Rebecca Thomas

2 weeks ago | independent.co.uk | Rebecca Thomas

The pro-democracy Nobel Peace Prize winner has been in prison since a military coup in 2021The son of political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi has launched a bid to collect a world-record 80,000 messages from around the world to honour her 80th birthday. Nobel Peace Prize winner Ms Suu Kyi faces 27 years in jail, with the democratically elected leader of Myanmar having been imprisoned during a military coup in 2021.

2 weeks ago | independent.co.uk | Rebecca Thomas

NHS leaders warn expected settlement will not be enough to enable recovery and reformRebecca ThomasHealth Correspondent The NHS is set to be one of the big winners in next week’s spending review – with a boost of up to £30 billion at the expense of other public services. The Department for Health and Social Care is set to get the biggest settlement in the government’s spending review next week, while other areas will face cuts.

3 weeks ago | independent.co.uk | Rebecca Thomas

Exclusive: 72-year-old who worked for the NHS for 15 years denied operation that would stop her daily pain because her BMI is too high Rebecca ThomasHealth Correspondent With every step she takes, 72-year-old Sue Smith is in agony. The retired NHS clinician has been on the waiting list for a knee replacement for four years and walks, she says, as though her leg is broken. Despite her daily battle with pain, Ms Smith has been repeatedly denied surgery — because she is obese.

3 weeks ago | independent.co.uk | Rebecca Thomas

Clinical trials in 2025 are assessing 138 treatments for dementia and Alzheimer’s, an 11 per cent increase from the previous year, offering "hope" for prevention and treatment. One trial is examining whether semaglutide, the active ingredient in weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, can slow dementia progression. Experts suggest 2025 could be a "landmark year" due to four drugs in large clinical trials that aim to prevent dementia, not just treat it.

3 weeks ago | independent.co.uk | Rebecca Thomas

One clinical trial is assessing whether semaglutide, used in weight loss drugs, could slow the progression of dementia Rebecca ThomasHealth Correspondent Dozens of breakthrough drug trials, including one using the main ingredient in weight-loss jabs, offer patients “hope” for the treatment and prevention of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Some 138 treatments are being assessed in clinical trials in 2025 - an 11 per cent rise on the year before - according to new research published on Tuesday.