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.

Can you have a shorter gap between Covid-19 vaccines in pregnancy?
15 September 2021

The official guidance says the main exception to the eight week interval minimum is those about to start immunosuppressant treatment.

What do we know about the long-term effects of Covid-19 vaccines in pregnancy?
10 September 2021

We don’t have long-term data on the use of the vaccines in pregnancy, but our knowledge is growing, and the evidence we do have so far is reassuring.

Germany has not stopped using Covid-19 vaccines
7 September 2021

A social media post falsely claims Germany’s government no longer recommends Covid-19 vaccination.

Read more Vaccines fact checks

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

PCR tests have not been revoked by the FDA
16 September 2021

The FDA recalled one brand of lateral flow tests earlier this year, but claims that PCR tests have been revoked by the agency are untrue.

What do we know about the Covid-19 vaccines crossing the placenta?
16 September 2021

The vaccines are recommended for pregnant women.

Covid-19 is almost certainly killing more people than suicide
16 September 2021

A Facebook post that suicide deaths are higher provides no evidence. And what evidence we have suggests the opposite.

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