Get the facts on health

Fact checks about medical conditions, the NHS, social care and government funding of national health services

Get the facts on… Coronavirus Health spending NHS staff

A&E pressures

Fact checks regarding Ambulance and A&E waiting lists and admissions

NHS bureaucracy and efficiency

Fact checks about efficiency and inefficiency in the NHS and the outcomes of the Naylor review

Cancer care

Fact checks about cancer risks, treatments and cures

Vaccines

Fact checks addressing conspiracy theories and unreliable health advice relating to the coronavirus pandemic.

Concerns raised about legitimacy of research linking vaccines and heart attacks

30 November 2021

It’s been claimed new research shows a link between Covid-19 vaccines and heart attacks. The research has serious flaws.

Children are more likely to die from Covid than vaccination

26 November 2021

At least 25 children have sadly died from Covid in England alone, but we can find no evidence of a child dying as a result of the vaccine.

Vaccines don’t cause Covid-19

25 November 2021

There are various reasons why Covid case rates may be higher in countries with higher vaccination rates. It isn’t evidence vaccines cause Covid.

Coronavirus

Fact checks about the coronavirus pandemic, including causes, Covid-19 symptoms, vaccines and side effects

GP 'crisis'

Fact checks about GP waiting lists, appointments, staffing and pharmacists

Health fact checks

Dissolved Omicron nanotechnology company has nothing to do with Covid-19 variant

2 December 2021

The now-dissolved company was named after a Greek letter, like the new Covid-19 variant has been.

Email asking people to pay for Omicron Covid-19 tests is a scam

1 December 2021

There is no Omicron-specific PCR test and the NHS has confirmed the email is a scam.

Figures in viral mask graphic aren’t substantiated

1 December 2021

A graphic showing the risk of Covid-19 transmission between people wearing and not wearing masks contains figures which haven’t been evidenced.

See all health fact checks

Health care systems

Fact checks related to the infrustructure of health care and potential impacts of privateistaton

Health spending

Fact checks about increases and decreases in funding of the NHS, including the number of hospitals being built and record levels of funding

Health tourism

Fact checks related to the ineligible and foreign nationals using NHS services

How healthy are we?

Fact Checks about life expectancy and the reporting of medical risks

Immigration and the NHS

Fact checks related to the impact a changing population has on the NHS

Is the NHS being privatised?

fact checks regarding private finance initiatives and commercialisation and external funding of the NHS

Junior doctors

fact checks covering the recruitment, pay and development of NHS junior doctors

Mental health

Fact checks covering mental health service provisioning, self harm, suicide, anxiety and depression

NHS performance and satisfaction

Fact checks about the reported quality of the NHS, waiting lists and quality of care

NHS pressures

Fact checks about waiting lists, unpaid overtime and availability of health care services

NHS performance and satisfaction

Fact checks about the reported quality of the NHS, waiting lists and quality of care

NHS staff

Fact checks including NHS staff levels and NHS pay

Safety

Fact checks about health and safety related topics, including food safety standards

The seven day NHS

Fact checks about the idea of a seven day NHS and changes in health care services at weekends

Social care

fact checks including care homes and social care budgets and policies