A new treatment for advanced skin cancer almost doubles survival times, according to an international study ... PORTSMOUTH, Virginia (Reuters) - Virginia's Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell on Wednesday abruptly shifted his stance on a hotly-contested bill requiring women seeking abortions to have an ultrasound ... The government cannot deny health benefits to the wife of a lesbian court employee by relying on the 1996 law that bars government recognition of same-sex unions, a federal judge has ruled ... (Reuters Health) - Doctors now have strong evidence that colonoscopies save lives, a finding that may encourage more people to get the dreaded tests to detect and prevent colon cancer ... NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Hepatitis C has surpassed HIV as a killer of U.S. adults, and screening all "baby boomers" could be one way to stem the problem, according to two new government studies ... The Department of Health launches an inquiry into claims that doctors agreed to carry out abortions on the grounds of the sex of unborn babies ... Patients experience significant delays and wards are understaffed at a recently opened Kent hospital, a health watchdog finds ... The head of the body which regulates health and social care has announced her resignation - in advance of what is expected to be a critical report into the organisation's work ... GPs have been paid for thousands of patients who have moved practice, died or been forced to leave the country, according to a report by The Audit Commission ... The cost of NHS prescriptions in England will rise 25p to £7.65 from 1 April, the government has announced ... | 
