Inside Health

Diagnosing Cancer - why does the UK still lag behind much of Europe and what is being done about it? The American dream - personalised medicine based on your genes. Plus do headphones damage hearing?

Increased risk of dementia from commonly used drugs; is going gluten free good for you; why women are more at risk of heart attacks than men; and boilers on prescription.

Mark investigates reports that the UK faces an epidemic of "mutant flu". Just a month after NICE calls for more weight loss operations to be done, there are proposals to slash the amount hospitals are paid to do the procedures - a move that could see many hospitals stop offering the operation. Six packs and big guns - there is growing concern about steroid abuse by young men on a quest for the perfect body. And Dry January - Mark looks at the science behind going on the wagon for a month.

Dr Mark Porter talks to leading experts about treating alcohol dependence with a pill and whether the required counselling services are available to make it work. Mark has a PLAC test to check his heart attack risk. And how often should we be going to the dentist?

Should fruit juice be dropped from 5 a day recommendations? A&E in winter; Mark visits a busy pain clinic; resident sceptic Margaret McCartney outlines her New Year resolutions.

Financial incentives for GPs - do they work? Are walk-in CT Scans a good idea? Hot Flushes feedback; plus the new generation of anti-coagulants offering an alternative to warfarin.

As more NHS operations are done in the private sector, how much do we know about patient safety in private hospitals? Kits to self-monitor warfarin have been recommended by NICE, so why is the uptake so poor? Hyperbaric medicine - using high doses of oxygen to accelerate healing; And sick day rules - the medicines you should stop taking while you are unwell to reduce kidney damage.

Inside Health examines advice for when parents should and shouldn't send their sick children to school. Is this another example of the nanny state, or a useful guide? Dr Mark Porter reports on ankle arthritis, the latest evidence on HRT for hot flushes, the origin of the term hypochondriac and listeners' questions on Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Ebola hits Europe – future predictions of a big increase in cases. Painkillers – the real story behind recent headlines suggesting that codeine based drugs pose a significant threat to the nation’s health. Immunity – could a problem with your immune system be making you more susceptible to coughs and other troublesome infections? The importance of integrated care. And thyroid problems and pregnancy – why careful control is important, and what mothers and doctors should be doing about it.

Dr Mark Porter reports on sleep apps, can they help with common sleep problems such as sleep apnoea? A new study reveals the failure of antibiotics for simple infections. Margaret McCartney reviews the evidence and asks is it worth having a flu jab? Plus who is eligible for NHS continuing health care.

Dr Mark Porter investigates the rights that parents have when there is disagreement about the right treatments for their child in hospital. He visits the Evelina Children's hospital where they're using mediation to deal with the conflicts that can arise between doctors and parents. Why has an initiative for commuters to register with a GP close to where they work been delayed? And slim women with big legs - lipoedema - a condition that's misunderstood and misdiagnosed.

Dr Mark Porter examines how powerful lobbying groups like the food and alcohol industries steer public health policy in the direction that suits them most.

Dr Mark Porter examines the hidden conflicts of interest that may affect how your GP or specialist treats you. He discovers that the advice patient groups give you is also not immune to the influences of organisations such as pharmaceutical companies.

Are conflicts of interest in medicine out of control and undermining public trust, or an over-hyped concern? Dr Mark Porter investigates the hidden influences driving your doctor.

Mark finds out why HIV might protect against MS, how much is black skin at reduced risk of skin cancer, iron overload and the training that helps recover a lost sense of smell.