DIY smear tests are on their way? I’ll be first in the queue

I’m sure they’ll be tricky, given how much I struggled with lateral flow tests. But anything beats having to involve another human being, writes Emma Beddington

‘A 30-second walk would exhaust me beyond reason’: Natacha’s life with long Covid

Natacha Gray had an active life, diving, climbing and playing music, before illness left her so tired she would collapse on the way to the couch. She discusses two and a half devastating years – and how she stays optimistic

Mounjaro is second obesity drug to be approved for use in England

Those with BMI of 35 and a comorbidity could be prescribed tirzepatide and Nice says it is more effective than Wegovy

‘It was empowering and joyful’: the UK women hiring private midwives

After a troubling report on NHS care, the number of pregnant women seeking more control over their birth plans is growing

Fish oil may increase risk of heart conditions and stroke, study finds

But supplements could reduce likelihood of heart attack for people who already have cardiovascular disease

You Don’t Have to Be Mad to Work Here by Benji Waterhouse review – the doctor won’t see you now

A brilliantly funny but deadly serious account of NHS psychiatry in crisis

The Guardian view on maternity care failures: birth trauma can and should be reduced

Editorial: A pioneering report from MPs should lead to much-needed improvements in the treatment of new mothers by the NHS

The birth trauma scandal is not about one bad apple, one bad culture or one bad area – it’s about the mess of austerity

When I gave birth in the 00s, things were not perfect by any stretch, but unlike now, they were not broken absolutely everywhere, writes Zoe Williams

I was a running addict – but pushing myself to the limit led to two knee replacements

Beware what the fitness gurus tell you: the body has its limits. Perhaps that’s why orthopaedic waiting lists are so long, says journalist Rod Gilchrist

‘No one’s being honest about it’: how NHS crisis forces patients to go private

Long waiting lists are creating a boom in the medical insurance market, leading to fears of a long-term change in attitudes to the health service