The flu season has hit the NHS more than a month earlier than usual, with cases three times higher than this time last year. The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA’s) latest surveillance data published today shows cases have increased this week from 6.1% up to 8.2% – largely driven by a spike among school-aged children […]
Millions of people are using online consultation requests to contact their GP practice each month, as the NHS gives people more choice in how they can safely contact their family doctor. New figures show 6.5 million online consultation requests were submitted to GPs in September 2025, up half compared to the same period last year […]
Women will be able to access the morning-after pill free of charge on the NHS in high-street pharmacies across England from today. In the “biggest change to sexual health services since the 1960s”, the oral emergency contraception pill will be available for free to women from almost 10,000 pharmacies across the country without needing to […]
The NHS will test an AI-powered ‘one-day diagnostics’ service for prostate cancer that could transform diagnosis and save some men up to a month of waiting. The new ‘one stop shop’ pilot, funded by NHS England, will use artificial intelligence to interpret MRI scans for men with suspected prostate cancer, helping spot lesions in a […]
An innovative 15-minute blood test which can fast-track the diagnosis of children with potentially life-threatening conditions is being trialled by the NHS this winter. The hi-tech blood test can distinguish between bacterial or viral infections much more quickly than traditional tests – so serious diseases like sepsis or meningitis can be picked up sooner. NHS […]
Parents will be able to get their children protected against flu at a fire station this half term, as the NHS ramps up its winter vaccine campaign next week. England’s most senior nurse has warned parents that flu can spread like wildfire in schools and has urged them to ensure their children get vaccinated before […]
The NHS is set to deliver faster care for millions of patients thanks to the most radical reset of the NHS in a generation. 2.5 million fewer patients will be waiting more than 18 weeks to receive planned care. 190,000 more cancer patients will begin potentially lifesaving treatment within 2 months of their referral over […]
Two of England’s leading doctors have set out their recommendations following the first phase of a review into postgraduate medical training. The government’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, and the former National Medical Director at NHS England, Professor Stephen Powis, have led the Medical Training Review to understand current challenges and identify key areas […]
Around 1,000 people at risk of HIV will be offered a new long-acting injection on the NHS if they cannot have pills to protect them from the virus. The rollout of this preventative therapy takes NHS England one step closer to its goal of eliminating HIV transmissions in the next five years. The cabotegravir injection […]
Newborn babies will now be routinely screened and treated earlier on the NHS for a rare, life-threatening metabolic disorder, which can result in the need for a liver transplant. Hereditary Tyrosinaemia Type 1 (HT1) is a rare, genetically inherited disorder that affects around 7 babies per year in the UK. Left untreated, it can lead […]
The NHS has vaccinated nearly a million more people against flu so far this autumn compared to last year – providing vital protection ahead of winter as cases start to rise. New data today reveals 4.3 million people have received the flu vaccine – including 3.57 million last week alone – as NHS teams across […]