George gave up alcohol to support his wife of 14 years during her final months. He explains why now, as a single dad, he’s staying sober As I held my wife Imogen’s frail hand – too frail and weak for her 44 years – on her last night of life, I had never been more clear-minded. The weeks leading up to her eventual death from stage four bowel cancer had been the…

The Scottish government is considering free IVF for single women – as a solo mother myself, I think the plans couldn’t come soon enough As I approached 40 without meeting a suitable partner, I realised having a baby on my own using donor sperm might be my only route to motherhood. I also realised very early on that I’d get no help from the NHS. A cursory Google search informed me that…

Cases of dementia are rising rapidly among Britain’s ageing population. Protecting against it begins with looking after your heart There are 900,000 currently living with dementia in the UK and that’s predicted to rise to 1.6 million by 2050. Frightening as the figures undoubtedly are, we all have the power to dramatically reduce our risk – and it begins with looking after our hearts. A landmark new statement released by the…

Stories like mine are rarely told because there’s no happy ending – instead I just feel bitterness and grief when I see a woman with a buggy When I saw this week’s news that the number of single women undergoing IVF or artificial insemination has tripled over the past decade, from 1,400 in 2012 to 4,800 in 2022, I cried in the toilet at work. I knew it would unleash a slew…

Most of us are increasingly aware of the importance of gut health, with its link to every aspect of our overall wellbeing – from our immune systems to our moods. We know that to enhance the quality of friendly bacteria in our microbiome, the community of microorganisms within our intestines, we should be eating kefir for breakfast, ordering kimchi with our sushi and drinking kombucha with our evening meal. Fewer of…

Police have recorded 504 cases of child sexual abuse in UK high street hotel chains in 2023, according to data shared exclusively with BBC News. Of these, 92% (464 cases) involved physical contact with a child, and 40% (203 cases) were classified as rape. The data, provided by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), reveals that most incidents occurred in budget hotel chains, often located near transport hubs like train…

In a landmark legal ruling, a tribunal has determined that a nurse, Sandie Peggie, is not obligated to use female pronouns for a transgender doctor, Beth Upton, in the context of an ongoing legal dispute. The case centers on Ms. Peggie’s claim that she was forced to change in front of Dr. Upton, whom she considers to be male, in the female changing rooms of Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy. Key Tribunal…

Professor Fredrik Nyström, a renowned endocrinologist and internal medicine physician at Linköping University, Sweden, has spent 25 years challenging conventional health wisdom-Obesity. His findings, which often defy mainstream health advice, aim to reduce anxiety about health and empower individuals to live happier, more sustainable lives. In his new book, Lighten the Load on Your Shoulders, Prof Nyström dissects health myths and argues that happiness, rather than obsessive dieting and exercise,…

In a significant milestone, the Nigerian government has signed a pact with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to join the Global Activator Network (GAN) to enhance healthcare delivery. On behalf of Nigeria, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, signed the deal, and the Managing Director of the WEF, Jeremy Jurgens, signed on behalf of the global economic body at Davos, Switzerland. Prof. Pate said, “The well-being…

In an increased rate of japa syndrome among medical professionals and a retirement age set at 60, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has urged the Federal Government (FG) to enrol medical lecturers on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to curb brain drain. At the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Friday in Ilorin, Kwara State, the president of MDCAN, Prof. Muhammad Mohammad, explained that about…

As the anti-malaria fight continues, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday has certified Georgia malaria-free, marking her the 45th country and 1 territory to have achieved this remarkable milestone. This came following a nearly century-long effort. Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, while congratulating the country, described their commitment as a source of hope, marking the possibility of making the world malaria-free. Ghebreyesus said, “Today we congratulate the people of Georgia…

The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) has dismissed a Locum Radiographer for negligence, which led to the death of a patient. The termination was announced in a statement issued yesterday, signed by Maria Maureen Bassey, Director of Administration and Secretary to the Board of Management. The radiographer, whose identity has been withheld, was found to have accidentally taken the key to the Accident and Emergency x-ray room, and the…