Vital Signsby BridgeheadAll journalists

01  Journalist · bbc.com · Medical ethics & regulation

Paul Burnell, portrait

Photo: LinkedIn

Journalist

Paul Burnell

bbc.com and 1 other title

Articles read per month · health & social care
Dec 2025Jan 2026FebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugSeptOctNovto date

Bars cover the last twelve months and show relative volume.

Bylines read on 8 topics since 17 Nov 2025 · latest 21 Aug 2026

Files to · bar length shows relative volume
  • bbc.com
  • BBC News

This counts only pieces our coverage scan read on the topics Vital Signs tracks, not their full output.

Paul Burnell: key facts

Main title
bbc.com
Press coverage
Bylined in the pressby our coverage scan, not their full output
Most recently read
21 Aug 2026
First read
17 Nov 2025

03  Beat

What Paul Burnell covers

How we found the articles by Paul Burnell we read: we searched news for these terms, by topic. Terms for 8 topics

Medical ethics & regulation

  • medical ethics
  • General Medical Council
  • GMC
  • fitness to practise
  • patient consent
  • Mental Capacity Act
  • conscientious objection
  • medical confidentiality

Also searched with “medical ethics” in each of 8 national papers. Every term for Medical ethics & regulation

Learning disability & autism

  • learning disability
  • autism
  • autistic
  • SEND
  • EHCP
  • special educational needs
  • ADHD
  • Down's syndrome

Also searched with “learning disability” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag, and in trade press by category. Every term for Learning disability & autism

Dementia

  • dementia
  • dementia care
  • Alzheimer's
  • memory clinic
  • dementia diagnosis
  • dementia strategy

Also searched with “dementia” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag, and in trade press by category. Every term for Dementia

Care home closures & provider failure

  • care home closure
  • provider failure
  • residential care closure
  • care home insolvency
  • care home fees
  • care home places
  • care market
  • market sustainability

Also searched with “care home closure” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag, and in trade press by category. Every term for Care home closures & provider failure

Dentistry access

  • NHS dentistry
  • NHS dentist
  • dental access
  • dentist shortage
  • dental desert
  • dental contract
  • dental charges
  • dental check-up

Also searched with “NHS dentistry” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag, and in trade press by category. Every term for Dentistry access

Palliative & end of life care

  • palliative care
  • end of life care
  • hospice
  • terminal illness

Also searched with “palliative care” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag, and in trade press by category. Every term for Palliative & end of life care

Maternity & neonatal

  • maternity
  • maternity services
  • maternity care
  • neonatal
  • stillbirth
  • maternal mortality
  • midwifery
  • midwife

Also searched with “maternity” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag, and in trade press by category. Every term for Maternity & neonatal

A&E & ambulance response

  • A&E waiting times
  • A&E department
  • accident and emergency
  • ambulance response times
  • ambulance handover
  • ambulance waiting
  • ambulance service
  • emergency department

Also searched with “A&E waiting times” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag, and in trade press by category. Every term for A&E & ambulance response

04  Who they quote

Who Paul Burnell calls

Voices credited in their pieces. A reporter who has called someone before is likely to call them again.

  1. Rachel McMillenSector leader
  2. Dr Oliver KennedyAcademic
  3. Jon SparkesSector leader
  4. Darren AshcroftSector leader
  5. Dr Daniel Du PlessisAcademic

Bylines and quoted sources are read automatically from UK coverage of the topics Vital Signs tracks, so this page reflects what our scan has read rather than a complete record. Where a biography appears, it is published by the outlet itself about its own correspondent, and linked above. Photographs come from the outlet’s own byline or author page, or from the journalist’s LinkedIn profile, and each is credited under the picture. Social accounts are not held: asserting an unverified one would attach a real person to an account that might not be theirs. See the methodology, or email contact@bridgeheadcommunications.com to correct anything on it.