Author: Deborah Smith

Deaths from heart disease and cancer in England fell significantly below expected levels last year, reflecting advances in treatment and research, while dementia emerged as a stark outlier with 2,588 more fatalities than forecast. Official figures from the Office for National Statistics show cardiovascular deaths came in eight per cent lower than the 135,700 predicted, with 124,218 recorded. Cancer deaths were two per cent below expectations. By contrast, more than 68,000 people died from dementia in 2025 — approximately one in six deaths from leading causes — with the condition continuing to claim more lives than any other major disease.…

Some patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are being left to fund their own medication at more than £200 a month after GPs ended shared care agreements with private clinics, amid growing concerns over the regulation of private ADHD providers. Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust has warned that private clinics offering assessments through the NHS-funded “right to choose” pathway do not always comply with guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. In some cases, providers lack appropriately qualified staff to support continued prescribing. In a letter shared with the Guardian, the trust acknowledged it was struggling…

Bookings have opened for Marella Cruises’ sixth Electric Sunsets voyage, with the adults-only music cruise returning in April 2027 featuring a battle between hits of the 1980s and 1990s. The all-inclusive price of £799 per person covers flights, transfers, all meals and drinks on board, as well as tips and service charges for the three-night sailing. Marella Discovery will depart Palma on Wednesday, April 28, 2027, calling at Valencia and Ibiza before returning to the Majorcan capital on Saturday, May 1. The cruise line has not yet revealed its headline performers but said the lineup would be announced early next…

Meghan Markle is shifting her focus to her As Ever lifestyle brand following confirmation that her Netflix programme will not return for a third series, with plans for a cookbook and homeware products set for release in 2026. Sources indicated the Duchess of Sussex will continue to share cooking and crafting content through her social media channels, though in shorter formats than the television series allowed. One insider described the show as “a lot of work” and said Meghan is now concentrating on expanding her commercial ventures. A cookbook is expected in early 2026, with candles, wine and additional homeware…

A recording of Barron Trump calling British emergency services after witnessing a woman being assaulted over a video call has been played to jurors at Snaresbrook Crown Court. The 19-year-old son of President Donald Trump contacted operators at 2.23am on January 18 last year, having first worked out how to reach emergency services in Britain from the United States. Prosecutors told the court that defendant Matvei Rumiantsev, 22, had answered a video call from Barron on the woman’s phone. He allegedly showed Barron her face before grabbing her hair, pushing her to the ground and shouting that she was “not…

The artist responsible for bronze tributes to some of the Second World War’s most courageous women has been commissioned to create a sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II for the national memorial in central London. Karen Newman, whose works commemorate figures including secret agent Noor Inayat Khan and Special Operations Executive operative Violette Szabo, will contribute to the Birdcage Walk site designed by architect Lord Foster. Her portfolio includes a memorial to Inayat Khan, the first female radio operator sent into Nazi-occupied France, which stands in Gordon Square Gardens. A bronze bust of Szabo is positioned outside Lambeth Palace, while a…