Health

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

30 November 2023

Turpentine is not a treatment for sepsis—it is poisonous when swallowed

Dr Andrew Kaufman, a US psychiatrist, has claimed that turpentine can be used as a treatment for sepsis. It cannot, and may cause harm if ingested. Sepsis must be treated …

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Turpentine is not a treatment for sepsis—it is poisonous when swallowed
30 November 2023

No graphene oxide in Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine

The substance was used as a tool to study a sample during the vaccine’s development. It is not an ingredient in the vaccine itself.

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No graphene oxide in Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine
28 November 2023

Widespread confusion over number of ‘people’ on NHS waiting lists

The latest figures show there are 7.8 million cases waiting for planned treatment in England—but only 6.5 million people, because some are waiting for more than one thing.

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Widespread confusion over number of ‘people’ on NHS waiting lists
22 November 2023

Myocarditis after Covid vaccines doesn’t kill one in five

A video of a man talking to a pharmacist about myocarditis has resurfaced on social media. Claims in the video about the mortality rate of the condition are incorrect.

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Myocarditis after Covid vaccines doesn’t kill one in five
20 November 2023

Around 6.5 million patients in England on hospital waiting lists

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves seems to have mistaken the number of treatments waiting to begin with the number of individuals awaiting treatment.

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Around 6.5 million patients in England on hospital waiting lists
20 November 2023

Covid-19 vaccines did not kill 30 people at one clinic in New Zealand

This claim comes from an activist who supplied no supporting evidence. It is contradicted by data on deaths published by the New Zealand government.

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Covid-19 vaccines did not kill 30 people at one clinic in New Zealand
15 November 2023

Instagram post lacks vital context about Covid deaths among the vaccinated

Virtually all the most vulnerable people are vaccinated against Covid, so most of the people who die of it are too.

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Instagram post lacks vital context about Covid deaths among the vaccinated
15 November 2023

Google snippets falsely claimed eating glass has health benefits

The search engine highlighted text that appeared to be AI-generated false information published online as an example of an AI ‘hallucination’.

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Google snippets falsely claimed eating glass has health benefits
10 November 2023

English maternity services rated worse on safety specifically than overall

The Mirror and BBC Radio reported a figure on official maternity ratings without clarifying that it referred to safety specifically.

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English maternity services rated worse on safety specifically than overall
9 November 2023

Smoking causes about one in four deaths from cancer

Steve Barclay confused smoking’s share of cancer deaths with its share of cancer cases, in comments on the BBC and Sky.

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Smoking causes about one in four deaths from cancer

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