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 […]

BBC Listen to this article on BBC Sounds Ministers, health staff and the public gathered in London last week for a summit to discuss the 10-year NHS plan in England. It was the final roadshow in a nationwide tour to help set out the strategy the government says will rescue the “broken” NHS, which has

People are being urged to “connect with nature” at the launch of a two-week festival to celebrate Exmoor National Park. The Exmoor Nature Festival runs from 17 May to 1 June and features activities including nature walks, art sessions and yoga. The organisers said they hoped participants word be “inspired to help us look after

Kelly Morgan BBC News, West of England Listen: How horses help young people facing emotional and mental health challenges A charity has called on the NHS to fund equine-assisted services which help children with their emotions and mental health. Cotswolds-based Horses for Wellbeing helps young people develop trust, emotional regulation and confidence. Its users told

PA Media Lord Patrick Vallance, former government chief scientific adviser, gave evidence to the inquiry in west London Boris Johnson pushed for a more “ruthless, authoritarian approach” towards people who refused to self-isolate during the pandemic, according to documents seen by the Covid inquiry. The instinct of policy makers was to favour “punitive measures” over

Covid inquiry Dido Harding said she had repeatedly urged greater financial support payments during the pandemic If the UK had spent more money helping people to self-isolate during the pandemic then fewer people would have been infected or died, the former head of NHS Test and Trace has said. Baroness Dido Harding, who was in

Healthcare staff will start encouraging patients to enjoy nature and the outdoors in a new scheme in the West Midlands. More than 40 health organisations have received training and free booklets to share with people they support in the hope of boosting their well-being as part of the scheme from the RSPB and the West

Peter Dazeley/ Getty Creative Disposable vapes have been found to damage the environment From Sunday, it will be illegal for businesses to sell or supply disposable vapes. The government hopes the ban will reduce environmental damage caused by the devices and help cut the number of children and young people vaping. How are the rules

An exercise programme for colon cancer patients can cut the risk of dying by a third, a major international trial shows. The researchers said it was “not a large amount” of exercise and any type of workout from swimming to salsa classes counted. The results could change the way colon cancer is treated around the

Getty Images Prime Minister Winston Churchill expressed frustration over slow progress securing antibiotic penicillin Winston Churchill’s push to obtain penicillin in time to treat casualties expected from D-Day has come to light in documents seen by BBC News. Official papers unearthed by the National Archives reveal the prime minister’s frustration and concern over slow progress