Yew Tree Pharmacy

Young people are facing long waiting times and unequal access to mental health services, a review by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has said. The commissioner said this could be "putting young people's lives at risk". The review found nearly 40% of specialist child and adolescent services in England needed improvement. Alice Gibbs, who was diagnosed with anorexia at the age of 12, said a lack of access to specialised services had had a long-term effect on her recovery. She waited six months to see a mental health professional. "Knowing that we had to wait for that help and things were only getting worse was scary," she says. She received treatment in Leicester for several years, but it wa

More patients should be told to go home and rest rather than be given antibiotics, according to health officials. Public Health England (PHE) says up to a fifth of antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary as many illnesses get better on their own. Overusing the drugs is making infections harder to treat by creating drug-resistant superbugs. PHE says patients have "a part to play" in stopping the rise of infections. It is estimated: 5,000 people die in England each year as a result of drug-resistant infections Four in 10 cases of bloodstream E. coli infections now cannot be treated with first-choice antibiotics By 2050, drug-resistant infections around the world are expected to kill more peop

Eye experts are warning of the risks of wearing novelty contact lenses at Halloween, saying they can cause nasty infections and scratches to the eyes. Cosmetic contact lenses are often sold in joke and fancy-dress shops and on websites, but they come without instructions on safe use. Eye-health professionals say novelty lenses should never be shared, stored in tap water or kept in overnight. In extreme cases, this can lead to impaired vision and sight loss. The Association of Optometrists said its members often saw people with eye problems after wearing novelty lenses. It said partygoers should wear only lenses sold with the supervision of a registered eye health professional. Mr Badrul Huss

The NHS is under unprecedented pressure. Rising numbers of patients need hospital care - whether in an accident and emergency department, for cancer treatment or for planned operations and care, such as knee and hip replacements. For each there are strict targets local services are expected to meet across the UK. But what are the chances of being seen in time where you live? Use our interactive tracker to find out. Click the image to search for your local health trust How the NHS Tracker works This guide uses the latest published data on performance against three key NHS waiting-time measures: A&E treatment cancer care planned operations and care, such as knee and hip replacements This data

Children and toddlers whose fingers are crushed by closing doors can end up with lifelong problems, plastic surgeons are warning. The British Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (Bapras) said the injuries in some cases could lead to amputation and long-term pain. They said parents should fit safety catches on all suitable doors at home. About 30,000 children trap their fingers in doors each year and more than 1,500 of them need surgery. The figures are from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. It says more than two million children under 15 have accidents in and around the home every year and require emergency medical care. According to Bapras, self-shutting fire

A consultation on introducing an optout system for organ donation is to be held in England, ministers say. Currently anyone who wants to donate their organs after death has to "opt in" through the donor card scheme. But a new system, whereby it will be presumed an adult's body can be used in transplants in the absence of express permission, will now be considered. Wales has already introduced an optout system, while Scotland has said it will be following suit. The Welsh system - introduced in 2015 - is known as a soft optout, so if the individual's family objects, the removal of their organs does not take place. In June, Scotland said it would be introducing a similar system, known as presum

Carrying the shopping, gardening, or vacuuming, can help older people to lead healthier lives for longer, according to leading physiotherapists. They warn that millions of older people risk falls because they are failing to maintain their strength. Nearly a quarter of over-65s don't do any strength exercises, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) says. And it warns that the rise of internet shopping means fewer people carry home their groceries. Physiotherapists say not enough people realise the need to maintain strength as we age. NHS guidelines suggest people do two strengthening sessions a week, such as exercising with weights, or lifting and carrying heavy loads such as groceries.