How sick we can’t test nurses and doctors – they’re the ones who can save us, writes IAN BIRRELL

The immense scale of this crisis is terrifying to comprehend, not least for those politicians and scientists who find themselves taking decisions with life and death consequences.  Yet in a war, one thing should be beyond debate: you must equip and protect your frontline forces to the best of your ability, whether they are soldiers … Read more

Scan that lets doctors see live video of the cancer they’re zapping

Half of all patients diagnosed with cancer will undergo radiotherapy — an important and effective tool in the arsenal against the disease. However, even with precise planning, radiotherapy treatment can go awry. The normal workings of the body during treatment — breathing, the bladder filling, digestion, tensing up — can make a tumour move up … Read more

Italy’s doctors warn of ‘catastrophic’ situation as coronavirus death toll rises 345 to 2,503

Doctors on the front line of Italy’s coronavirus outbreak have described ‘catastrophic’ scenes in hospitals which are creaking with the sheer volume of cases. They tell of critically ill patients who should be in intensive care but are instead slumped in busy wards because of a woeful lack of equipment and staff. Worryingly, the doctors … Read more

Government ‘needs to get a move on’ with plans to recall retired doctors

What is the coronavirus?  A coronavirus is a type of virus which can cause illness in animals and people. Viruses break into cells inside their host and use them to reproduce itself and disrupt the body’s normal functions. Coronaviruses are named after the Latin word ‘corona’, which means crown, because they are encased by a … Read more