The politics of childbirth

Overly medicalised? Starved of resources? Understaffed? Our story yesterday about one family's tragic experience of childbirth on the NHS has focused attention on maternity services in Britain. But are things really that bad? Sarah Boseley asks some of those on the frontline if they have faith in the system.

The awkward squad

When Dea Birkett made a complaint against her NHS trust, she was treated like a difficult and lippy troublemaker.

Battle is joined on the field of health

Tony Blair and John Reid yesterday unleashed Labour's long-expected onslaught on Conservative health plans when they challenged Michael Howard to come out from behind his "human shield".

Blair: Howard is exploiting Dixon

Tony Blair today angrily accused the Conservative leader, Michael Howard, of the exploiting the pain of Margaret Dixon in order to denigrate the NHS.

Taking the waters

Did you know that you can go to a spa in the south of France on the NHS? Eva Gizowska reports.