The Health and Healing Narrative

Promoting understanding between people and practitioners.

Charlotte

  • When Patients Become Their Own Experts: Finding Growth, Forgiveness, and Purpose in Chronic Illness

    By Josette Pelatan, PhD Editor’s note: This article is a first-person opinion and lived-experience piece by a guest writer. The views expressed are those of the author and reflect her individual healthcare journey. Personal experiences with illness, diagnosis, and treatment can vary significantly, and this article is not intended to provide medical advice, replace professional…

  • Huntington’s Disease and the Turning Point in Neurogenetic Therapy

    By Bushra Zletni, MSc Receiving a life-changing diagnosis is always difficult, and for many families, a Huntington’s disease diagnosis introduces significant uncertainty and emotional burden. This condition progressively impacts movement, cognitive abilities, and mental well-being, influencing the everyday lives of both patients and their caregivers. For many years, the absence of treatments that modify the…

  • Resident Doctor Strikes 2026: Understanding the Bigger Picture

    Today marks the start of a 6-day walkout by resident doctors, formerly “junior doctors”, across England. The dispute between resident doctors and the government has been ongoing since 2023, with multiple rounds of strike action already behind us. Much of the public conversation focuses narrowly on pay, though this focus obscures the far more complex…

  • Meningitis in the UK: Symptoms, Causes, Vaccines, and the 2026 Kent MenB Outbreak-

    Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the protective layer that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, made up of dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater (see below). It can be caused by a number of infective and non-infective factors. The recent Kent 2026 MenB outbreak has brought meningitis back into the spotlight, with…

  • Trauma, the Nervous System, and Gentle Movement: A Doctor’s Perspective

    By Dr. Antti Rintanen, MD, MSc Trauma is an experience — or series of experiences — in which a real or perceived threat is encountered, often accompanied by overwhelming stress or loss of control. Most people have experienced at least one traumatic experience in their lifetime. However, only a small percentage develop an actual post-traumatic…

  • Understanding Functional Neurological Disorder (FND): A Complete Guide

    Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a common neurological condition — yet many people have never even heard of it. Even more concerning, it is still widely misunderstood. I was reminded of this when I recently attended a conference at the Walton Centre, a specialist neurology and neurosurgery trust in the North West. During the conference, consultant…

  • Inside the Role of a GP Expert Witness: Clinical Negligence, Common Primary Care Errors, and Defensible Documentation

    By Dr Hassan Khalil, NHS GP and GP Expert Witness For today’s blog post, we’re doing something a bit different. I recently spoke with Dr Hassan Khalil, an NHS GP and GP Expert Witness, to better understand what happens when clinical practice is examined through a legal lens. We often hear the term “expert witness”…

  • Statins: Separating Myth from Medicine

    By Derek Miao, clinical pharmacist and medical writer If your doctor recently recommended a statin, you may be wondering what it is and why it matters. You may also have heard conflicting information or myths about statins — so what’s actually true? Let’s dive in and break it down to plain language! Contents DISCLAIMER: While I…

  • Understanding Obesity Beyond the Myths

    By Dr Glady Ann Thomas, BDS Obesity is often discussed loudly in society but understood quietly. Many people know it is linked to a multitude of chronic diseases, yet few truly understand how. Even fewer feel supported when navigating it. Obesity is a chronic health condition influenced by far more than what someone eats. It…

  • Girl with Mpox rash showing small, raised lesions on her skin

    The Hidden Impact of Mpox Stigma

    By Dr. Chinyere Martins-Odum, MBBS, BNSc Mpox, formerly called Monkeypox, is an infectious disease caused by the Monkeypox virus. Beyond physical illness, it carries psychological and social sequelae. Contents DISCLAIMER: While I am a practising doctor, the information on this site is for educational purposes only. It does not take into account your personal circumstances, which can significantly affect medical…

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