How to deal with worry this Christmas

Nicoleta Ionescu/Shutterstock Christmas can be hard. For some people, it increases loneliness, grief, hopelessness and family tension, and the festive season has a way of turning ordinary concerns into urgent ones. Not because something terrible is guaranteed to happen, but because more is often at stake: money, time, family dynamics, travel and expectations. A large […]

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AI translation is replacing interpreters in GP care – here’s why that’s troubling

Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock.com When a doctor can’t find an interpreter, many now reach for Google Translate. It seems like a practical fix to a pressing problem. But a new study warns this quick solution may be putting refugee and migrant patients at serious risk – exposing them to translation errors that could lead to misdiagnosis, wrong treatment […]

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Staying fit over Christmas using science-backed methods

Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock The festive season has a reputation for undoing good habits such as eating well and exercising. Normal routines disappear, days become less structured and exercise habits can fade. The solution to staying active is not more willpower, but smarter planning. Research shows that simple, practical strategies can help people stay active through Christmas and […]

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Why there’s always room for dessert – an anatomist explains

Rimma Bondarenko/Shutterstock.com You push back from the table after Christmas lunch, full from an excellent feast. You really couldn’t manage another bite – except, perhaps, a little bit of pudding. Somehow, no matter how much you’ve eaten, there always seems to be room for dessert. Why? What is it about something sweet that tempts us […]

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New cancer therapy brings remission for patients with deadly T-cell leukaemia

WikeSandra/Shutterstock.com A small group of patients with an otherwise incurable form of T‑cell leukaemia have seen their cancer driven into remission by an innovative form of immune therapy. The treatment uses T-cells – a type of white blood cell – from a healthy donor, re-engineered in the lab to recognise and attack leukaemia cells. Unlike […]

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​From head to mistletoe: the curious biology of elves

Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock.com As Christmas Eve draws near, we’re reminded of the tireless elves behind the scenes, toiling in workshops to bring festive magic to life. Imagine Santa’s elves not as fantasy figures but as highly adapted beings designed for the unique demands of their world. From enhanced resilience to happy hormones and efficient energy production, […]

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Ireland Unveils New Health Strategy for 2025–2028 as System Faces Rising Pressure

Ireland’s Department of Health has published its Statement of Strategy 2025–2028, outlining how the health system aims to respond to growing demographic pressures, shifting public-health demands and a rapidly changing global environment. The new roadmap sets the tone for the next three years, with officials describing it as a blueprint for delivering “the right care […]

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How short-form videos could be harming young minds

Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com Online short-form video has shifted from a light distraction to a constant backdrop in many children’s lives. What used to fill a spare moment now shapes how young people relax, communicate and form opinions, with TikTok, Instagram Reels, Douyin and YouTube Shorts drawing in hundreds of millions of under-18s through endlessly personalised feeds. These […]

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As online GP use overtakes phone calls, who’s being left behind?

Pikselstock/Shutterstock.com There are more than 1.4 million appointments a day in general practice in England. Traditionally, patients booked by telephone, braving the “8am scramble”. However, a higher proportion of people are now contacting their GP surgery online than by phone, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics. The UK government recently instructed […]

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Ireland Unveils First National Policy Framework for Safeguarding Adult

Dublin, 9 December 2025 — The Government has launched Ireland’s first National Policy Framework for Adult Safeguarding in the Health and Social Care Sector, marking a major step toward strengthening protections for adults at risk of abuse or harm. The framework was unveiled today by Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Minister of State for Older […]

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