Nice backs minimum pricing on alcohol to cut harmful drinking

Recommendation by government's expert advisory body will stir up public controversy over the issue

UK quality of life poor, study says

Longer working hours, high cost of living and low holiday entitlement contribute to UK's bottom place in survey of 10 European countries

Shock finding on salt levels in big-name brand foods

Supermarket own-brand and 'value' ranges have far less salt than the famous names, UK study finds

A revolution in care

Jackie Ashley: Conference season 09: Setting up a National Care Service would be equivalent to the creation of the NHS – now to tell the public what social care is

Doubt over ‘flat head syndrome’ fix

Use of costly helmets to 'cure' misshapen heads in babies is unnecessary and exploits parental anxiety, say UK doctors. By Hilary Osborne

Doubts over helmet cure for ‘flat head syndrome’ in babies

Bespoke helmets costing £2,000 are being promoted to cure flat head syndrome in babies. But the medical evidence surrounding their use is contentious

Patients warned against cosmetic surgery ‘tourism’

Poll reports surge in number of people suffering post-op complications on their return home in past 18 months

Battle of the breakfast table as cereal makers fight health warning TV ads

Food Standards Agency to highlight fact 75% of salt eaten is in cereals, tomato ketchup, ready-made soup and bread

Dying for affordable healthcare — the uninsured speak

Ed Pilkington travels to Quindaro, Kansas, to see how the poorest survive without healthcare provision

American healthcare is in truth already rationed

Bee Lavender: Growing up sick in the US, and being treated by a humane NHS here, has shown me that Britain's system is far better