People turn to private health care to beat long NHS waits, says watchdog

BBC Kelly Pardy’s eight-week nature prescription included snorkelling and rock-pooling Kelly Pardy was born with juvenile macular degeneration – a visual impairment that affects her central vision. The impact of the condition became particularly challenging when she became unemployed for a period of time. However, a referral to a “blue” social prescribing scheme in 2023…

Matt Hancock has defended government deals to buy personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic, saying the country was in a “desperate situation” at the time. In a bad-tempered session at the Covid inquiry, the former health secretary repeatedly criticised the line of questioning describing it as “naive”, “hostile” and “inappropriate”. He said he was…

Kate MorganWales community correspondent Rugby player Dillon Lewis admitted he didn’t know much about endometriosis when the couple first met It was just their third date when Sophie and her new love interest Dillon visited a fertility clinic. The pair had already discussed intimacy with a chronic condition, egg freezing and other “unsexy topics”. For…