Beth Cruse,West of England and James Diamond,West of England, Bath BBC William has Treacher Collins syndrome, which affects around one in 50,000 children The mum of a seven-year-old boy with a rare genetic condition says life-changing surgery means he is finally able to have his very first sleepover. William, from Bath in Somerset, has Treacher […]

Some 380 hospice beds out of around 2,000 lie empty in England because of financial pressures, say bosses. Hospice UK has told BBC News this is up from 300 a year ago and illustrates the severe challenges facing the sector. Beds are left empty to save money – since staffing and caring is costly –

Getty Images Scotland’s abortion laws are “not fit for purpose” according to an expert group, which has called for legal recognition for a woman’s right to choose. Currently, an abortion is only legal before 24 weeks when two doctors agree that certain grounds have been met – such as a risk to the mother’s physical

Martin HeathHertfordshire political reporter Getty Images Infection rates in children are higher than usual, say officials A county’s health officials have warned more children and young people could become infected with a severe strain of flu than usual at this time of year. Public health bosses in Hertfordshire said hospital admissions were low at the

Jessica LaneEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire BBC Rosie Halsall, 18, wants to make free sports bras and fitting available in secondary schools A former Team GB roller derby skater says the cost of sports bras is discouraging younger females taking part in physical activity. Rosie Halsall, 18, from Sheffield, is campaigning for free sports bras and

Tom BurgessNorth East and Cumbria BBC The University Hospital of Hartlepool said improvements had been made after Dawn Lord’s complaint A woman who did not give informed consent for a hysteroscopy has described the procedure as “agonising”. Dawn Lord, 51, believed she was attending an appointment at the University Hospital of Hartlepool to discuss future

Supplied Alex Allan is a nutritionist and said more needs to be done for women who have polycystic ovary syndrome When Alex Allan was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) aged 22 her GP told her the symptoms could only be managed and to come back when she wanted to have a baby. Thirty years

Princess Beatrice has said premature birth can be “incredibly lonely”, as she reflected on her own experience for a podcast ahead of World Prematurity Day. Her words are part of a campaign for premature birth research charity Borne, of which she became a patron months after her daughter was born several weeks early. “I think

When Sophie first met her now fiancé, Wales rugby international Dillon Lewis, she felt she had to be up front. At the time, she was freezing her eggs – a process she started because of potential fertility issues from her endometriosis. The condition means cells similar to those in the lining of the womb (uterus)

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