Laura Donnelly

Two major classes of medicine have dominated the medical landscape over the last year: the first drugs to slow progression of Alzheimer’s disease, and ‘Ozempic’ style injections which have been found to have a dramatic impact on a host of conditions. Laura Donnelly’s exclusives on both set her far ahead of her peers.

In August, she revealed that regulators were about to give the go ahead to lecanemab - the first ever drug to slow progression of Alzheimer’s. It followed fierce debate over the risks and benefits of the medicines, which had been rejected in Europe but given the green light in the US. The scoop, followed up widely, was followed by coverage of the decision by NHS rationers to refuse to fund the drugs. The complex issues and heartbreaking implications were explored in-depth in Donnelly’s coverage, which resonated deeply with the Telegraph’s audience. She was first to reveal a decision to license a second treatment, and to reject it for NHS use. With a pipeline of 30 such drugs in development, examining the obstacles preventing access has involved a forensic investigation of the way decisions are made - and the lack of priority given to social concerns, such as the burden on families.

Meanwhile, a second class of medications, originally designed to treat diabetes, have demonstrated game-changing potential. Donnelly's front pages have revealed that as well as having a dramatic impact on obesity, the jabs could cut deaths from heart attacks and strokes by one fifth and tackle a host of chronic diseases. Her knowledge of the field and interest in Britain’s economic woes meant she was well placed to find out about pilot trials examining the impact of the drugs on the economy - thus landing an op ed from the Health Secretary suggesting that jabs should be used to get Britain back to work. This controversial idea led the agenda, followed up across broadcast and print media, in a debate which continues to run. It saw a huge response from Telegraph readers - with 12 times as many comments as the average news story - as well as inspiring dozens more articles. Engagement levels with Donnelly’s output is such that in the last year, single stories have had more than 570,000 page views. It followed interviews Donnelly had carried out with Sir Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting in the run up to the election, with Sir Keir for the first time pronouncing the NHS broken - a mantra which was to become government policy.

Investigative journalism takes time: Donnelly’s painstaking work with NHS whistleblowers meant she broke the news of a fertility scandal which saw scores of embryos destroyed, and police called in. The failings at a leading London hospital saw hundreds of patients contacted, including cancer patients who may have lost their only chance of having children.

In a year of political change, and increasing strain on the NHS, Donnelly has delivered insightful exclusive stories which explore both the challenges and opportunities for healthcare in Britain.