Lucy Johnston
Verified- Health and Social Affairs Editor, Sunday Express
- Health and Social Affairs Editor, Daily Express
Bournemouth
Health and Social Affairs Editor, Sunday Express, freelancer + PR. Previously - Big Issue, Assistant Editor, Observer. lucyjohnstonuk@gmail.com
Articles by Lucy Johnston
Five reasons why British travellers are flocking to Bangkok's vibrant cultural scene
Bangkok is not a city normally associated with lowering your heart rate. The roads throb with tuk-tuks and motorbikes. Woks spit and smoke on pavements. In Chinatown, lobsters and fish are cooked inches from passing traffic while makeshift stalls sell everything from jewellery and handbags to raincoats. Then there are the smells - chilli, garlic, charcoal and incense - and the extraordinary flashes of gold as Buddhist temples appear between glass-and-steel skyscrapers.
Exploring Thailand's islands: A journey beyond the familiar beaches for British travelers
Luiz Dias, an underwater photographer, oceanographer and diving instructor, has spent years studying fish behaviour here, yet even he can be overwhelmed by them. Swimming among great shoals of fusiliers can become so disorientating, he told me, that even he gets dizzy. "It's fun," he laughed. Koh Tao's waters can produce far larger visitors too, including whale sharks reaching around 12 metres. Luiz reassured me that they feed on plankton.
The Thai retreat where the world disappears
In The Odyssey, those who ate the lotus forgot the world they had left behind. And high above a secluded bay at Banyan Tree Samui, wrapped in jungle and looking out across an impossibly blue Gulf of Thailand, I began to understand the appeal. The silence and nature here are hypnotic. As I sat on the terrace of my villa at sunset, a V-shaped flock of white herons curled around the headland and disappeared.
Depression not down to low 'happy hormones' claims top professor
Professor Joanna Moncrieff says the "chemical imbalance" explanation given to generations of patients is a myth - and antidepressants do not work by correcting a proven fault in the brain. Instead, she argues, the drugs may relieve distress by numbing people's emotions, dulling happiness, excitement, love and sexual feelings as well as sadness and anxiety.
New NHS ‘Net Zero’ Rules Could Put Patients’ Lives At Risk
Written by Lucy Johnston and Matt Gibson on September 4, 2026. Posted in Current News NHS ‘net zero’ rules could put patients’ lives at risk by threatening supplies of vital medicines, leading doctors have claimed From April 1 next year, drug companies seeking major new deals to supply NHS medicines will be forced to meet tougher ‘net zero’ rules covering global supply chains – or risk being rejected for the contract.
'We're medicalising childhood' - 'labels' the new 'currency' of schools
Schools and parents are being pushed towards ADHD and autism diagnoses because they have become the "currency" of an overwhelmed education system, an education expert has warned. Dave Clements, author of The Crisis in the Classroom, said Britain is increasingly "medicalising childhood", with diagnoses becoming the gateway to support and funding instead of tackling the underlying reasons why children are struggling.
'WE'RE MEDICALISING CHILDHOOD' ADHD and autism labels the new 'currency' of Engla
Schools and parents are being pushed towards ADHD and autism diagnoses because they have become the "currency" of an overwhelmed education system, an education expert has warned. Dave Clements, author of The Crisis in the Classroom, said Britain is increasingly "medicalising childhood", with diagnoses becoming the gateway to support and funding instead of tackling the underlying reasons why children are struggling.
The luxury resort in the Med with a hotel reserved entirely for pets
Big Mediterranean resorts aren't supposed to be fashionable any more. Boutique hotels became the aspiration. Rustic villas promised authenticity. Tiny adults-only retreats became the new definition of luxury. But Nirvana Mediterranean Excellence, on Turkey's spectacular southern coast, makes a persuasive case for thinking bigger. The first sign that this is not an ordinary sprawling resort comes within an hour of arriving, when I stumble across something I have never seen before.
Commission for a Cause 2026
Commission for a Cause 2026 We are pleased to announce the results of our 8th annual Commission for a Cause Day, and what a day it was.
The Turkish hotspot stealing the Mediterranean spotlight
Crusader castles, ancient cities and lost civilisations surround this corner of Turkey's Aegean coast. Yet there is nothing outdated about Titanic hotel, Bodrum, where personal assistants answer requests by WhatsApp, open-air escalators glide through palm trees and every room overlooks a glittering bay. Perched above Güvercinlik Bay, the sprawling five-star resort combines cutting-edge luxury with one of the most historically rich coastlines in the Mediterranean.
5-day NHS culture "costing lives" doctors warn
The NHS must end its Monday to Friday culture to save lives and billions of pounds, emergency doctors are to tell Health Secretary James Murray. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) says bank holiday and weekend slowdowns are associated with thousands of extra deaths and billions of pounds of waste.
NHS black hole - £billions written off as Oxford scientists expose staggering losses
Lucy Johnston More than £15 billion of taxpayers' money has been written off since Covid, with billions more unaccounted for, as Oxford scientists warn of a financial black hole inside Britain's public health system. This includes £billions wasted on tests, medicines and vaccines which were never used and have either been thrown away or beyond their shelf life.
Private patients hit record high as almost 1 million go private
Surge in private hospital admissions since Covid (Image: Getty) Almost one million patients a year are admitted to private hospitals - the highest recorded and 25 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels. The new figures also show that the growth is overwhelmingly being driven by private health insurance, which paid out a record £4 billion in claims in 2024, up 13 per cent on the previous year, according to the Association of British Insurers.
Millions of children living with drink addicted parents
Campaigners warn that an estimated 2.6 million children in the UK are now living with a parent who drinks too much - many in silence and shame. By Lucy Johnston, Health and Social Affairs Editor of the Sunday Express 01:12, Sun, Feb 22, 2026 Updated: 01:12, Sun, Feb 22, 2026 Soaring calls for help from children (Image: Getty) Calls from desperate children living with alcoholic parents have soared by 60 per cent since 2019, new figures reveal.
Government raises alarm over baby sleep pillows sold as ‘comfort’ aids
The Government has raised the alarm over baby sleep pillows sold online as “comfort” or “support” aids linked to almost 200 infant deaths. In many cases, babies have slumped, arched backwards or pressed their faces into soft, U-shaped cushions, leading to airway obstruction, suffocation or restricted breathing.
"Dying before help" MND patients trapped in poor houses
Most with deadly, rapidly advancing MND are left stranded in unsuitable homes due to lengthy delays and insufficient funding for critical home adaptations.
Britain in grip of deadly dental crisis govt warned
Rise in patients needing emergency treatment for dental infections so advanced they have blocked airways, facial swelling and sepsis.
Scientists blast return of Covid-style masks and school closures to stop 'flu
"This is not a flu problem, it's an NHS problem... Every year supermarkets plan for a surge in customers at Christmas that they prepare for.
Suicides linked to antidepressants soar 25% since pandemic
Official figures show 226 people in England died by antidepressant poisoning in 2024 - the highest since records began - up from 185 in 2019. By Lucy Johnston, Health and Social Affairs Editor of the Sunday Express 12:40, Mon, Nov 10, 2025 Updated: 12:41, Mon, Nov 10, 2025 Depression drug suicide rises 25% (Image: Getty) Suicides involving antidepressants have risen by 25 per cent since the pandemic, with women now more likely than men to take their own lives using the drugs.
AI fuelling a new one age of child abuse
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Sunday Express praised in Motor Neurone Disease breakthrough
"This is a game changer for many who noticed a step change disease progression - some noticing improvement in function. Some would not be alive today." By Lucy Johnston, Health and Social Affairs Editor of the Sunday Express 00:51, Sun, Aug 3, 2025 Updated: 00:51, Sun, Aug 3, 2025 MND patient working on memory and coordination (Image: Getty) A groundbreaking new treatment for motor neurone disease (MND) has been approved for use in the UK, offering fresh hope after decades of despair.
Dr strikes led to record high waiting lists and threatens new chaos
The junior doctor strike is set to set NHS waiting lists spiralling once again experts say - as new figures reveal a direct link between walkouts and the soaring treatment backlog. In an analysis shared with the Sunday Express, business consultancy company Broadstone found during the most intense period of junior - now known as resident - doctor strikes between January and September 2023, NHS waiting lists surged by 555,453 patients – rising from 7.21 million to 7.77 million.
NHS Faces £90 Billion Time bomb from Obesity Crisis – Double Defence Budget
The true cost of Britain’s obesity epidemic has soared to an eye-watering £90 billion a year – more than fourteen times previous government estimates and twice the UK’s entire defence budget, a new analysis shows. The staggering figure, which will be unveiled at a parliamentary meeting next Tuesday, blows apart the official NHS claim that obesity costs the health service £6.5 billion annually.
‘New Dawn for Medicine’ - Top Medic Says End 'One Size Fits All' Healthcare
One of the UK's top doctors has launched a blistering attack on Britain’s “monochrome” health system - calling for a revolution in the way we treat patients. Speaking at the Beyond Pills International Conference last week, Dr Michael Dixon, chair of the College of Medicine, declared that the age of “one-size-fits-all” treatment is over. In its place, he said, must come “Personal Medicine” - a radical, individualised approach to health that puts patients at the centre of their own care.
NHS on Alert as New Report Warns of “Silent Ketamine Epidemic”
Britain is sleepwalking into a silent epidemic of ketamine addiction, with health services “ill-equipped” to cope and users dangerously unaware of the risks, experts have warned. The alarm follows a new BMJ report which reveals a dramatic rise in ketamine-related hospital visits and long-term health complications among teenagers and young adults.
'Britain heading for calamity' says Conservative peer
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Millions of kids face 'lifelong poor dental health' as NHS system collapses
One in four Brits turn to A@E as they cannot access a GP Ambulance turnaround plan slammed as ‘immoral' and ‘dangerous' NHS clinic faces legal action over child sex-change hormones NHS figures spark concerns patients 'will die unnecessarily' Lucy Letby's boss issues 'verdict' on case with 9-word comment One in four Brits turn to A@E as they cannot access a GP Ambulance turnaround plan slammed as ‘immoral' and ‘dangerous' NHS clinic faces legal action over child sex-change hormones NHS figures...
"NHS worst ever seen" as thousands of 'overspill' patients not counted
Ambulance Queue Outside Hospital (Image: Getty) The NHS crisis is even worse than feared because thousands of ‘overspill patients’ left to wait in corridors and even gyms are not included in official statistics, the head of the Royal College of Physicians has said. John Dean, clinical lead of the RCP also said the hospital crisis is the worst he and senior colleagues have ever witnessed - even compared to 2020-2021 during the height of the covid pandemic.
UK Government pledges to help ‘blighted’ COVID youngsters
THE UK must provide more opportunities to ‘the Covid generation’ of youngsters whose futures were blighted by the pandemic, the work and pensions secretary has said. Liz Kendall told Parliament last week (NOV 26) that she was determined to give youngsters hit hardest by Covid “the chances and choices they need to build a better life”. The Cabinet minister was speaking in a debate following the release of the government’s Get Britain Working white paper.
Scale of British youth crime wave exposed - 1000's of violent offences reported last year
By Lucy Johnston, Health and Social Affairs Editor of the Sunday Express 19:57, Sat, Nov 2, 2024 | UPDATED: 19:58, Sat, Nov 2, 2024 boy with blade (Image: Getty) The scale of violent and serious offences being carried out by children has been unveiled in a new report.
Australia’s Contradictory Covid Inquiry Report - Collateral Global
A comment piece by Lucy Johnston. It was hailed as an exemplar of lockdown. Now a new report suggests Australia has also learned lessons about the harms of its Covid suppression measures – arguably some of the most draconian in the world. But a closer look at the 670 page independent Australian Covid-19 Response Inquiry Report finds that its conclusions are strangely contradictory.
Britain's oldest skydiver receives award after being praised by Prince William
By Lucy Johnston, Health and Social Affairs Editor of the Sunday Express 11:17, Sat, Oct 19, 2024 | UPDATED: 11:18, Sat, Oct 19, 2024 The Prince Of Wales praised Manette Baillie (Image: Getty) Britain’s oldest skydiver, whose death defying exploits were praised by Prince William, is being given a special award for her charity work.
Covid censorship was widespread and is still going on, leading scientist reveals - Collateral Global
Scientific censorship surrounding Covid was “widespread, unprecedented” and still goes on today, a leading cancer expert has revealed. , former cancer advisor to the World Health Organisation, talked to Collateral Global after the social media platform LinkedIn deleted his post about a scientific study about the harms of masking children.
Leading government economist censored on lockdown report - Collateral Global
A leading government economist says an official government report that questioned lockdowns in poorer countries was censored. Nick Lea, former Deputy Chief Economist for the Department for International Development (DFID) – now the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – carried out analysis at the start of the Covid pandemic highlighting evidence that Covid 19 could be far less severe in developing countries due to factors that mitigated the impact of the virus.
Rise in silver surfers - Soaring rates of elderly online gambling linked to lockdowns
Online gambling among UK pensioners has more than doubled since the Covid lockdowns were imposed with as many as forty percent now putting their pension pots at risk of big losses on virtual bets. Figures recently released by the Gambling Commission found a staggering 39 percent of those aged 65-74 years old surveyed said they had gambled online in the past four weeks – a rise of 124 percent since 2019.
Top Tory's verdict on how Boris Johnson could have survived
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Record levels of speech and language problems among youngsters linked to lockdown
Almost two million children in the UK are struggling with speech and language problems – a rise of more than a quarter since Covid lockdown measures were introduced. Currently almost one in five children – 1.9 million – are struggling with speech and language problems. This has risen by 200,000 each year since 2021. The increase is being blamed on the ongoing impact of lockdown measures which led to widespread mask wearing and reduced socialisation.
'Assisted dying laws must change in time for Esther'
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IT meltdown leads to urgent call for lifesaving blood donors
The NHS blood service has issued an urgent call for blood stocks following NHS IT meltdowns which stopped hospitals being able to cross match blood. This increased demand for the “universal blood type” - group O - which can be given to all patients because it is compatible with other blood groups. Problems began in June when major London hospitals including Guys and St Thomas’, King's College and Harefield, were hit by a cyber attack.
Sick benefits bill to soar to £28billion
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Experts Call for Investigation as Excess Deaths Spark ‘Dangerous’ Theories
Government figures suggest the number of extra or “unnecessary” fatalities this year is higher than 2021 and 2022, and on a trajectory that could even surpass 2020. Of particular concern is the 15 to 44 age group, where cumulative deaths are tracking above all recent years, including 2020. Some commentators have suggested delayed medical treatment due to lockdown measures might be contributing to the rise.
End 'postcode lottery' denying patients osteoporosis care, says Matt Hancock
Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing star Paul Whitehouse has hit out at "greenwashing nonsense", as the star revealed the one food he refuses to eat. The 65-year-old comedian spoke about why "steers clear" of eating farmed salmon in a conversation with friend John Bailley, who has organised the lifelong fisherman to appear at The Game Fair at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire, which is being held 28-30 July.
Food additive added to thousands of products is a possible cancer-causing chemical
A huge fire has broken out at a takeaway in West Yorkshire, causing a major incident to be declared. Dozens of fire crews are tackling the blaze, which is believed to have started in Mango’s takeaway in Keighley at 9.20am. The blaze soon spread to the flats above the restaurant, with a number of people initially unaccounted for. The fire service has confirmed this is no longer the case and there have been no casualties.
Matt Hancock backs the Sunday Express Better Bones Campaign
Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock has thrown his weight behind the Sunday Express Better Bones campaign. He is calling on the Government to start "preventing problems, not just fixing people afterwards". The misery caused to patients who end up breaking bones and needing hip and knee replacements - and the subsequent cost to the NHS - could be avoided if the Government increased funding into the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis before it is too late, argues Mr Hancock.
NHS offers one-to-one digital scheme to help anxiety sufferers
Therapy to treat anxiety and depression is being offered for free from the ease and comfort of people's phones. The scheme means anyone feeling overcome by negative feelings can text for help rather than needing to see a GP to access the therapy. The one-to-one digital scheme is currently for residents in Kent and is being run by private company ieso for the health authority.
Eating disorders on the rise in children this summer
Children are making themselves ill to get the perfect 'beach body', warns charity ChildLine, as it launches its first campaign to reduce alarming numbers of youngsters with eating disorders. The NSPCC's children's counselling service has seen increasing numbers seeking help for body image since March 2020. It fears there will be a spike in the run up to this year's summer holidays.
NHS will die if we don't get it healthy, says King Charles' doctor
The crisis-stricken NHS will only survive if medics help people to "do things for themselves" and tackle the root cause of illnesses, King Charles's doctor has warned. His comments come after the health service's 75th anniversary week, which included a special service held in Westminster Abbey. It has also prompted a call from former Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who wants an urgent review into how to reform the NHS.
Drive to get sick back to work to boost their health and ‘transform UK's ailing economy'
Boris and his followers aren't the only problems facing Rishi Sunak. If the Government doesn't get control of the health service, it is feared they will be wiped out at the next election. In a bid to stave off the problem, they have launched a £58million drive to get sick and disabled people into work.
Drive to get sick back to work to boost their health and ‘transform UK's ailing economy'
Boris and his followers aren't the only problems facing Rishi Sunak. If the Government doesn't get control of the health service, it is feared they will be wiped out at the next election. In a bid to stave off the problem, they have launched a £58million drive to get sick and disabled people into work. More than 25,000 people with health issues will be helped into jobs as part of a scheme which provides training while they are in employment.
Horror of millions of Britons trapped in '21st century slums'
More than three million households are living in homes unfit for habitation, but developers are still getting away with creating "21st century slums", a former chief executive of the NHS says. In addition to the three million, one in ten people live in poor quality housing and the associated effects on health cost the NHS at least £1.4billion every year. The revelations come as former NHS chief-turned crossbench peer Lord Crisp fights to ensure all newly built houses meet basic standards.
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