With the latest advances in keyhole surgery, thousands more patients could receive operations to correct the narrowing of a heart valve. The new surgery is a much less intrusive approach meaning the older and weaker patients could be considered should this new procedure be adopted throughout the UK.

 There is also great news to help the fight against cancer. A new and more effective way of delivering treatment to skin cancer patients has been developed, as well as the development of a new blood test that could spot the early signs of numerous cancers, of which breast cancer is one. An early warning test is a step closer to cancer prevention.