Andrew Gregory

A survey of 37 NHS mental health providers found that 68% expect to reduce or close services in 2026–27, 59% anticipate freezing vacancies and 57% expect to cut clinical staff. Potentially affected services include child and adolescent care, talking therapies, addiction support, crisis services and community programmes. Providers say rising demand and pressure to make savings are undermining care and may lead to longer waits, while charities and unions warn that cuts could make the government’s planned expansion of community mental health centres impossible. The Department of Health and Social Care says it is investing £16.1bn in mental health services, has recruited 8,500 additional workers and is funding 159 new facilities.

A study of 12,409 dementia-free Americans found that having normal blood pressure, no type 2 diabetes and not smoking between ages 45 and 65 was associated with nearly 13 additional years of dementia-free life compared with having all three risk factors. Researchers from NYU Langone Health analysed data from the long-running ARIC study, which followed participants for an average of 26 years; 3,008 developed dementia and 5,238 died without it. The findings support managing cardiovascular risks in midlife, while experts stress that no strategy guarantees prevention and that dementia risk is shaped by multiple factors.

Research from the University of Cambridge and the Institute of Cancer Research suggests that current NICE criteria used by GPs in England miss up to 95% of women under 50 who will develop breast cancer within 10 years. The main limitation is the guidelines’ emphasis on family history, since 73% of these women have no such history. The Boadicea risk model, which incorporates reproductive history, lifestyle and genetic factors, identified eight times as many women at elevated risk. Experts called for the criteria to be reviewed but warned that comprehensive assessment and genetic testing would require substantial resources. NICE said the evidence does not yet justify changing its guidelines, while Breast Cancer Now stressed the need for investment to ensure any future changes are implemented fairly across the NHS.

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus accused major ultra-processed food companies of obstructing efforts to address the global obesity crisis by suing governments over warning labels, junk-food taxes and marketing restrictions. A Guardian-led investigation found 235 related lawsuits in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the US and the UK between 2010 and 2025; three-quarters of resolved cases were lost by companies, but litigation delayed policies for nearly 600 cumulative years and imposed substantial legal and healthcare costs. Tedros urged companies to end the lawsuits and called on governments to continue adopting measures that have improved diet and obesity outcomes.

A Guardian-led investigation identified 235 lawsuits brought against governments in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the United States and the United Kingdom between 2010 and 2025 over policies targeting ultra-processed food, including warning labels, junk-food taxes and marketing restrictions. Manufacturers and industry associations filed about three-quarters of the cases, with Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Mondelēz, Kellogg’s, Danone, Ferrero, Xignux and Heartland Food Products Group among the identifiable corporate plaintiffs. Although governments won roughly three-quarters of resolved cases, some proceedings lasted for years and collectively consumed nearly 600 years in court, delaying regulation and increasing public costs. Experts argue that the litigation mirrors tactics historically used by the tobacco industry to deter and weaken public-health action, while companies say they support health objectives and seek clarity or collaboration.

A modelling study from Canadian researchers estimates that 23% to 37% of heart disease cases and related deaths could be attributable to high consumption of ultra-processed foods, which dominate diets in many high‑income countries. The findings call for structural policy measures including food taxes, clearer labelling and marketing restrictions to reduce intake. Some external experts caution that the estimates have limitations and that further research is needed to clarify the extent of the risk.

A Royal College of Anaesthetists review finds that the UK has 2,256 fewer anaesthetists than needed, preventing about 1.53 million operations and procedures annually—roughly 4,000 a day. The shortage, driven primarily by insufficient training places and compounded by stress-related departures, is delaying surgery, worsening patients’ physical and mental health, and increasing NHS reliance on costly agency staff. The college is urging the government to expand training and improve workforce retention through its forthcoming 10-year workforce plan. The Department of Health and Social Care points to record numbers of doctors and 4,500 planned additional training placements, but has not said how many will be allocated to anaesthesia.

Health organisations and campaign groups are urging Andy Burnham to scrap the UK-US trade deal on medicines, warning that its increased drug costs could divert more than £44bn from NHS services by 2036 and cause an estimated 229,000 excess deaths. The agreement, signed under pressure from Donald Trump, is criticised for prioritising pharmaceutical profits over patient care. Nineteen health groups argue that Burnham should reverse recent NHS privatisation trends, address PFI issues, halt job cuts and reassess private-sector involvement, including Palantir’s contract. Burnham has not stated whether he will oppose the deal as he prepares to succeed Keir Starmer as prime minister.

Two new diagnostic tests for endometriosis, EndoSure and Endotest, have been approved for use on the NHS in England and Wales for a three‑year evaluation period, aiming to significantly reduce typical diagnostic delays of up to a decade. EndoSure measures gut electrical activity using abdominal sensors, while Endotest analyzes microRNAs in saliva, with results available quickly. NICE expects the tools to accelerate diagnosis and enable earlier treatment while collecting further evidence before final approval. A third test, DotEndo, requires additional research. Clinicians and patient advocates welcome the move, highlighting the potential to reduce suffering, free clinical capacity and improve recognition of symptoms.

A long-term study of more than 90,000 UK adults found that sitting or lying down while awake for over 30 minutes at a time is associated with a higher risk of cancer death, with each additional hour of prolonged inactivity raising risk by 10%. Breaking up sedentary periods with light movement such as slow walking or housework reduced risk, and replacing inactivity with even small amounts of moderate or vigorous activity further lowered it. Researchers emphasised that light movement plays an important role alongside exercise, though experts noted that findings are observational and cannot confirm causation.

Analysis published in the British Medical Journal estimates that increased spending on new medicines under the UK-US trade deal will divert £44.7bn from NHS services by 2036, potentially causing 229,000 excess deaths in England. The study warns that most avoidable deaths would stem from reduced care for major diseases. Critics accuse the government of yielding to US pressure, risking severe harm to the health system and patients, while campaign groups call for full disclosure of the deal’s impact. The government disputes the projected costs and maintains that the agreement improves access to innovative medicines.

AI analysis of CT scans from more than 1,700 patients found that denser chest and back muscles correlate with significantly lower risks of heart attack and premature death. Researchers link higher muscle density to greater physical activity and suggest using routine heart scans to identify individuals with poorer muscle quality who may benefit from closer monitoring or preventive treatments. Experts describe the findings as further evidence of the health benefits of regular exercise.

Resident doctors in England voted to accept a government offer that ends a long-running dispute over pay and job conditions. The agreement includes standard contract terms, a 6.6% pay uplift by 2027 and thousands of new specialty training places. After multiple rounds of strike action costing the NHS significant sums and disrupting patient care, 53% of voting BMA members backed the deal. Officials from the BMA, Department of Health and Social Care and NHS Employers welcomed the resolution while acknowledging continued work is needed on pay restoration and implementation.

A record-breaking heatwave intensified across Europe, with the UK recording a provisional June high of 36.4C, France reaching 40C or more, and temperatures in parts of Germany and Italy forecast to exceed 40C. Heat-related deaths were reported or estimated in Spain, Italy and France, while London’s ambulance service recorded its highest-ever number of life-threatening calls. French unions urged teachers to strike over unsafe classroom conditions, hospitals in England faced equipment and IT failures, and thousands of schools and events were disrupted. EDF temporarily shut down two French nuclear reactors to prevent overheated river water from harming aquatic ecosystems. Authorities issued new warnings and emergency measures, while officials and experts linked the severity of the heat to human-caused climate change.

Doctors report dangerous heat conditions in NHS hospitals, describing equipment failures, unsafe corridor care, and increased risks for vulnerable patients. Heat-related illnesses and hydration problems are rising, and staff say infrastructure is unable to maintain safe temperatures. Climate change is cited as a driving factor worsening patient safety, straining resources, and requiring urgent planning and resilience measures.

Extreme heat across England caused widespread failures in hospital infrastructure, including broken radiotherapy machines, MRI scanners and cooling units, leading several NHS trusts to declare critical incidents. Overcrowding, increased emergency admissions and sleep-deprived staff intensified pressures, while IT systems in some hospitals overheated. Major disruptions occurred in Portsmouth, Exeter and Norfolk, with cancelled appointments and compromised critical services. Senior clinicians warned that the NHS is dangerously unprepared for climate-related heat events and urged urgent upgrades to infrastructure. National health officials highlighted hot weather plans while emergency services recorded record call volumes, underscoring the growing strain on the healthcare system.

Workers across the UK are struggling with record June temperatures, prompting sectors from care homes to construction to adopt emergency measures to protect vulnerable people and maintain operations. Care facilities report heightened risks for older residents and uneven preparedness, while schools face closures, outdated buildings and pressure to stay open. Hospitals warn of overstretched infrastructure and soaring internal temperatures, with calls for urgent investment. Restaurants, food traders and farmers confront rising spoilage, energy costs and unpredictable demand, and zoos implement cooling tactics to protect heat‑sensitive species. Transport staff report unsafe cab conditions and unions demand maximum working temperatures. Construction workers face significant risks from working outdoors, with unions calling for strict temperature thresholds and better protections.

A comprehensive review of 10 common IVF add-on treatments found that most lack reliable evidence of improving fertility, with many showing no benefit or remaining inconclusive due to low-quality data. The study, published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health, highlights that more than 70% of IVF patients in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand pay for one or more add-ons, despite high costs and minimal proven effectiveness. Researchers identified weak evidence supporting EmbryoGlue, endometrial scratching, and PICSI, while the remaining add-ons showed no fertility benefit. Experts warn that unproven add-ons contribute to false hope, financial strain, and unnecessary procedures, urging IVF clinics to reconsider offering them.

England and Wales approved teplizumab for early-stage type 1 diabetes, offering up to three years’ delay before full disease onset. The decision, supported by a commercial agreement with NHS England, marks the first major therapeutic advance since the introduction of insulin. Health organizations and charities highlight the treatment’s potential to ease long-term disease management and give patients more time before requiring insulin. NICE describes the approval as clinically and economically justified based on available evidence.

A large Danish observational study of more than 800,000 pregnancies found that each additional hour of forward bending at work in early pregnancy was associated with a markedly higher miscarriage risk, with smaller increases linked to walking and standing. Researchers stress the findings cannot prove causation and note limitations such as missing smoking data and potential confounding occupational factors. Experts advise that ordinary movement during pregnancy remains safe but suggest that early pregnancy considerations should be incorporated into workplace guidelines pending further research.

Five patients with severe lupus in England achieved remission after receiving CAR T-cell therapy in an NHS-led clinical trial, showing rapid improvement in disease markers and kidney function. The treatment, which genetically modifies a patient’s own T-cells, appears effective even in cases unresponsive to existing therapies. Early results from both low- and high-dose groups suggest potential for long-term immune reset, prompting researchers to describe the findings as groundbreaking. The success has significantly improved patients’ quality of life and strengthened hopes that larger studies could confirm the therapy as a potential cure for lupus.

Two children in England have died from measles as more than 100 new infections were reported in two weeks, with cases concentrated in London, the east of England and the West Midlands. The UK Health Security Agency urged parents to ensure children are fully vaccinated, noting that most infections occurred in unvaccinated children under 10. Officials warned of serious complications from measles as vaccination rates remain at their lowest level in over a decade. The health secretary called for renewed vigilance and emphasised the importance of catching up on missed MMR doses to protect vulnerable groups.

Long A&E waits in England contributed to more than 1,300 excess deaths per month in 2025, according to analysis by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, marking a tenfold increase over a decade. Medical leaders describe the crisis as preventable and urge systemic reforms, including investment in beds, staffing, primary care access and social care capacity. They warn that overcrowded emergency departments continue to endanger patients, while the government cites recent investments and efforts to reduce corridor care but acknowledges further action is needed.

Major advances in cancer treatment were presented at the Asco conference, including smart drugs that expose tumours to the immune system and a tablet that doubles survival time for pancreatic cancer patients. Additional findings showed new therapies improving outcomes in lung, bowel and blood cancers, while genomic testing may allow many breast cancer patients to avoid chemotherapy. Researchers also warned that global cancer incidence is rising and a massive workforce shortage looms. Lifestyle-focused studies linked poor sleep to higher cancer risk in younger adults, and yoga was shown to reduce emotional and psychological distress in people living with cancer.

An immunotherapy drug, durvalumab, combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy significantly reduced bladder cancer recurrence while allowing patients to avoid bladder removal surgery in a phase‑two trial led by the Institute of Cancer Research. Presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting, the results showed an 85% non‑recurrence rate compared with 60% in previous non‑immunotherapy regimens. Experts said the approach could improve outcomes and preserve quality of life, while Cancer Research UK noted the potential for more effective and less invasive future treatments.

Studies presented at a major oncology conference indicate that GLP-1 weight-loss drugs may significantly reduce the risk of developing or dying from several cancers, including breast cancer. Analyses involving tens of thousands of patients found lower cancer incidence, reduced mortality when added to standard treatments, and decreased likelihood of disease progression. Researchers highlight possible anti-inflammatory and metabolic mechanisms but stress the need for further clinical investigation to determine whether the benefits stem from weight loss or other drug effects.

A Scottish lung cancer patient experienced a significant reduction in tumor size after joining a trial for the smart drug GRWD5769, which helps the immune system detect and destroy cancer cells. Early results presented at an oncology conference showed tumors shrinking by nearly a third, allowing him to resume normal life activities and plan major family events. He expressed gratitude to the medical team and researchers whose work enabled the treatment’s success.