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England’s North–South maternity mortality gap persists

The study identifies persistent variations in perinatal mortality across England, calling for structured knowledge exchange to reduce health inequalities.

19 Jan 2026

Experts issue strong call for overhaul of UK dementia prevention strategy

A national panel of experts has issued the strongest call yet for the Department of Health and Social Care to overhaul how it approaches dementia prevention, pointing to vital evidence that dementia risk can be reduced and providing a framework for the development of new government policy that could improve brain health for millions.

16 Jan 2026

Pulse oximeters overestimate blood oxygen levels in patients with darker skin

Fingertip monitors known as pulse oximeters that can be used at home to detect low blood oxygen levels (hypoxaemia) give higher readings for patients with darker than lighter skin tones, finds the largest study on this topic published by The BMJ today.

14 Jan 2026

Comprehensive research identifies most effective ADHD treatments

The most comprehensive review to date of ADHD treatments has found that medication for children and adults, and cognitive behavioral therapy for adults, remain the most effective approaches, backed by the strongest short-term trial evidence.

26 Nov 2025

Advancements in molecular and genetic testing transform brain tumor care

Molecular and genetic testing has become a game-changer in brain tumour care - shaping diagnosis, guiding treatments and opening doors to new therapies.

12 Nov 2025

What’s driving England’s rise in chronic illness? Ageing, not lifestyle, researchers find

A new Nature Communications study using the IMPACTNCD microsimulation model projects that England’s major illness burden will rise sharply by 2043, even with substantial lifestyle improvements. Population ageing, not modifiable risk factors, remains the dominant driver of future multimorbidity.

5 Nov 2025

Major new study may lead to earlier detection of lung cancers

A major new study, which has recently begun recruiting, is hoped to lead to earlier detection of lung cancers.

27 Oct 2025

Major NIHR funding to drive health research and innovation in the Thames Valley region

Aston University and the University of Oxford have won £16.3m in funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to fund infrastructure to improve the health of people living in the Thames Valley region and beyond.

16 Oct 2025

Study highlights healthcare costs linked to both underweight and obesity in children

The NHS incurs an estimated £340 million in additional healthcare costs annually due to weight-related health problems in children – but it is not just obesity driving the costs.

14 Oct 2025

YouthDMH network promotes innovation in digital mental health

The European Commission and WHO have both emphasized the urgent need to address societal challenges in mental health, highlighting that young people are especially vulnerable and require immediate support.

10 Oct 2025

New trial explores how smart flooring could help prevent serious injuries by cushioning falls

With 219,000 fall-related emergency hospital admissions among people aged 65 and over in England in 2023/24, a new trial at the University of Surrey is exploring how smart flooring could help prevent serious injuries by cushioning falls - potentially easing pressure on the NHS and reshaping the design of hospitals, care homes and even private homes.

30 Sep 2025

New class of antibiotics shows potent activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria

Scientists at the University of Liverpool, working with international collaborators, have discovered Novltex, a groundbreaking new class of antibiotics with potent activity against some of the world's most dangerous multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria.

18 Sep 2025

AI rollout in NHS hospitals faces major challenges

Implementing artificial intelligence (AI) into NHS hospitals is far harder than initially anticipated, with complications around governance, contracts, data collection, harmonisation with old IT systems, finding the right AI tools and staff training, finds a major new UK study led by UCL researchers.

10 Sep 2025

Most autistic adults over 40 in the UK remain undiagnosed

89 to 97 per cent of autistic adults aged 40+ years are undiagnosed in the UK, according to the largest review of its kind which was conducted at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King's College London.

29 Aug 2025

Bacterial self-defense may hold clues to tackling antibiotic resistance

Researchers at the University of Southampton have worked out how bacteria defend themselves against viruses called phages and the new insights could be key to tackling antibiotic resistance.

28 Jul 2025

Covid-19 pandemic linked to accelerated brain aging

A new study, led by experts at the University of Nottingham, has found that the Covid-19 pandemic may have accelerated people's brain health, even if they were never infected with the virus.

22 Jul 2025

Virtual eye clinics in shopping centers cut waiting times for routine appointments

Innovative virtual eye clinics in shopping centres could significantly reduce waiting times for routine eye appointments, UCL-led research suggests in a first-of-its-kind study.

15 Jul 2025

Study: Millions worldwide still lack access to essential surgical care

Progress towards universal access to safe, affordable surgical care is dangerously off track as at least 160 million patients each year are unable to receive surgery - with Low- and Middle-income Countries (LMICs) bearing the brunt of the crisis, a new study reveals.

15 Jul 2025

Nearly one-third of UK maternal deaths tied to involvement of children's social care services

The involvement of children's social care services was a common factor in nearly a third of UK maternal deaths occurring during, or within a year of, pregnancy between 2014 and 2022, finds research published in the open access journal BMJ Medicine.

12 Jul 2025

Research reveals high mortality risk for mothers involved with children’s social care

A third of women who died during or in the year after pregnancy were known to Children's Social Care – higher than previously reported, new research reveals.

11 Jul 2025