Author: BBC

A rising number of end-of-life patients in hospitals could affect the level of treatment carried out this winter, a group of regional NHS leaders have been told. A consultant in palliative care highlighted the impending “crisis” during an online internal meeting of health leaders in Sussex, a recording of which has been heard by the BBC.The consultant at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust described dilemmas facing hospital managers when some patients are having to be given end-of-life care in A&E corridors.The bleak assessment is likely to be echoed in other NHS regions as building winter pressures increase the challenge of…

PA MediaThe medieval David I silver coin was discovered in a wooded area near Penicuik, Midlothian, and has now been allocated to National Museums ScotlandThe earliest known coin to be minted in Scotland almost 900 years ago has been acquired for the nation after it was found by a metal detectorist.The medieval David I silver coin, discovered in a wooded area near Penicuik, Midlothian in 2023, has been dated to the second half of the 1130s.As required by law it was reported it to Treasure Trove and allocated to National Museums Scotland (NMS) by the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel.The…

Chris VallanceSenior technology reporterGetty ImagesOne in three adults in the UK are using artificial intelligence (AI) for emotional support or social interaction, according to research published by a government body.And one in 25 people turned to the tech for support or conversation every day, the AI Security Institute (AISI) said in its first report. The report is based on two years of testing the abilities of more than 30 unnamed advanced AIs – covering areas critical to security, including cyber skills, chemistry and biology.The government said AISI’s work would support its future plans by helping companies fix problems “before their…

A Worthing first responder is backing a campaign to address gender inequality in life-saving treatment during cardiac arrests.Research shows women are 27% less likely than men to receive CPR from bystanders. Campaigners say stigma and uncertainty about removing bras for defibrillator use are part of the problem.The initiative, called #BraOffDefibOn, was launched in 2022 to raise awareness and normalise bra removal when using a defibrillator. It aims to ensure women get the same chance of survival as men.Sally Holmes, a community first responder in Worthing, has delivered dozens of CPR training sessions this year. She says the goal is to…

Natalie Bellin Bransholme, HullBBCKirsty Armstrong visited the shop on its opening dayFamilies living on a council estate say a new “social supermarket” will help them make ends meet. The shop at North Bransholme Community Centre sells surplus food, with packs of fruit, vegetables and bread costing as little as 20p a time.It can be used by anyone who lives in the area, receives means-tested benefits and applies for a free membership. On its opening day this month, hundreds of people visited the store to buy food at about a third of the cost charged by most supermarkets, with bosses estimating…

Liv McMahonTechnology reporterGetty ImagesThe UK government says it will ban so-called “nudification” apps as part of efforts to tackle misogyny online.New laws – announced on Thursday as part of a wider strategy to halve violence against women and girls – will make it illegal to create and supply AI tools letting users edit images to seemingly remove someone’s clothing.The new offences would build on existing rules around sexually explicit deepfakes and intimate image abuse, the government said.”Women and girls deserve to be safe online as well as offline,” said Technology Secretary Liz Kendall.”We will not stand by while technology is…

Elena BaileyHealth reporterLottie DoyleOver the years, Lottie says she has found ways to try to better manage her misophoniaLottie is looking forward to spending time with her family this Christmas, but says one of the only ways she’ll manage to get through it is by wearing her earplugs – especially during Christmas dinner.For the 23-year-old Christmas can be a particularly difficult time as the sounds of other people, chewing, slurping and sniffling make her feel extremely uncomfortable.”I get this feeling of sudden panic, my whole body will just tense up and it feels like I’m in danger, and I need…

Faarea MasudBusiness reporterGetty ImagesBoxing Day sales have seen a muted start as shoppers continued to shun bricks-and-mortar stores in favour of online.By 3pm, visits to UK high streets were down 1.5% on 2024, while shopping centres saw a 0.6% fall, according to data from MRI Software.MRI’s footfall data showed retail parks saw 6.7% more people visiting compared with last year, but the rise has so far not been big enough to see an overall or significant bump in visitors. Barclays expects shoppers to spend £3.6bn in the sales, down from the £4.6bn they forecast for the sales in 2024, with…

Chinese robotaxis could be set to hit UK roads in 2026 as ride-sharing apps Uber and Lyft announce partnerships with Baidu to trial the tech.The two companies are hoping to obtain approval from regulators to test the autonomous vehicles in London.Baidu’s Apollo Go driverless taxi service already operates in dozens of cities, mostly in China, and has accrued millions of rides without a human behind the wheel.Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said the news was “another vote of confidence in our plans for self-driving vehicles” – but many remain sceptical about their safety.”We’re planning for self-driving cars to carry passengers for…

Hospitals across the UK have been seeing high levels of flu cases this winter.You can use our tool below to find out how many flu patients there are in hospitals near you.Produced by Christine Jeavans, Wesley Stephenson, Rob England, Aidan McNamee, Phil Leake and John Walton.Developed by Allison Shultes, Steven Connor and Grace Richardson.Figures relating to flu cases in hospitals are collected in different ways in each UK nation.In England it is the weekly number of beds occupied by patients with a laboratory confirmed flu case.This data is provided at NHS Trust level. Trusts are organisations which include hospitals, community…