Health

A Care Quality Commission inspection in September concluded that leadership at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust needs significant improvements and ordered the trust to draw up an action plan; the trust said it accepts the findings and has already made some improvements.

A partnership between Bristol Rovers Community Trust and the NHS has provided free CPR training to dozens of local youngsters, and player Tom Lockyer—who survived a cardiac arrest in December 2023—took part in the initiative.

A partnership between Bristol Rovers Community Trust and North Bristol NHS Trust has provided free CPR training to dozens of local youngsters, and player Tom Lockyer took part in the events.

A study of about 135,000 people found that adding five minutes of moderate activity a day was associated with an estimated 10% reduction in premature deaths, and reducing sitting by 30 minutes a day was associated with an estimated 7% reduction; a separate analysis of nearly 60,000 UK Biobank participants linked small combined improvements in sleep, activity and diet with longer life.

A British Medical Journal audit found 655 UK patients were treated by the NHS for complications after overseas bariatric, cosmetic and eye surgery between 2011 and 2024, with estimated treatment costs up to about £20,000 per patient.

Six puppies in Snohomish County, Washington, were revived after suspected fentanyl exposure and are healthy but quarantined for about a week while an animal neglect investigation is underway.

A man in his 50s was found dead inside a caravan in Helston after a tree fell during Storm Goretti; his sister paid tribute and police say the death is not being treated as suspicious.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked manufacturers to remove label warnings about suicidal thoughts from GLP-1 weight-loss drugs after a review found no evidence of an increased risk in clinical trials.

A former soldier and teacher, Simon Taylor, was jailed for four-and-a-half years after a court heard he groomed and sexually assaulted a pupil at Hethersett Academy; he was placed on the sex offenders register and given a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The Gym Group reported rising membership and revenue and said GLP-1 weight-loss injections are contributing to demand as people seek to maintain weight loss and muscle mass.

The Thistle in Glasgow registered 575 users and recorded 11,348 visits in its first year, with staff managing 93 on-site medical emergencies.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Zycubo, developed by Fortress Biotech and Zydus Lifesciences, as the first U.S. treatment for Menkes disease. The drug is an under-the-skin injectable form of copper histidinate and data reported showed a large survival benefit with early treatment.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust declared a critical incident after a rise in winter infections and staff sickness led to sustained pressure, long waits and overcrowding at the Queen's Medical Centre emergency department.

Mattel released an autistic Barbie developed with input from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, and the doll's sensory features and gestures have prompted both praise and criticism that it reinforces stereotypes.

A UK pharmacist and the NHS said frequent use of over-the-counter antacids like Rennies or Gaviscon can mask underlying conditions and raise the risk of side effects; the pharmacist reported encouraging people who use them regularly to speak with a GP.

A small study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology reports that exosomes made from Damask rose stem cells were injected into scalps and that six out of ten participants saw pigment return to at least half their hair after four to five treatments; researchers describe the findings as preliminary and say longer, larger studies are needed.

Ishfaq Farooq, co‑founder of MyLahore, has been named the first official ambassador for Bradford Hospitals Charity and is supporting a £3 million appeal to provide family accommodation for neonatal intensive care patients.

Two mothers who each lost a son to illegal drugs are speaking out to raise awareness, and government figures show a 13% rise in children aged 17 and under in treatment for substance misuse.

Tens of thousands in Kent and Sussex faced low or no water supply after Storm Goretti and cold weather affected treatment and burst local mains, and South East Water said supplies may be intermittent while it increases flow but could not give a full restoration time.

Ian Sample asks Dr Allie Hare about menopause-related sleep problems, sleep paralysis, links between sleep and dementia, and Dr Hare offers her top tips for better sleep in 2026.

Amgen reported that an extension study found many trial participants maintained weight loss on lower monthly or quarterly doses of MariTide, and a 24-week study in people with Type 2 diabetes showed reductions in HbA1c and weight.

After being switched to a combination inhaler in 2024, six-year-old Amelia‑Rose has had no asthma attacks or hospital admissions for more than a year; researchers point to trials showing combination inhalers reduce attacks in children and a UK study will recruit about 1,350 children to test doses and use.

Researchers report links between gut microbiome diversity and healthier ageing, and individual tests can show differences in gut profiles; studies and experts say evidence is promising but still emerging.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the company is preparing for a large consumer market for obesity drugs and plans to launch 10 phase 3 studies of Metsera compounds by the end of the year.

Researchers and clinicians are exploring whether the gut microbiome influences ageing, and the author visited St Mary’s Hospital to discuss personal gut analysis with Dr James Kinross.

Four NHS trusts in Surrey and Kent have declared critical incidents after a surge in A&E admissions linked to increases in flu, norovirus and other respiratory illnesses.

Four NHS hospital trusts in Surrey and Kent have declared critical incidents because services are under sustained pressure from high emergency demand and seasonal illnesses.

Swiss healthcare company vVARDIS presented its drill-free early cavity treatment, Curodont, at the 2026 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference and reported that more than 2 million teeth have been treated in the U.S. since its launch two years ago.

Relatives said they suspected the ex-husband after police charged him with two counts of murder; the couple's young children were found unharmed and are now in the care of relatives.

A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction ordering the Department of Health and Human Services to restore nearly $12 million in grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics after finding evidence of a likely retaliatory motive; the funding supports rural care, early disability identification and other child health programs.