Is Dry January a good thing?

Newly qualified doctors in their first year of practice in England have voted in favour of strike action in a row over a shortage of jobs. The British Medical Association (BMA) union says thousands of resident doctors are ending up without training places when they move from year two to three. This year there were…

Japan has for the first time approved over-the-counter sales of an emergency contraceptive pill, its manufacturer says, allowing women in the country to take the medication without prescription. ASKA Pharmaceutical said wider access to the pill would “empower Japanese women in the area of reproductive health”. A date for it to go on sale has…

Thousands of unpaid carers will have their cases reassessed after an official review found they had been left with huge debts caused by systemic failures. Former charity boss Liz Sayce found confusing guidance on Carer’s Allowance – given to those providing 35 hours of unpaid care a week – had left thousands with fines and…

BBC Cervical screening was an intimidating prospect for Natalie following the attack Warning: This article contains details that some readers may find distressing For survivors of sexual violence, even routine medical procedures can feel anything but routine. Smear tests – designed to protect – can instead retraumatise. To change that, a clinic in east London,…