Health & Society

The case for the NHS

Analysis of healthcare services in 22 countries reveal tax-funded systems are cheaper, have lower admin costs – and there is no evidence insurance-based models outperform them. Peter Blackburn finds out more

By Peter Blackburn 18.05.26

Praise for Covid vaccine roll-out

The development of vaccines and their delivery across the UK during the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic should be viewed as an ‘overall success’, according to Covid inquiry chair

By Tim Tonkin 17.04.26

Centre stage for NHS

The forthcoming Scottish Parliament election in May is an opportunity for the BMA to thrust a spotlight on failings in the NHS and, as BMA Scotland council chair Iain Kennedy says, there is a lot to improve upon

By Jennifer Trueland 15.04.26

The chance to make a difference

What do you do when a patient discloses alcohol misuse? There's definitely no quick fix, but Rachel Phillips was determined that her fellow GPs had access to the best possible resources. Jennifer Trueland reports

Jennifer Trueland 10.03.26

Doctors cleared of criminal damage

Six healthcare workers, including four doctors, say their climate activism has been vindicated after being found not guilty of criminal damage for breaking glass windows at the offices of JP Morgan they claimed was ‘an act of care’

Ben Ireland 17.02.26

The pioneers

To mark LGBT+ History Month, the BMA has highlighted four doctors who made important medical advances as well as often facing challenging personal circumstances. Tim Tonkin reports

Tim Tonkin 13.02.26

A chance to change

It is a familiar scene – patients trapped in a cycle of addiction and homelessness, seemingly doomed to make repeat visits to emergency departments and GPs. But Peter Blackburn meets the clinicians determined to give people a fighting chance to start new lives

Peter Blackburn 03.02.26

Invisible, invaluable

They've been called a second NHS: the millions of unpaid carers who not only sustain their loved ones but keep them out of hospital and residential care. But for too many there is a chronic lack of support, which can affect their physical and mental health. Seren Boyd reports

Seren Boyd 29.01.26