As a struggling single mother, the past 14 years have been brutal. I need to know he understands how hard life is for some of us in Britain

When Keir Starmer stood on the steps of 10 Downing Street as our new prime minister , he spoke of hope and of a promise that things will change for the better. But hope is in short supply in my household. At the age of 44, I have never been this skint, this hungry, this cold or this worried.

I am unable to work owing to multiple disabilities, and the past few months have been a very frightening time to be receiving benefits. While I understand people cheering the end of 14 years of the Conservatives, I am nervous that when Starmer promises change he is not thinking about people like me. In his victory speech he spoke of cleaners, builders, and nurses facing insecurity despite doing the right thing. I feel that insecurity every minute of every day, but simply cannot work because of my disabilities. That leaves me completely unable to make ends meet.

Marie (an alias) is a lone mother of three who lives in southern England. She takes part in Changing Realities , a coalition of parents and carers on a low-income, researchers at the University of York and Salford, and Child Poverty Action Group, working together for change

New health secretary aims to resolve dispute in England and warns health service is ‘not good enough’

• General election 2024: live news

The new health secretary, Wes Streeting, has declared the NHS is broken as he announced talks with junior doctors in England would restart next week.

The Ilford North MP said patients were not receiving the care they deserved and the performance of the NHS was “not good enough”.

Limp salad, bad barbecues, jellyfish stings and chaffing. Summer can be a tricky season - but our experts are on hand to help with your hot-weather headaches

Worr isome wasps
“If you eat near still water you’ll get a lot more insects than if you have a bit of a breeze,” says Ben Quinn, chef and founder of Woodfired Canteen . “But ultimately, if you go to mother nature’s dining room, there will be others at your table. Pack a few sacrifices to the god of the wasps in the form of diluted jam in a mug for them to focus on.” You’re better off firing up the barbecue, he adds: “The smoke annoys insects, so they avoid it.” Simon Stallard, chef and founder of the Hidden Hut cafe in Cornwall, says wait until the last second to open anything sugary: “Cakes, fizzy drinks, ketchup – that’s what they’re attracted to.”

Enlarge / The Birthday Cake flavored bar.

One person may have died from eating Diamond Shruumz microdosing candies, which were recalled last week amid a rash of severe illnesses involving seizures, intubation, and intensive care stays .

According to an update this week from the Food and Drug Administration , the cluster of cases continues to increase across the country. To date, 48 people across 24 states have fallen ill after eating the candies, which include chocolate bars, gummies, and candy cones that were sold online and in retail locations, such as smoke and vape shops. Of the 48 people sickened, 46 were ill enough to seek medical care, and 27 were admitted to a hospital.

For now, the death noted in the FDA's latest update is only "potentially associated" with the candies and is still under investigation. No other information is yet available.

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The hit show shows how kitchens are pressure cookers of stress, but not how professional cooking ravages the body

The opening scene of the popular F/X drama The Bear’s latest season opens with troubled chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto gazing at a deep scar in his hand. He vaguely explains its origin to his doctor girlfriend, Claire; the now-healed injury seems like nothing much to him. Attuned to what Carmy leaves unsaid, she asks if the wound hurt so much that he couldn’t feel it at the time.

That delayed pain applies to Carmy’s other wounds: the mental health damage sustained in an abusive kitchen and a harsh upbringing. But now he’s passing his trauma on to his own restaurant staff as he pushes them toward their breaking points.

Gut health has become something of a wellness buzzword – so we asked experts what the gut microbiome is and how it affects our health

Human bodies are mysterious. They are full of wonders (brains, kidneys) and horrors (earwax). We spend our entire lives in these flesh sacks, and yet we don’t fully know how they work, or how jeans will fit them from one day to the next

And the gut microbiome might be one of the most bewildering corners.

We would like to hear from students across the UK who are thinking of quitting their nursing degree

According to a report from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), seen by the Guardian, about 32,000 nursing students in England could walk away before they graduate.

Half of nursing students in England have considered leaving and we want to find out more about the experiences of nursing students across the UK.

Experts warn of long-term health implications amid concerns over advice from social media ‘evangelists’

• ‘Frightening’ how easily women able to get hold of testosterone, say doctors

The prescribing of testosterone for middle-aged women is “out of control” and may have long-term implications for their health, experts have warned.

They are concerned that “testosterone evangelists” on social media – including some celebrities and GPs – are giving women the impression that the hormone will reduce fatigue and improve their energy levels, as well as protecting their heart, brain, muscles and bones. But experts say the evidence only supports its use in postmenopausal women with low libido, when psychosocial causes have been ruled out.

Shorter playtimes and shrinking outside space in England have serious implications for children’s wellbeing and mental health

• Revealed: students at top private schools have 10 times more green space than state pupils
• Indoors at breaktime: the school in a London office block
• Private schools in England should be made to share their green space, say campaigners

Children are facing a “brutal” loss of space and time for play in school, teachers, unions and academics have warned.

A combination of factors is eating into the time children spend outside, and will have serious implications for their wellbeing and mental health.

A Guardian analysis of the space available to state school children in England has revealed that thousands are attending schools with very little outside space, with government data showing that more than 300 schools have under 1,000 sq metres and at least 20 have no outside space. In nearly 1,000 schools, there is under 10 sq metres for each pupil.

New and unpublished research from the UCL Institute of Education seen by the Guardian showed a continued downward trend in the amount of time children have for playtime in the wake of the Covid lockdowns, with the youngest losing the most time.

The demands of the curriculum have increased, and continue to diminish time outside, while staffing shortages are reducing capacity to oversee playtime.

Across England and Wales schools face difficult financial decisions, which are having an impact on the funding to care for grounds. Headteachers in the state sector have said they are in desperate need of funding to improve basic facilities for children.

School buildings are crumbling, as many were built with Raac (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) that was not replaced within its usable lifetime, meaning in some cases playgrounds are being used to host temporary classrooms. This is squeezing out the little space some schools have for children to spend time outside.