Smacking children must be banned in England, say leading paediatricians. They're calling for an end to the "Victorian-era punishment" that they say "undoubtedly harms children's health".

Leading child doctors have joined calls for a complete ban on smacking children in England, saying there is no evidence it has any positive effect on their wellbeing. Currently, smacking is unlawful in England,

A top paediatrician has backed an MP’s plans to introduce a smacking ban in England, saying it puts children at risk of ‘really significant physical harm’. The Children’s Act 2004 made it unlawful for a parent or carer to hit their child – but made an exception for ‘reasonable punishment’.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, who has been the most senior doctor in the UK's health service for seven years and was in the role during the pandemic, is hailed as a "remarkable clinical leader in the NHS during the most difficult crisis in its history".

NHS England’s national medical director is to step down from his role in the summer. Professor Sir Stephen Powis has been in the job for seven years. Sir Stephen, 64, handed in his resignation in January.

Beavers captured from Scotland have been released into the wild in England for the first time under new rules that were announced last week. They were set free on a river bank in Dorset as part of a plan by conservationists who say that the beavers love of dam building will increase biodiversity.

Wild beavers are back in England in a big way! That's because Britain's National Trust legally released the first two pairs of Eurasian beavers to live in the wild in England in Purbeck, Dorset. This historic moment follows an announcement by the Department for Rural Affairs (Defra) and Natural England,

By Martyn Herman LONDON (Reuters) -England have dropped Marcus Smith for Sunday's Six Nations clash against Italy at Twickenham with Elliot Daly replacing him as coach Steve Borthwick makes three changes to the line-up that began the narrow victory over Scotland.

Elliot Daly will start ahead of Marcus Smith at full-back for England's match against Italy on Sunday, with the Harlequins playmaker dropped to the bench.

Marcus Smith and Henry Slade have been dropped for England's Six Nations clash with Italy, while Jamie George is in line to win his 100th cap having been named in the starting line-up for Sunday's match.