Keeping Things Accurate

Writing about health carries a responsibility to get things right and to fix them openly when we do not. This page describes how we check our work, how corrections are made and how you can help.

Before publishing

Each new article is read by at least one other person on the team before it goes live. We check that:

• claims are general and cautious, without invented figures, studies or quotations;
• anything that depends on individual circumstances points readers to a doctor, midwife, pharmacist or local service;
• emergency warning signs, where relevant, are stated clearly;
• the language is plain enough to follow on a tired evening.

Reviewing older articles

The archive here stretches back years, and guidance can shift. We revisit older pieces, prioritising those about medicines, pregnancy and caregiving, where outdated detail could matter most. When we revise an article substantially, the updated date changes so readers can see it.

How to report a problem

If something looks wrong, out of date or misleading, please write to us via Talk to Us. It helps if you include the article address, the exact sentence and, where possible, why you think it needs changing. You do not need to be an expert; "this did not match what my pharmacist told me" is a perfectly good reason to get in touch.

What happens next

1. We read the report and look again at the passage in question.
2. We compare it with reliable, current information.
3. If a change is needed, we edit the article and update its date.
4. For a significant error, we add a short note to the article explaining what changed.
5. Where you left an email address, we let you know the outcome.

Things we will not change

We will not rewrite an article to promote a product, remove cautious wording at a company's request, or add claims we cannot support. Requests of that kind are politely declined.

Our limits

Even with careful review, we are an editorial team and not a medical authority. Our page A Note on Medical Advice sets out why personal decisions should always involve a qualified professional.