The Princess of Wales has spoken candidly about the life-changing long-term challenges of recovering after chemotherapy, as she visited a hospital in Essex. Catherine said during treatment “you put on a sort of brave face” but afterwards it can still feel “really difficult”. She told patients at the hospital about life after cancer treatment: “You’re … Read more
Getty Images Babies born to fathers over the age of 60 went up by 14.2% in 2024 compared to the year before, official figures show. Of 594,677 live births in England and Wales last year, 1,076 babies had dads over 60, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Total births in England in 2024 … Read more
MPs have voted to change abortion legislation to stop women in England and Wales being prosecuted for ending their pregnancy. The Labour MP for Gower, Tonia Antoniazzi, led the call to decriminalise the 1% of abortions that happen after 24 weeks, saying these were “desperate women” who need “compassion not criminalisation”. As an issue of … Read more
Kate Morgan Communities correspondent, BBC Wales News PA Abortion care provider the British Pregnancy Advisory Service said there was “limited provision” of surgical abortions in Wales after 14 weeks Wales is the worst part of the UK for providing surgical abortions with many women treated in England, according to a leading healthcare charity. The British … Read more
Women would no longer be prosecuted for terminating a pregnancy in England and Wales under a proposed shake-up of abortion laws. MPs are set to get a free vote next week – meaning they will not be told how to vote by their party – on a change to the law. It comes amid concern … Read more
Sam Francis Political reporter Harry Farley Political correspondent Getty Images MPs will debate a bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales for the first time since significant changes were made to it. The bill passed the first stage of the Commons last November – but since then the details have been pored over … Read more
Jenny Rees Health correspondent, BBC Wales News Getty Images There could be increased levels of intervention to get patients fit for surgery, such as people being asked to lose weight or exercise more, before they are placed on a waiting list More details on plans to only add people who are “fit and well” to … Read more
Getty Images The critical incident comes after new rules for patients and visitors to wear masks across several health boards amid flu concerns Welsh ambulance service chiefs have urged the public to “drink sensibly” at New Year to help reduce demand on emergency services that suffered a 340-call backlog on Monday. Jason Killens, chief executive … Read more
HANDOUT Ellie Lambert has frozen her eggs in the hope of meeting someone or “being in a financial situation where I can go it alone” The number of babies born in England and Wales is now the lowest since the 1970s, official statistics show. The fertility rate – which measures how many children are born … Read more
Getty Images Just over 591,000 babies were born in the UK last year – the lowest number in four decades Women in England and Wales had an average of 1.44 children between 2022 and 2023, the lowest rate on record. Only 591,072 babies were born in 2023, fewer than in any year since 1977 and … Read more