In the South West, 73.8% of eligible women are now up to date with their breast screening under the programme’s three-year standard, up 1.2 percentage points on last year. New figures today show that in 2024 to 2025, 531,670 women in the region aged 50 to 70 attended screening within six months of invitation. The […]

Tens of thousands more people are having waiting-list operations in the South West as the NHS steps up its productivity, with AI, robotics and better systems all playing their part. New data shows the number of elective procedures carried out by hospitals in 2025 topped 1m for the first time. That is nearly 16% above […]

Cancer patients in the South West will receive faster diagnosis, quicker treatment and support to live well with cancer under the National Cancer Plan, published today. Each year, there are around 50,000 cancer diagnoses in the South West. For the first time, the NHS will commit to ensuring three in four people diagnosed with cancer from 2035 onwards […]

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on Thursday (29 January) published annual coverage data for the HPV vaccination programme for the 2024/25 school year. While the South West has achieved higher vaccination rates than the England average across all year groups, around 1 in 4 young people (approximately 55,595) in the region are still leaving school without […]

Flu and norovirus continue to put pressure on hospitals in the South West, with the numbers of patients and beds rising again last week. For the seven days to Sunday 11 January: An average of 262 people a day were in hospital with flu, some in critical care, compared to 252 the week before An […]

Winter blues are a “real thing” but there are things people can do to help, the NHS is advising. Festive season debt, cold weather and darkness can leave people feeling more stressed and less happy in January and February. Top tips to improve mood include reaching out to friends and family, walking outside, eating well, […]

The NHS in the South West is urging people to come forward for their COVID-19 and flu vaccines before the winter offer comes to an end. Festive celebrations may have led to an increase in flu and COVID-19 infections as figures published this week show that the number of patients in hospital beds with flu […]

The NHS in the South West is urging people to play their part as staff work flat-out to cater for high demand in the continuing cold weather. With the amber weather alert extended to the weekend, there is heavy pressure across the region on GP surgeries, ambulances, A&E departments and community services. Flu and other […]

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and the NHS in the South West is sharing how people can help eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.   Cervical cancer leads to approximately 685 deaths in England each year. However, through cervical screening and the HPV vaccination programme, eliminating cervical cancer is more achievable than ever before.  Dr Matthew Dominey, Consultant in Public Health and Screening and Immunisation Lead […]

Families with young children in the South West, and across England, will now be offered protection against chickenpox as part of their routine childhood vaccinations. The NHS’s vaccination programme is being expanded to include chickenpox for the first time to help shield young children from getting seriously ill. Following a recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisations, GP practices will be able to offer children […]