This week has been one of those weeks. In general practice, there are days where everything seems to flow. You have more straightforward consultations, fewer unexpected problems, and you leave feeling like you've been able to keep on top of everything. Other days, every consultation feels complex. Every patient needs more time, more referrals, more investigations. You fall behind, and no matter how hard you try, you can't catch up. You stay late trying to finish everything, only to return the next day and find yourself in the same position again.

For many people living with endometriosis, the road to diagnosis is long and difficult. Despite affecting around one in ten women and people assigned female at birth of reproductive age, it takes an average of more than nine years to receive a diagnosis. During this time, symptoms can have a profound impact on education, work, relationships, fertility and overall quality of life. This month, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) announced draft recommendations for two new technologies that could help identify endometriosis earlier. While these tests are not intended to replace existing diagnostic pathways, they represent an encouraging step towards faster diagnosis and earlier access to treatment.

When people hear the words "benign brain tumour", they often assume it's reassuring. After all, benign means it's not cancerous. But for thousands of people living with an acoustic neuroma, that single word can be deeply misleading. When I was four years old, my mum was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma. Although the tumour wasn't cancerous, it was already very large and required major brain surgery on more than one occasion. We were incredibly fortunate that she's still here today, but the diagnosis — and everything that followed — changed our lives forever.

From around October 2026, babies born in England are expected to be routinely screened for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) as part of the NHS newborn blood spot screening programme. While this may seem like a relatively small addition to an existing test, it represents a major milestone in paediatric medicine, as for babies born with SMA, identifying the condition before symptoms develop can dramatically alter the course of their lives. What is Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)? Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare inherited neuromuscular condition caused by changes (mutations) in the…

When the NHS introduced routine Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination for girls in 2008, few could have predicted just how transformative it would become. Fast forward to 2026, and researchers have reported something remarkable. Among women in England aged 20-24 who had been offered the HPV vaccine at 12-13 years of age, no deaths from cervical cancer were recorded between 2020 and 2024, compared with around 23 deaths that would have been expected based on historical trends. These findings represent one of the clearest examples yet of not only how vaccination can reduce the risk of cervical cancer, but deaths from the disease.

By Lisa Banirian Just as every structure needs a strong foundation, our bodies are supported by the spine. The spinal column consists of five regions and a total of 33 vertebrae, some of which are fused by adulthood. The spine works in conjunction with muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves that support movement and protect the spinal cord, which carries information from the brain to the rest of the body. This framework allows the body to achieve mobility, stability, and flexibility. Each region — cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, coccygeal — has distinct anatomical features and functions essential for our bodies' overall support and movement.

What if a vitamin you get from food could be re-engineered to help fight one of the most aggressive brain cancers? From a clinical perspective, glioblastoma is one of the most challenging cancers encountered in neuro-oncology; it is the most common malignant (cancerous) brain tumour in adults and among the most aggressive. Despite maximal treatment, average survival remains around 12-18 months from diagnosis. Glioblastomas arise from glial cells within the central nervous system (i.e. the brain and spinal cord). They include microglia, which act as the brain’s immune cells and help respond to injury or infection; …

By Bushra Zletni, MSc Receiving a life-changing diagnosis is always difficult, and for many families, a Huntington’s disease diagnosis introduces significant uncertainty and emotional burden. This condition progressively impacts movement, cognitive abilities, and mental well-being, influencing the everyday lives of both patients and their caregivers. For many years, the absence of treatments that modify the disease has rendered this diagnosis particularly tough; however, recent advancements indicate that a shift may finally be on the horizon. Huntington’s disease is named after physician George Huntington, who first provided a clear clinical description of the condition in 1872.

Today marks the start of a 6-day walkout by resident doctors, formerly "junior doctors", across England. The dispute between resident doctors and the government has been ongoing since 2023, with multiple rounds of strike action already behind us. Much of the public conversation focuses narrowly on pay, though this focus obscures the far more complex reality. At its heart, this is a dispute about the future of the NHS workforce — how we train doctors, how we retain them, and whether the system can sustain itself in the years ahead.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the protective layer that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, made up of dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater (see below). It can be caused by a number of infective and non-infective factors. The recent Kent 2026 MenB outbreak has brought meningitis back into the spotlight, with many people contacting their GP or NHS 111 to ask what it is and whether they might be at risk — something I’ve noticed myself this week, too — as people are understandably concerned.

By Dr. Antti Rintanen, MD, MSc Trauma is an experience — or series of experiences — in which a real or perceived threat is encountered, often accompanied by overwhelming stress or loss of control. Most people have experienced at least one traumatic experience in their lifetime. However, only a small percentage develop an actual post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many of my trauma patients come to my office with physical symptoms, such as chest pain, palpitations, insomnia, or loss of appetite. Often an underlying somatic cause is sought for the symptoms.

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a common neurological condition — yet many people have never even heard of it. Even more concerning, it is still widely misunderstood. I was reminded of this when I recently attended a conference at the Walton Centre, a specialist neurology and neurosurgery trust in the North West. During the conference, consultant neurologist Dr Christine Burness gave a talk on FND that shifted my perspective on how we understand and approach the condition. As a doctor, FND has always been on my radar. But Dr Burness’s talk challenged some of my assumptions and prompted me to think more carefully about how we assess and explain neurological symptoms that don’t fit traditional patterns.

By Dr Hassan Khalil, NHS GP and GP Expert Witness For today's blog post, we're doing something a bit different. I recently spoke with Dr Hassan Khalil, an NHS GP and GP Expert Witness, to better understand what happens when clinical practice is examined through a legal lens. We often hear the term “expert witness” in the context of high-profile cases or legal dramas, but what does it actually mean in everyday general practice? And what does a GP expert witness do, and how do they determine whether the standard of care has been met?

By Derek Miao, clinical pharmacist and medical writer If your doctor recently recommended a statin, you may be wondering what it is and why it matters. You may also have heard conflicting information or myths about statins — so what’s actually true? Let’s dive in and break it down to plain language! Contents What are statins? Why are statins important? Diabetes and high cholesterol What are the benefits of Statins? When are statins prescribed in the UK? Blood tests before starting Statins Common side effects Statins myths vs facts…

By Dr Glady Ann Thomas, BDS Obesity is often discussed loudly in society but understood quietly. Many people know it is linked to a multitude of chronic diseases, yet few truly understand how. Even fewer feel supported when navigating it. Obesity is a chronic health condition influenced by far more than what someone eats. It affects millions of people worldwide and remains one of the most misunderstood conditions in modern healthcare. Research increasingly shows that body weight is shaped by complex interactions between biology, environment, psychology…

By Dr. Chinyere Martins-Odum, MBBS, BNSc Mpox, formerly called Monkeypox, is an infectious disease caused by the Monkeypox virus. Beyond physical illness, it carries psychological and social sequelae. Contents The 2022 UK Mpox outbreak and disproportionate impact on GBMSM Mpox stigma and public health messaging: a double-edged sword Misconceptions about Mpox transmission Psychological impact of Mpox-related stigma The link between psychological distress and physical health Mpox care pathways in the UK Symptoms of Mpox Reducing Mpox-Related Stigma What Clinicians Can Do What Patients and the Public Should Know…

By Inaaya Ashraf Remember that time you were sitting in the waiting room, counting down the minutes until your name was called, and then you finally see your doctor for the blood test results? Something completely normal and common, right? Remember the feeling of butterflies in your stomach. The racing heartbeat. The sweaty palms? And then after all of that worry, you're completely fine. So why did it feel like a phone vigorously vibrating in your pocket, even though there was no notification? I've since learned that…

By Shubhaa Forrest CONTENT WARNING — This article contains first-person discussion of anorexia, eating disorder behaviours, weight change, calorie restriction, and the psychological impact of long-term illness. Some readers may find this content distressing. Please take care while reading and consider seeking support if this raises difficult feelings. For support and practical guidance, you can also read our sister article on anorexia by clicking here, which offers resources and advice for those affected. In 2017, I became part of a club with 1.25 million members: this is the…

CONTENT WARNING — This article discusses anorexia, including symptoms, restrictive eating behaviours, weight loss, and the physical and psychological effects of the disorder. Some readers may find this content distressing. Please take care while reading, and consider seeking support if it raises difficult feelings. What is anorexia? Anorexia nervosa is a serious mental health disorder characterised by significantly low body weight for an individual’s height, age, developmental stage, or weight history, driven by intentional behaviours to prevent weight restoration. Importantly, the low weight is…

By Dr Alisha Naaz, PharmD For many patients, the most stressful part of a medical test is not the needle, the waiting room, or even the diagnosis. It is the opening of a laboratory (lab) report. A routine blood test is done. A few days later, the results of the report arrive through the NHS app, a patient portal or via email. The report is full of numbers. Some are highlighted. One or two values sit just outside the “normal” range. Next to them is a word that immediately catches the eye: …

It’s January, and chances are you’ve headed back to the gym, determined to get fitter and stronger—or at least thought about it. I know I have. But as the year goes on, and the days get shorter and darker, it can be surprisingly hard to maintain the same enthusiasm you felt on New Year's Day. That got me thinking: beyond just “getting fit,” what are the real health benefits of weight training? I decided to do some research—not just for myself (because I really am determined to stick with it this year), but so you can benefit too.

By Alexander Amatus, MBA There is a particular kind of loneliness that arrives at night. Not the dramatic sort. The quiet one. The one where you’re still functional - you’re paying bills, replying to messages, showing up - but inside you feel frayed at the edges, like your nervous system has been running without a pause button for months. In that moment, the temptation is simple: to find a voice that sounds steady. For some people, that voice is a friend. For others, it’s a book, a prayer, a walk, a therapist’s words remembered in the middle of a spiral.

Ever pick up your phone to check a notification, only to look up 30 minutes later wondering where the time went? If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. That disappearing time isn’t just poor self-control - it’s a habit. By definition, habits are behaviours we repeat regularly, often without even noticing. Some are helpful, others… less so, but they all operate the same way in our brains. Every January, many of us try to tackle our so-called “bad habits.” We set resolutions like drinking less alcohol, eating more healthily, and exercising more.

Santa. We all know him. The jolly old man with a twinkle in his eye, a belly that shakes like a bowl full of jelly, and a workload that would exhaust even the most seasoned professionals - especially with a list that keeps growing year on year. But beyond the festive cheer lies a lifestyle that is a real “Claus for concern”: global travel in a single night, sleep schedules that defy circadian logic, a diet high in sugar and seasonal spirits, and physical demands that would challenge even the hardiest athlete (or reindeer).

Today seems like the perfect day to write this article, because I’m sitting here feeling a little sorry for myself. This weekend was our work Christmas do - a night full of laughter, good food, and festive cheer. But by the end of it, all I could feel was tiredness, “hangxiety,” and an overwhelming sense of guilt after the night unexpectedly ended in A&E with one of my friends. A classic case of a UDI (unidentified drunken injury). Sitting in the early hours in the A&E waiting room, still in my formal clothes and 3-inch heels - having only ever experienced this on the other side during Christmas party season - I couldn’t stop thinking: