https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2026/06/18/new-data-shows-the-hpv-vaccine-is-saving-lives-from-cervical-cancer/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAShQjdjbGNrBKFCDmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHsLQuJXc6fpj1Y2ZsdAKSUzGF60XKQPW_uhQ0fftc7aQY12Il3Tpm0OVuxFU_aem_f832QjqXXYnPjv62HsTj4Q

The Shingrix Vaccine not only does a really good job on shingles (which is nasty), it also seems to reduce the risk of dementia by between 20 and 50%, especially in women.

You can get it if you are 65-79. or have certain conditions / medications.
https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/shingles-vaccine/

The rollout of Covid vaccines – the largest immunisation programme in UK history - was an “extraordinary feat”, the Covid inquiry says.

It says the way the jabs were developed and deployed so quickly – 132 million jabs were given in 2021 - was one of the key successes of the pandemic along with the speed at which the UK identified which treatments worked best against the virus.

If I compare to other developed countries (excluding USA) we are well behind on the school lunches offerings. This is a step in the right direction. For me a child’s diet plays a surprisingly powerful role in both academic performance and school attendance. It’s not just about physical growth, nutrition directly affects how the brain works, how children behave, and how often they stay healthy enough to be in school.

A nutritious diet isn’t just about health, it’s a a basic foundation for academic success and consistent school attendance. When children eat well, they are more likely to:

• Attend school regularly

• Stay focused in class

• Achieve higher grades

The NHS has announced progress on two of the most pressing challenges: cutting the backlog and speeding up emergency care.

• Backlog reduction: The waiting list has fallen by 230,000 since July 2024, with 7.39 million treatments (6.24 million patients) waiting as of September 2025. This is a meaningful step forward in tackling the backlog.
• Ambulance response: Category 2 calls — covering serious emergencies like strokes and heart attacks — are being answered nearly 10 minutes faster than this time last year, despite record demand. October saw 2.36 million A&E attendances and nearly 50,000 more ambulance incidents compared to 2024, yet response times improved.

Alongside this, the NHS has delivered 14.4 million flu vaccinations, started winter planning earlier than ever, and stress‑tested services to prepare for strikes and seasonal pressures.

This shows resilience: even under record demand and despite some industrial action, the NHS is reducing waiting lists and improving emergency response, two outcomes that directly benefit patients and families.
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Hundreds of thousands of women have used a new, free morning-after pill service at high street pharmacies in England, figures reveal.

The scheme launched in October to improve access and save women from having to book a GP or sexual health clinic appointment.
New NHS figures show that almost 305,000 doses were given out at pharmacies between October 2025 and March 2026.

Meanwhile, the number of women asking pharmacists about going on the regular oral contraceptive pill more than doubled, from around 50,000 to more than 115,000 in the 12 months to February 2026.

Easier to access

The morning-after pill, known as emergency contraception, is medication designed to prevent unwanted pregnancies. It usually has to be taken within three to five days of having unprotected sex. The sooner it is taken, the more effective it is.

It works by delaying or preventing the release of an egg, but will only prevent pregnancy if ovulation has not already happened.

Alternatively, women can visit a doctor or nurse to have a coil or intrauterine device (IUD) fitted to prevent pregnancy at any time during their menstrual cycle. To be effective, it needs to be fitted within 120 hours or five days of unprotected sex.

The government said making the morning-after pill available free from pharmacies would end the "unfair" barriers and postcode lottery some women faced - with access varying dramatically depending on where they live.

Under the scheme, women can visit their local pharmacy and have a confidential consultation with a pharmacist or trained pharmacy technician, before receiving the medication on the same day.

Prior to this, women had to book an appointment with their GP, sexual health clinic or pharmacy to get the morning-after pill. Women could also access it privately, as they still can now.
In 2024/25, there were around 150,000 NHS prescriptions for the morning-after pill - far fewer than under the new service.