Anger as plain cigarette packaging plans put on hold by ministers

Health campaigners warn decision to postpone law forcing tobacco firms to remove branding on packaging will cost lives

This breastfeeding ‘cat fight’ sets mothers up to fail

Rebecca Schiller: With support funding cut, and negative messages about the 'breastapo', even I, a doula, am sick of breastfeeding

The day you fear: making life and death decisions for your spouse

Gregg Ratliff: Like most people, I never wanted to think much about end-of-life decisions, but it's been my reality since my wife got ALS

Maternity wards close 1,000 times a year to expectant mothers, figures show

Shortage of midwives and beds resulting in women being forced to travel up to 65 miles to other wards or to give birth at home

Welfare cuts raises question of who ultimately pays for your fags and fats?

Stewart Dakers: Increased longevity means young workers are picking up the bill for the past self-gratifications of the old

Pregnant women are not the only smokers – tests are not the answer

Emer O’Toole: Asking pregnant women to take breath tests is patronising and fails to take into account that smoking is society’s issue too

Breath tests targeting smoking in pregnancy backed by midwives

Royal College of Midwives says tests could help show women the potential damage that smoking can cause to their baby

Smoking: the government’s cowardly surrender to the tobacco lobby

Observer editorial: Cigarette manufacturers won a reprieve that will endanger more lives

Why I wish my daughter had been vaccinated

Sophie Heawood: My child couldn't fall victim to any of those Victorian sounding diseases such as diphtheria, polio and tetanus, could she?

Universal healthcare: 14 steps in the right direction

From innovative financing to national income surveys, our expert panel offer some important lessons in developing affordable and sustainable universal health coverage