Andrew Gregory

Robot surgery on humans could be trialled within decade after success on pig organs AI-trained robot carries out procedures on dead pig organs to remove gall bladders without any human help

A robot trained on videos of surgeries performed a lengthy phase of a gallbladder removal without human help.

Number of abortions in England and Wales hit record high in 2022 Almost three in 10 conceptions ended in legal terminations, ONS figures show, as provider says women struggling to access contraception

The number of abortions in England and Wales reached a record high in 2022, with a leading provider stating that women are facing “significant barriers” in access to contraception.

Gaza aid workers overwhelmed by ‘mass casualty incidents’ at food distribution sites Doctors say hundreds have been wounded by Israeli gunfire while trying to reach convoys

Medical officials, humanitarian workers and doctors in Gaza say they have been overwhelmed by almost daily “mass casualty incidents” as they struggle to deal with those wounded by Israeli fire on Palestinians seeking aid.

NHS pharmacies to pilot ‘sponge on a string’ test to spot cancer precursor Scheme in England to identify signs of oesophageal cancer forms part of government’s 10-year health plan

Hundreds of people in England are to be offered a “sponge on a string” test to identify a precursor to one of the deadliest cancers in high-street pharmacies for the first time.

Resident doctors in England vote to strike over pay Vote comes after BMA criticised ‘woefully inadequate’ 5.4% award for medics formally known as junior doctors

Resident doctors in England have voted in favour of strikes that could result in industrial action lasting until January next year, the British Medical Association has announced.

Liverpool mobile greengrocer to reach ‘food deserts’ with aid of mapping tool Exclusive: Government-funded pilot in areas where it’s ‘easier to buy a vape than an apple’ may be extended across UK

A mobile greengrocer will deliver fresh fruit and vegetables in areas of Liverpool where it is “easier to buy a vape than an apple” as part of a new government scheme to tackle food inequality.

Calls to clean up England’s ‘toxic air’ as GP visits for asthma attacks rise 45% Exclusive: Doctors say clean air zones need expanding, after 45,458 visits in first half of this year – up from 31,376 last year

Exclusive: The number of patients being treated by GPs for asthma attacks has increased by 45% in a year, prompting calls for urgent action to tackle toxic levels of air pollution.

Swimming in urban waterways across the world should be a right, say campaigners Swimmable Cities summit in Rotterdam wants to change cleanliness of waterways and people’s relationship to them

Swimming in urban waterways should be a right, activists have said, as an international alliance aims to persuade politicians to clean up rivers so they can be used safely by their citizens.

Israeli strike targeting Palestinian police distributing aid in Gaza kills 18, say medical officials Strike is latest in series of air attacks by Israeli forces that have killed hundreds of civilians seeking food

Eighteen people have been killed in an Israeli strike targeting Palestinian police distributing flour in a market in the central Gaza City of Deir al-Balah, medical officials have said.

One in four young people in England have mental health condition, NHS survey finds Rates are higher in young women as in young men and mental ill health up across age groups, study shows

Sharp rises in rates of anxiety, depression and other disorders have led to one in four young people in England having a common mental health condition, an NHS survey shows, with young women more likely to report them than young men.

Test developed to identify women at increased risk of miscarriage Study discovered abnormal process in womb lining, with potential for new treatments to prevent pregnancy loss

Scientists have developed a test to identify women with an increased risk of miscarriage, which could pave the way for new treatments to prevent pregnancy loss.

UK schools and offices not equipped for impact of global heating, report warns Exclusive: UK Green Building Council calls for adaptation of millions of buildings and warns of flood threats to towns

The UK’s schools, care homes and offices are not equipped for the effects of global heating and face lengthy heatwaves even in optimistic scenarios, according to a groundbreaking report that calls for climate resilience to be declared a national emergency.

Hundreds of weight loss and diabetes jab users report pancreas problems UK health officials launch study into side-effects of weight loss drugs after increased reports of acute pancreatitis

Hundreds of people have reported problems with their pancreas linked to taking weight loss and diabetes injections, prompting health officials to launch a study into side-effects.

Equivalent of one child in every British classroom now born via IVF, data shows Proportion of women giving birth after fertility treatment up by more than a third in a decade, figures reveal

The proportion of women giving birth after fertility treatment in the UK has increased by more than a third in a decade, with the equivalent of one child in every classroom now born as a result of IVF, figures show.

UK graduates facing worst job market since 2018 amid rise of AI, says Indeed Job search site says number of roles advertised for recent graduates is at lowest level in seven years

University graduates in the UK are facing the toughest job market since 2018 as employers pause hiring and use AI to cut costs, figures suggest.

‘Like a trap’: NHS surgeon describes death of nephew, 16, at Gaza food point Mohammad went missing after becoming separated from his uncles. His family later found his body mutilated beyond recognition

An NHS surgeon has described how his nephew’s body was found mutilated beyond recognition at a food distribution site in Gaza. The UN says 410 people have been killed by the Israeli military while trying to reach food distribution sites since May.

UK can reach net zero by 2050, climate report finds Climate Change Committee says current targets could be met provided country takes ‘steps forward’ to achieve them

The UK can reach its net zero targets for 2050, and its interim carbon budgets for 2030 and beyond, the government’s statutory climate advisers have reported, in an unusual vote of confidence in green policy.

Poorest parts of England to get £2.2bn more for NHS to cut care inequalities Deprived and coastal areas to get extra cash this year for staff and resources in effort to improve health outcomes

NHS services in deprived and coastal places will receive a £2.2bn boost this year to pay for more staff and equipment to help them close the wide gap in resources between them and well-off areas.

Millions of children at risk as global vaccine rates fall, study finds Persistent health inequalities, disruption caused by Covid-19, and soaring levels of misinformation and hesitancy are behind fall, say study’s authors

Millions of children worldwide are at risk of lethal diseases because vaccine coverage has stalled or reversed amid persistent health inequalities and soaring levels of misinformation and hesitancy, the largest study of its kind has found.

At least 40 more Palestinians killed seeking aid in Gaza, say medics and officials Shootings by Israeli forces raise death toll of such incidents in Gaza in last two weeks to more than 500

Israeli forces killed at least 40 Palestinians in Gaza and ordered new evacuations on Tuesday, local medics and residents said, in further bloodshed shortly after Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire in their air war.

Scientists use bacteria to turn plastic waste into paracetamol Genetically modified E coli used to create painkillers from material produced from plastic bottles

Bacteria can be used to turn plastic waste into painkillers, researchers have found, opening up the possibility of a more sustainable process for producing the drugs.

Noise pollution harms health of millions across Europe, report finds About 110 million people suffer stress and sleep disturbance that lead to tens of thousands of early deaths

More than 110 million people across Europe suffer high levels of health-damaging noise pollution, according to a report. The resulting physiological stress and sleep disturbance leads to 66,000 early deaths a year and many cases of heart disease, diabetes and depression.

Domestic abuse is ‘public health emergency’, experts say after critical NHS report Exclusive: Analysis finds domestic abuse training for staff in England and Wales ‘sporadic and inconsistent’

Domestic abuse is a public health emergency, experts have claimed, after a report concluded that the NHS is failing victims by not training staff to spot and respond to the signs of domestic violence.

Vapes threaten to undo gains in tackling dangers of tobacco, health leaders warn WHO calls for higher cigarette taxes, plus graphic warnings on vapes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches

Aggressively marketed vapes threaten to undo progress made on smoking control, according to the World Health Organization.

NHS begins mass rollout of weight-loss jabs to patients in England About 220,000 patients expected to receive Mounjaro over three years as GPs can prescribe the drugs for the first time

Thousands of patients in England will be able to access weight-loss jabs via their GP from Monday for the first time.

Wes Streeting announces investigation into NHS maternity services Health secretary announces ‘rapid’ national inquiry into failings in NHS care of mothers and babies in England

The health secretary, Wes Streeting, has announced the launch of a national investigation into NHS maternity services.

Majority of children will be overweight or obese in nine areas of England by 2035, study shows Exclusive: Analysis by Royal Society for Public Health suggests obesity rates will rise in 90% of the country

Exclusive: The majority of children will be overweight or obese in nine areas of England by 2035, according to “deeply concerning” projections showing child obesity rates are set to worsen across 90% of the country.

Overseas-trained doctors ‘put off UK due to cost of living and low salaries’ Exclusive: Research by the General Medical Council found doctors opting for US, Australia and Canada instead

Doctors are choosing not to come and work in the UK because they are put off by low salaries, the high cost of living and poor quality of life.

UK air pollution killing more than 500 people a week, doctors say Royal College of Physicians also says poor air quality costs country more than £500m a week

Dirty air is killing more than 500 people a week, with health harm to almost every organ of the body caused by air pollution, even at low concentrations, the Royal College of Physicians has said.

Fake dentist charged by Czech police after treating dozens of patients Tooth extraction among procedures offered by self-taught 22-year-old and two family members

A fake dentist and two assistants who treated dozens of patients after learning the trade on the internet have been charged in the Czech Republic.