News

Boots the chemist is charging the National Health Service obscene amounts of money for products that sell for a fraction of the price in-store. A Times investigation has revealed that the high street chain has charged the NHS as much as £1,500 for single pots of moisturiser that others have sold for less than £2. Boots sent a £1,579 bill to the health service for one 500ml tub of a specially made cream for patients with skin problems in 2016, the...

By David Wilson “Illness is neither an indulgence for which people have to pay, nor an offence for which they should be penalised, but a misfortune, the cost of which should be shared by the community” - Aneurin Bevan, founder of the NHS “Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wicked of men will do the most wicked of things for the greatest good of everyone” - John Maynard Keynes Who are the NHS privateers? Virgin Care leads the way...

Steve Baker was forced to formally apologise to the House this morning for entertaining a conspiracy theory put forward by Jacob Rees-Mogg. The Brexit minister said he was sorry for not challenging a damaging claim that Treasury officials are attempting to influence Brexit policy. Mr Baker said on Thursday the accusation was "essentially correct", leading to headlines such as the one below in right-leaning press outlets. But he told MPs the next morning: "As I explained yesterday, I considered what...

The oceans may hold the key to a breakthrough cure for depression. Ground-breaking research has revealed low brain levels of an essential nutrient could be contributing to our mental health crisis. A study of blood samples from almost 3,000 people aged 18 to 65, showed sufferers of depression and anxiety have lower concentrations of compounds called omega-3 fatty acids, in their blood. These compounds are found in significant concentrations in the brain and contribute to healthy functioning and the maintenance...

The number of British households that consider themselves millionaires has rose by nearly a third in two years as the wealth of the poorest households diminished. A total of 3.6 million households in Britain held wealth of more than £1 million by June 2016, up 29 per cent in two years, the Office for National Statistics said. But in a sign that the Tories really are a party for the few the poorest households saw their wealth diminish. While the...

The legendary artist known as Banksy is believed to have been caught on video just hours after his latest graffiti creation appeared on the side of a bridge. Footage has emerged of what looks to be the elusive artist acting shifty while sporting a baseball cap and sunglasses to shield his identity. Banksy took responsibility for a piece of art slapped to the side of the disused Scott Street Bridge in Hull, East Yorks., on Friday (Jan 26). But it...

A Church of England school has been branded "medieval" for telling parents to send their children in SICK - in a bid to boost pupil attendance. The Bishop of Hereford’s Bluecoat School was criticised in its last Ofsted inspection which revealed it had a high absence record. Figures show it had an attendance rate of 94.7 per cent - compared with the national average of 96 per cent. The school also has a persistent absence rate – pupils missing at...

A charity has released pictures of Britain's fattest PETS - as it launches an animal slimming competition. The national contest is appealing to owners of massive cats, tortoises and dogs to help them lose weight. Its slimming competition so far includes a two stone Jack Russell who enjoys steak sandwiches and bacon baps. It also includes a 10kg cat named Elvis Presley - who's twice the size of a normal feline - and a two stone Maltese Shih Tzu. Vets...

Awe-inspiring footage shows the incredibly rare Super Blue Blood Moon rising over an historic windmill in front of stunned stargazers. David Clarke, 62, was able to capture the dramatic 43-second footage from the top of a hill around half-a-mile away from the Chesterton Windmill in Warwickshire. The dad-of-two, of Wellesbourne, Warks., had to wait an hour before capturing the rare lunar event at around 5.10pm on Wednesday (31/1) on his Olympus E-M1 Mark II. In the video, a passerby can...