four specialist cancer nurses across Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.

CQC inspectors rated Walsall Council's adult social care as "requires improvement" and advised stronger support for autistic people and those with learning disabilities. The council says assessment delays are improving and an improvement action plan is in place.

Sun Pharmaceutical has received regulatory approval to manufacture and sell a generic version of Wegovy in India and will market the semaglutide product as Noveltreat once the semaglutide patent expires in March 2026.

The Queen's Reading Room will fund a laboratory-controlled neuroscientific study of shared reading, led by Professor Sam Wass at the University of East London in partnership with The Bentley Foundation, with results expected by World Mental Health Day in October.

The government says it will place more cancer doctors in rural and coastal hospitals by offering specialist training posts, and a national cancer plan with targets and new technologies will be published on 4 February.

The government will create more cancer doctor training places in hospitals with the greatest shortages and will publish a National Cancer Plan on February 4 that aims to speed diagnosis and broaden access to new tests.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said NHS dentistry is 'moving in the right direction' while acknowledging it remains far from his goal and called it 'shameful' if people have to pull out their own teeth due to lack of dentists.

A study published in Stem Cell Reports found that changing the gut microbiome altered intestinal stem cell activity in mice: young microbiomes restored age-related decline in tissue repair, while an age-linked bacterium reduced regenerative signalling. The article also notes growing public interest in probiotics and their promotion by well-known figures.

Emma Gannon experienced a panic attack and was diagnosed with anxiety and burnout, then spent about a year stepping back from most commitments; her memoir A Year of Nothing was published on 22 January.

Spencer and Monique Tepe were killed at their Columbus home on Dec. 30, and their infant son was likely left crying in his crib for hours before police arrived; an ex-husband has been arrested, indicted and extradited to Ohio.

A University of Bristol-led study using genetic analysis found a causal link between higher body mass index and an increased risk of vascular-related dementia, with about a quarter of the excess risk associated with high blood pressure.

The article recommends 24 skin, hair and body products—mostly under £50—to help hydrate and repair skin and hair in cold, dry winter conditions.

BBC audiences across the south of England shared mixed experiences of NHS care this winter, praising many staff while reporting problems with waits, out-of-hours care and cross-border coordination.

A real-world U.S. data analysis found many patients maintained or continued to lose weight months after stopping semaglutide or tirzepatide; the observational study has limitations and is being prepared for peer review.

A woman in Wiltshire was diagnosed with cervical cancer after attending a routine screening and was later declared cancer-free following treatment.

A Northern Ireland cancer patient says prompt diagnosis and treatment helped her recovery; Cancer Research UK warns many other patients face long waiting lists and has called for emergency measures to protect patient safety.

Jennifer Dummigan says quick diagnosis and treatment helped her reach a currently cancer-free status, while Cancer Research UK and official figures report long waits and missed targets for many cancer patients in Northern Ireland.

A mother who died alongside her eight-year-old daughter after a Huddersfield house fire had posted a video hours earlier about her distress, and an inquest heard police concluded she was responsible for the blaze; the inquest is continuing.

A defendant has been convicted at Gloucester Crown Court of assault and compulsory labour after a woman with learning difficulties was held for more than 20 years in Tewkesbury; the victim was found by police in March 2021 following concerns raised by a family member.

An unnamed woman with learning disabilities was held and made to perform unpaid domestic work in Tewkesbury for more than 25 years; Amanda Wixon was found guilty and will be sentenced in March.

Jurors heard that staff at Skircoat Lodge in Halifax were alleged to have run a 'regime of fear' for almost 20 years and that two former employees, Malcom Phillips and Linda Brunning, are facing related proceedings at Bradford Crown Court.

Queen Camilla visited Maggie's Cheltenham centre to mark the charity's 30th anniversary and met people living with cancer, and former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell‑Horner attended as a guest and supporter.

A jury found Amanda Wixon guilty of assaults and forced labour for holding a woman in her home for about 25 years, and she will be sentenced on March 12.

Jelly Roll lost about 300 pounds and says the change has allowed him to be more present with his two children, including coaching his son's basketball team.

Jasmin Roberts raised £1.5 million to fund her son Ollie's specialist heart surgery in California, which was reported as successful; Ollie is recovering in intensive care and a further operation in the UK is planned within three to 12 months.

Dermatologist Dr Derrick Phillips advises applying products from the thinnest to the thickest, allowing about 5–10 minutes between layers, and finishing morning routines with a high-factor broad-spectrum SPF.

A jury convicted Amanda Wixon of offences relating to the long-term servitude and control of a woman who lived with her from 1996 until the victim raised the alarm in 2021; Wixon has been granted conditional bail and faces sentencing in March.