Rebecca Thomas

6 days ago | independent.co.uk | Rebecca Thomas

A 29-year-old woman with autism and a learning disability has been detained in a mental health hospital for two and a half years due to a lack of community care available. Her father says she has lost hope, is self-harming, and at one point was locked in a windowless room for five days. New data analysis reveals that government targets to reduce the number of people with learning disabilities and autism in hospitals have been missed and are unlikely to be met for several more years.

1 week ago | independent.co.uk | Rachel Schraer |Alicja Hagopian |Bel Trew |Rebecca Thomas

In FocusHIV infections and deaths from Aids are set to skyrocket in the next five years if US-funded programs are not reinstated, write Rachel Schraer, Alicja Hagopian, Bel Trew and Rebecca ThomasDonald Trump's slashing of foreign aid has derailed the projected end of the Aids pandemic and could lead to four million extra deaths by 2030, The Independent can reveal.

1 week ago | independent.co.uk | Rebecca Thomas

Exclusive: Government will miss target to get people with learning disabilities out of hospital by seven yearsRebecca ThomasHealth Correspondent Every day, Sarah begs her father to take her away from the mental health ward where she has been locked away for two and a half years. She has spent the entirety of her adult life in and out of hospitals that are ill-equipped to meet her needs, because of one reason – she cannot receive the support for her autism and learning disability in the community.

1 week ago | independent.co.uk | Rebecca Thomas

As ‘super gonorrhoea’ rises, researchers warn the STI could become ‘impossible’ to treatScientists have found the first new antibiotic treatment for gonorrhoea since the 1990s amid fears over the rise of “untreatable” strains of the sexually transmitted infection. Gepotidacin, an antibiotic currently used to treat urinary tract infections, can also treat gonorrhoea, experts have found.

1 week ago | independent.co.uk | Rebecca Thomas

Labour accused of ‘devastating lack of ambition’ over NHS dental care crisis Rebecca ThomasHealth Correspondent From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.