Assisted dying has never been legal in the UK, but that could be about to change. Several proposals have been presented over the years, but none have passed into law. I’ve been talking to Dame Esther Rantzen’s daughter, Rebeca Wilcox. And Dame Esther answers some questions that Rebeca asked her mum, on my behalf.

My celebrity guest this week was Mr Saturday Night for years, on Game for a Laugh, You Bet, and the iconic Stars in Their Eyes. On stage, he won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in 2004 as Lennie in Of Mice and Men, and he’s played leading roles in several major productions. He’s Matthew Kelly.

Also, this week, communication failures in the NHS when it comes to mislaid letters and joined-up thinking. Who’s in charge of the patient journey, and what needs to happen?

For more information or to contact the show, https://www.drhilaryjones.com/

Matthew Kelly in Filumena: https://www.kenwright.com/productions/filumena/

Esther Rantzen: https://estherrantzen.co.uk/

The Dignity in Dying campaign https://www.dignityindying.org.uk/

The effect smartphones have on children’s lives, plus Rory Cellan-Jones on living with Parkinson’s disease.

Also, this week, how do we get better at spotting and preventing sepsis? And a warning from the UK Health Security Agency about spotting the warning signs for meningitis.

My guests this week include Charlotte Armitage, a psychologist and psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience. Her forthcoming book, “Generation Zombie,” explores the impact of excessive screen time on children’s development.

Plus, Rory Cellan-Jones OBE, who was the BBC’s technology correspondent until 2021. Two years earlier, he announced via Twitter that he had been diagnosed with early Parkinson’s disease. We discuss his life since retiring, and how he’s coping with the disease.

For more information or to contact the show, https://www.drhilaryjones.com/

Charlotte Armitage: https://charlottearmitage.co.uk/

Rory Cellan-Jones: https://rorycellanjones.substack.com/

https://www.moversandshakerspodcast.com/

Did you know heart disease is the #1 killer worldwide? One in four deaths in the UK is from heart attacks or strokes. Can you recognize the warning signs?

In Episode 6 of The Dr. Hilary Show, brought to you by Healthspan, we focus on cardiovascular health with Julie Ward, a Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation.
Learn the 3 biggest risk factors for heart disease, how to interpret palpitations, and what your blood pressure readings really mean. For more advice, visit bhf.org.uk.

Plus, we explore groundbreaking research on eye health with Professor John Nolan and his team at the Nutrition Research Centre Ireland, focusing on how carotenoids can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including age-related macular degeneration.
And, special guest Paul McKenna shares his journey into hypnotherapy and offers insights on how to overcome life-limiting fears and phobias.

For more information or to contact the show, visit drhilaryjones.com.

Use the code SHOW for 25% off your first order at Healthspan.co.uk. Brought to you by Healthspan.

In Episode 5 of The Dr Hilary Show, brought to you by Healthspan, we are discussing eye care with Denise Voon, from the College of Optometrists and eye health expert Ros Mussa. This episode emphasises the importance of regular eye exams to prevent issues like glaucoma and dry eye syndrome, which often go unnoticed until it’s too late. Both professionals stress the importance of early intervention through regular eye exams, warm compresses, artificial tears, and maintaining eye hygiene. This can help manage conditions like dry eye and prevent more severe problems progressing.

Plus, special guest Christine Lampard discusses how she maintains her health amidst the challenges of a busy life. She shares that she tries to stay active, eat well, and live in moderation without being too rigid, and how prioritising a work life balance is important. We also touch on broader health issues like alcohol consumption, obesity, and allergies, highlighting how small changes can improve overall health.

For more information or to get in touch with the show, visit https://www.drhilaryjones.com/

In Episode 4 of The Dr Hilary Show, brought to you by Healthspan, some valuable advice if you struggle with sleep.
Doctors know that prolonged periods of poor sleep can negatively impact your physical and mental health, increasing the likelihood of developing various conditions. With the demands and pressures of modern life, it’s a problem that affects us all at one time or another.
My guest is nutritionist Rob Hobson, the author of three books, including The Art of Sleeping. You can find more about Rob Hobson on his website: https://robhobson.co.uk/.

Plus, in the UK, it has been illegal to sell e-cigarettes, or vapes, to those under 18 since 2015. Yet, we know that vaping among teenagers is on the rise, with disposable vapes proving especially popular.
Five years ago, Ewan Fisher was hospitalized with a life-threatening lung condition caused by e-cigarettes. He was 16 at the time and found himself on life support. Doctors told him that he might not survive the night. Fortunately, he pulled through and now warns others about the dangers of vaping. Ewan tells me how he started using vapes and what needs to be done to prevent other teens from facing the same health issues he did.
For advice and help with teenage vaping, visit NHS.uk and talktofrank.com/drug/vapes.

For more information or to get in touch with the show, visit https://www.drhilaryjones.com/.

On Episode 3 of The Dr Hilary Show, brought to you by Healthspan, I’m joined by the man who launched Radio 1 in 1967 and recently celebrated 60 years on the air.
On July 25th, 1964, Tony Blackburn put on a pair of headphones and sat behind a microphone for the very first time on the pirate ship Radio Caroline; since then, he’s been on the radio pretty much non-stop and at the age of 81, he’s still going strong.
Tony talks about his health over the years and explains why he’s still working at 81.

Also, in Episode 3, pharmacist Raj Patel discusses fake weight-loss injections and why drug shortages are commonplace in the UK.
Plus, around 10,000 people will die of alcoholic liver disease in the UK this year. It’s the biggest killer of those aged 35-49. How much do you know about safe drinking levels? I’ve been speaking with one of the country’s top Hepatologists, Professor Stephen Ryder, for his thoughts and advice.
You can learn all about liver health from https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/

For more information and to get in touch with the show, visit https://www.drhilaryjones.com/