Health

The Scottish Medicines Consortium has recommended zolbetuximab, to be used with chemotherapy, for some people with advanced or metastatic stomach (gastric) cancer; about 386 patients in Scotland are estimated to be affected each year.

China's population fell by 3.39 million to 1.405 billion in 2025 and births dropped to 7.92 million, marking a fourth consecutive year of decline.

The family of a boy who jumped into Sydney Harbour to rescue a friend after a suspected shark attack say the group of friends are traumatised; the injured 12-year-old remains in critical condition in hospital.

A requête led by Marc Leadbeater proposes a cross-committee working group to examine regulated cannabis in Guernsey and report back with recommendations by the end of 2026.

GP practices in England will display 'Jess's rule' posters asking clinicians to reconsider diagnoses after a patient has had three appointments without a diagnosis; the scheme is named after Jessica Brady and was co-designed with her parents and NHS bodies.

Teresa Brooks had breast augmentation in 2006 and was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in 2024; clinicians said her implants pushed natural tissue outward, which likely helped her notice a small lump early.

Researchers at the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute report in Nature Genetics that high levels of nucleophosmin (NPM1) are linked to WNT pathway errors in some bowel and liver cancers, and that blocking NPM1 reduced tumour growth in laboratory studies.

A sex coach says women aged 40–60 often tell partners they are 'fine' sexually while five recurring problems — unresolved trauma, stress, overthinking, fear of being left, and shame — commonly undermine satisfaction.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar pledged to establish Milly's Law after NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said some patient infections were likely linked to the hospital environment; the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry has published closing submissions ahead of final oral hearings.

Comedian Diona Doherty said a smear test she delayed for 12 years found severe pre-cancerous cells; she had a procedure to remove abnormal tissue and has been told no further treatment is needed until a follow-up smear in six months.

Posters for Jess's Rule will be displayed in all GP practices across England from this week, asking GPs to rethink a diagnosis after three appointments with no diagnosis; the materials were co-designed with the Brady family and health organisations.

Prosecutors say an 18-year-old daycare worker admitted suffocating two children and one 11-month-old later died; she is in custody on criminal charges and is due in court on February 4.

About a quarter of the body's bones are in the feet, and experts say appropriate footwear, maintaining a healthy weight and simple foot exercises can help reduce pain and injury.

Health authorities say eight children in Gaza have died of hypothermia this winter, and Unicef reports more than 100 children were killed in the territory since the October ceasefire.

Ian Russell said banning under-16s from social media would be wrong and called for stronger enforcement of existing laws; the House of Lords will vote on a related amendment next week.

A large genetic analysis of more than 350,000 UK Biobank participants linked genetically higher blood sugar two hours after eating to a 69% greater risk of Alzheimer's, though the result did not replicate in a separate international dataset.

The social media trend called “fibremaxxing” has attracted more than 150 million views on TikTok, while NHS guidance recommends adults eat 30g of fibre a day and most people in the UK currently consume far less.

The article says major UK supermarkets including M&S, Morrisons, Ocado, Asda and the Co‑op are introducing smaller, higher‑protein and 'GLP‑1‑friendly' products aimed at people using weight‑loss injections; market research cited in the piece estimates about 6% of UK adults are taking these drugs.

A large international review published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women's Health found no evidence that paracetamol use in pregnancy increases the risk of autism, ADHD or intellectual disability, and experts said the findings should reassure expectant people.

A beauty editor says she lost 10kg on Ozempic with health benefits but experienced thinning hair, facial fat loss and loosened neck skin; she tried a range of cosmetic injectables, topical products and a hair stem-cell transplant and reports early improvement.

An Alcohol Change UK survey found 41% of Greater London residents planned to take part in Dry January, above the 32% national average, and local breweries and pubs report rising demand for low and no‑alcohol options.

Posters promoting Jess's Rule, which asks GPs to reassess patients after three undiagnosed visits or worsening symptoms, have been distributed to all GP practices in England.

The NHS has said it recognises the need to revise guidance on single-sex staff spaces after an employment tribunal in Darlington found nurses had been subjected to harassment, and it is waiting for statutory guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission before changing policy.

A Lancet systematic review and meta-analysis of 43 studies found no evidence that maternal paracetamol use during pregnancy increases the risk of autism, ADHD or intellectual disability; the analysis included hundreds of thousands of children.

Health officials reported 15 additional pediatric flu-related deaths this week, bringing the season total to 32, while national test positivity and hospitalizations have begun to decline.

UK guidance sets 14 units a week as a low-risk level for men and women, and experts say health risks rise gradually with higher drinking, with clearer links to cancer, liver disease and other conditions.

Ynyshir, a two-star Michelin restaurant in Wales, received a one-star hygiene rating after inspectors said management of food safety required major improvement; the owner has disputed parts of the report and requested a re-inspection.

State health officials reported 124 new measles cases since Tuesday, bringing South Carolina's total to 558, and said the outbreak is centered in Spartanburg County.

A tribunal dismissed claims against a nurse and the trust but concluded that protections for transgender people do not create a positive right to use single-sex changing rooms, citing last year’s Supreme Court interpretation of the 2010 Equality Act.

NHS England will widen access to the prostate cancer drug abiraterone so about 2,000 recently diagnosed men could be eligible immediately and roughly 7,000 more a year may become eligible, according to reported clinical assessments and trial results.