Victoria Macdonald , Health and Social Care Editor

People across the country are dying in ways they have not planned for – that’s if they have planned at all.

“The UK government and devolved administrations and civil services failed their citizens.”

One major crisis facing the country that was notably absent from the King’s Speech was social care, despite its impact on the NHS.

Of all the challenges facing the government perhaps the NHS is the most urgent for the public.

Any deal, of course, will see a collective sigh of relief right across England’s NHS, and will be an important step towards Labour’s plan to reduce the waiting lists.

Trying to get a GP appointment is a formidable challenge –  there’s often nothing available for weeks on end and it’s a struggle to get through on the phone.

The Conservatives have pledged once again to introduce a cap on adult social care costs if they hold onto power.

The NHS has appealed for O-type blood donors to come forward as soon as possible – amid the fallout from the cyber attack which hit major London hospitals. 

Major hospitals in London have declared a critical incident after a cyber attack led to operations being cancelled and patients being diverted elsewhere for care.

Junior doctors in England have announced another five day strike – just before the election.

First, the vindication, now the compensation: the victims of the infected blood scandal have suffered for decades.

The scandal had already been called the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS.

They’ve waited for decades – many losing their lives, loved ones or livelihoods along the way. On Monday, thousands of victims of the infected blood scandal will get the final report of the inquiry into what happened to them.

Victims of what’s been described as the worst scandal in NHS history are finally due to get some answers. 

A boy with profound learning disabilities has reached an out of court settlement after he was abused in a residential school in Bristol.