‘I asked three times for an epidural’: why are women being denied pain relief during childbirth?

A new report concludes that women are not being given epidurals and not being fully informed about pain relief by NHS trusts. Does a belief in natural births lie behind this?

If I can be protected against HIV, others should be too

The health secretary says he’s serious about tackling infection. But there are basic inequalities in who accesses PrEP treatment , says sexual health advocate Will Nutland

The great vape debate: are e-cigarettes saving smokers or creating new addicts?

The long read: The US is cracking down on vaping while the UK is promoting e-cigarettes as an aid to giving up smoking. Where does the truth lie?

A drug can stop HIV infection – so why isn’t it available on the NHS in England?

Major studies have shown that the prophylactic PrEP effectively ends the threat of contracting HIV. But gay men and other users are currently left to self-source it online

Dear Life by Rachel Clarke review – a doctor on grief, love and the NHS

A medic’s heartbreaking personal account of the loss of her father, and of witnessing the courage of the critically ill

New mothers in England to receive health check six weeks after giving birth

Campaigners welcome move to assess women for physical and mental wellbeing

Health secretary to investigate allegations of women denied epidurals

Matt Hancock ‘concerned’ by reports of pain relief refused during childbirth by NHS trusts

Dr Rachel Clarke: ‘Wrinkles, middle age, grey hairs… these are reasons to celebrate’

The palliative care doctor on her moving new memoir, Boris Johnson’s broken promises, and why the way we treat dying people should be the number one metric of a civilised society

How might A&E departments without targets work? Look to sexual health clinics

Accident and emergency makes the headlines. Meanwhile, under-reported services are collapsing through lack of funding, says the Guardian’s Polly Toynbee

Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas by Adam Kay review – more matchless stories from A&E

From the author of This Is Going to Hurt, funny, disgusting and moving tales with a festive twist – and a show of support for overworked NHS staff