It’s impossible to comprehend how terrifying coronavirus is – until it hits someone you care about. A month ago, this happened to me. A friend I’ve known for a decade developed telltale symptoms – a high temperature and hacking cough – almost overnight. His wife called me, beside herself with worry. Home-testing wasn’t an option, … Read more
Over the past six weeks I have tried to give you the best advice about how to stay safe and well during this pandemic – and also what to do should illness strike. I’ve also attempted to clarify the often confusing – and, yes, sometimes seemingly inconsistent – recommendations and rules coming from public health officials … Read more
I’ve heard you can pay to have a corona test privately. Should I have one if I have symptoms? The short answer is: no. The reason so many people want a test is because we hate uncertainty. It’s understandable that people want to know if they’ve got or had Covid-19, even if we’ve had only … Read more
At first, it was just a few cheers, echoing somewhere in the distance. But before long, it had spread – and soon, the whole street had erupted with noise. I couldn’t believe my ears as neighbours – gathered in small clusters on their doorsteps, or leaning from windows – whooped, clapped and rang bells. Then friends … Read more
‘They feel like lambs to the slaughter’: Top medic says doctors and nurses feel like they are coronavirus ‘CANNON FODDER’ with a lack of tests and protective equipment for frontline NHS staff, in appeal to Boris Johnson Doctors’ Association chairman Dr Rinesh Parmar made a direct appeal to PM He said NHS staff are still … Read more
I am in my 80s and have heart troubles. My wife has Alzheimer’s and lives at home. We’ve been told we should stay put, and not go out, but have carers that come in to help every day. Will they still be able to visit, and what will we do if they can’t? First, let … Read more
Over the past few days, I’ve heard time and again that ‘we are not doing enough’ to protect the nation from the threat of Covid-19. I want to say, hand on heart, that this isn’t true. Quite the opposite, in fact. As a GP who cares passionately about the health of my patients, but also … Read more
DR ELLIE CANNON: Will a new diet end the agony of gout? By Dr Ellie Cannon for The Mail on Sunday Published: 22:01 GMT, 18 May 2019 | Updated: 22:02 GMT, 18 May 2019 My husband has been diagnosed with gout. Can changing his diet help him? Most people are surprised to hear that I … Read more
No one likes uncertainty. But, here we are, about to be hit by a pandemic – and the truth is, to some extent, it’s impossible to say what will happen. Of course, there is a lot we do know. We have knowledge gained from previous outbreaks, and from the already astounding international response to this … Read more
According to the Facebook advert, it’s ‘fast becoming the treatment of choice’ for an astonishing raft of ailments – from fatigue to migraines and even depression. It can also boost ‘immunity’ and ‘reduce fine lines and wrinkles, suppress formation of acne and blemishes, produce collagen to enhance elasticity…’ I could go on. What is this … Read more