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'60 stone' Welsh teenager remains in hospital

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:10:12 +0100

A chronically obese teenager cut free from her home by workmen after she grew too big to go outside remained in hospital today.

African monkey meat that could be behind the next HIV

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:00:01 +0100

Deep in the rainforest of south-east Cameroon, the voices of the men rang through the trees. "Where are the white people?" they shouted. The men, who begin to surround us, are poachers, who make their money from the illegal slaughter of gorillas and chimpanzees. They disperse but make it known that they are not keen for their activities to be reported; the trade they ply could not only wipe out critically endangered species but, scientists are now warning, could also create the next pandemic of a deadly virus in humans.

Liver disease 'time bomb' warning

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:38:02 +0100

A national screening programme is needed to tackle the "ticking time bomb" of liver disease caused by alcohol, obesity and hepatitis, according to a top doctor.

Second Briton is tested for rabies

Fri, 25 May 2012 07:14:38 +0100

A possible new British case of rabies is being investigated, disease control experts have confirmed.

Baby saved after doctors use smallest man-made heart

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Last-minute co-operation between doctors and medical authorities in Italy and the US enabled surgeons in Rome to transplant the world's smallest artificial heart – and save the life of a 16-month-old baby.

Listen up... and make someone's day

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

What small act of kindness would brighten up your day? A new YouGov poll, published by the Samaritans, discovered that 44 per cent of people across the nation say having someone listen to them would make them feel better.

Rabies mistake prompts hospital to launch an investigation

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

A hospital in Kent has launched an investigation into how a woman suffering from the deadly disease rabies was apparently turned away from its emergency department twice before her case was confirmed.

Hospitals to offer 'friends and family test'

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

Patients at NHS hospitals are to be asked whether they would want their loved ones treated on the same ward if they became sick.

Hospital inquiry into rabies case

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:20:02 +0100

An investigation has been launched into how a woman suffering from rabies was reportedly turned away from a hospital emergency department.

Popular calcium supplements 'can increase heart attack risk by 86 per cent'

Thu, 24 May 2012 08:30:01 +0100

Calcium supplements taken by tens of thousands of people to strengthen their bones may be doing them more harm than good, research suggests.

Caesarean births are linked to childhood obesity, says new report

Thu, 24 May 2012 08:20:14 +0100

Babies born by Caesarean section are twice as likely to be obese in childhood, researchers claim.

Therapist who tried to 'cure' me of being gay thrown out – but the system is still broken

Thu, 24 May 2012 08:00:01 +0100

History was made this week. For the first time, a therapist was found guilty of malpractice after trying to "treat" a client for their homosexuality – to turn them straight.

Government U-turn to boost jobs for disabled youngsters

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

The Government yesterday announced a £6.8m U-turn to end an embarrassing anomaly which led to accusations of discrimination against disabled youngsters.

The venture capitalists and the scandal-hit children's homes

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

The children's home group at the centre of the Rochdale sex abuse scandal was sold at a massive loss by its private equity owners just days before guilty verdicts were returned in the case, The Independent has learnt.

Rabies case in UK after dog bite in Asia

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:01 +0100

A rare case of rabies, a potentially fatal disease, was confirmed in the UK yesterday.

Controversial plans to change the way NHS spends its £100bn budget being considered

Wed, 23 May 2012 19:17:58 +0100

Senior health service managers are considering controversial plans to change the way the NHS spends its £100bn annual budget across different parts of England.

Deep concerns over government plans to cut benefits for alcoholics and drug addicts who refuse treatment

Wed, 23 May 2012 18:59:41 +0100

Doctors and addiction charities today expressed deep concerns over government plans to cut the benefits of people suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction who refuse treatment.

UN global health agency chief Dr Margaret Chan wins second term

Wed, 23 May 2012 17:20:45 +0100

Dr Margaret Chan, who has steered the World Health Organization through crises over bird flu and the respiratory SARS bug, has won a second five-year term as its director-general.

Rabies case confirmed in London patient bitten by dog in South Asia

Wed, 23 May 2012 17:01:17 +0100

A case of rabies has been confirmed in the UK, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said today.

11-year-old girl hospitalised after binging on vodka

Wed, 23 May 2012 15:48:01 +0100

An 11-year-old girl needed hospital treatment after binging on a "vast quantity" of vodka, police said.

Death of twins at Stafford Hospital 'totally avoidable'

Wed, 23 May 2012 12:40:14 +0100

The mother of newborn twins who died following an overdose at a scandal-hit hospital has described their deaths as "totally avoidable" after a coroner said there were failings in their care.

NHS education reforms 'lack detail'

Wed, 23 May 2012 08:34:58 +0100

The Government's plans to reform education and training in the NHS are unclear and lack detail, MPs have warned.

Patients to get choice of where they have medical tests

Wed, 23 May 2012 07:46:24 +0100

Patients will be able to choose where they have essential medical tests under a new scheme announced today.

'New challenges' as survey shows hospitals can leave you feeling worse

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:12 +0100

One in sixteen patients in hospital last year had an infection contracted as a result of their medical care that made them sicker rather than better.

Diabetes timebomb: Only half of NHS patients receiving acceptable care

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:05 +0100

Sweeping variations in standards of care for diabetic patients is costing thousands of lives and wasting tens of millions of pounds every year, the government’s spending watchdog reveals.

The sky's the limit: an extraordinary group of sky diving servicemen