New and updated items follow first.
Flu has decreased. But Norovirus increases seriously. Week 26 January – 1 February 2026:
- Flu activity decreased and is circulating at low levels.
- COVID-19 showed mixed trends and is circulating at baseline levels
- respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity decreased and is circulating at low levels.
- Norovirus has increased particularly in adults aged 65 years and over; children also suffer badly. Hospitals outbreaks have increased. This is 50.6% higher than the 5-season average for the same two-week period. This continuing rise is pushing hospitals to their busiest levels for this time of year since before COVID-19. Hospital beds were 94.5% occupied, more than at any point during the middle of January since 2020 (95%). To help reduce the spread, people are urged to make sure they practice good hygiene. Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus, so washing hands regularly with warm soapy water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces are the best steps people can take to protect themselves and reduce the chance of further spread.
The government has confirmed the expansion of the eligibility criteria for the NHS respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme. Since September 2024, RSV vaccination has been routinely available to older adults as they turn 75 years of age, with an initial catch up also offered to adults who were aged 75 years and over on 1 September 2024 and had not yet reached 80 years of age. The forthcoming change from 1 April 2026 will expand the eligibility criteria for the older adult RSV programme to also include those aged 80 years and over (with no upper age limit). In addition, all residents in care homes for older adults will also become eligible, regardless of their age, due to their increased risk from RSV.
Resident doctors in England have voted in favour of more strike action in their long-running dispute with the government over pay and training posts. British Medical Association (BMA) members backed more walkouts, which means the union now has another six-month mandate to take strike action, although it has not yet announced any new dates. Some 93% of BMA members voted in favour of continuing with the dispute, with the turnout at 53%.
The government has suggested a 2.5% pay increase from April to the independent pay review body, which is now considering what to recommend.
“Essential repairs” are being carried out to a historic Essex hospital to keep it open to the public. NHS bosses have revealed St Peter’s Hospital in Maldon is seeing work to “ensure the building remains safe and secure.” NHS Essex, said: “Regular maintenance is currently being completed at St Peter’s Hospital in Maldon. In addition, we are carrying out essential repairs to damaged roofs and windows to ensure the building remains safe and secure for patients and staff. These works mean we can continue to provide services onsite, including maternity, X‑rays, blood tests and a wide range of outpatient clinics.” The site was originally a Victorian workhouse and was built 150 years ago.
Our NHS trust has increased referral options for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism care to tackle wait times. Tom Abell, CEO of Mid & South Essex NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB), said families were waiting “too long” for assessments and patients have a right to choose an alternative treatment provider. The ICB has added five new providers for ADHD assessments for adults, and three new providers for autism and ADHD assessments for children and young people and four more will be added in the spring.
In 2024, a BBC Freedom of Information request revealed 6,459 people were on the waiting list for ADHD care. The ICB added that support would also be offered to young people who have been waiting for longer than a year for an assessment, along with those who were currently transitioning to adult services. One of the clinics added by the ICB to its list of providers is Body and Mind Healthcare Clinic, based in Edgware, north London. “The new providers that we have commissioned for adults and children’s services will give more choice for families requiring assessment and treatment and will help to bring down waiting times.”
The UK has lost its measles elimination status, the World Health Organisation has announced. This decision was based on the spread of cases in 2024 when there were 3,600 suspected cases. Elimination status means there is no sustained transmission, so this decision was largely expected. There were more than 1,000 cases last year as well. The move is also a reflection of the fact vaccination rates are below the 95% threshold required to achieve herd immunity – when enough people in a community are vaccinated against a disease, making it hard for the pathogen to spread. In response UKHSA, said: “Infections can return quickly when childhood vaccine uptake falls; measles elimination is only possible if all eligible children receive two MMRV doses before school. Older children and adults who missed vaccination must be caught up. The NHS is making vaccination easier, including offering the second MMRV dose earlier at a new 18-month appointment to boost uptake and support elimination goals.”
An inquest found that Repeatedly heading a football is “likely” to have contributed to the brain disease which was a factor in the death of former Scotland and Manchester United footballer Gordon McQueen. McQueen, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia, died in 2023 aged 70. An inquest into his death concluded with a narrative verdict on Monday, with the senior coroner saying: “I have found that Mr McQueen suffered repetitive head impacts during his career. I am satisfied that on the balance of probability that repeatedly heading footballs contributed to his developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). It is likely that repetitive head impacts, sustained by heading the ball while playing football, contributed to the CTE.” McQueen played 30 times for Scotland and made almost 350 appearances for St Mirren, Leeds United and Manchester United as a central defender between 1970 and 1985, before managing Airdrie and coaching at St Mirren and Middlesbrough.
The Government has announced a £200 million investment to boost local cancer services, aiming to increase screening uptake and reduce inequalities in the most deprived communities.
Ambulance crews handed over patients three minutes faster last week, despite A&Es managing their highest number of ambulance arrivals compared with any point last winter.
A new pilot using Artificial Intelligence and robotic tools will help clinicians identify suspected lung cancer earlier aiming to reduce waiting times, support earlier diagnosis and help tackle long‑standing inequalities in lung cancer outcomes.
The Lampard Inquiry into more than 2,000 Essex mental health-related deaths between 2000-2023 has been delayed by over six months. An April evidence session has been cancelled to take pre-recorded evidence from bereaved families. Two additional hearings are added in 2027, with closing statements in the summer, before the final report and recommendations are expected in mid-2028.
On Friday 16 January a patient collapsed with a suspected heart attack in Broomfield Hospital’s A&E “which tragically resulted in the death of the patient”. The Hospital immediately started an urgent investigation into this incident. An independent investigation is now being carried out, led by another hospital not involved in the case, in which the patient’s family is taking part.
We continue to monitor progress after the recent CQC report that the leadership of our local hospitals was inadequate. The Essex Joint Committee, managing the transition to launch the Essex Integrated Care Board in April, was told that a Quality Summit was held in December, and a series of follow-up meetings have been set by NHS England to ensure action continues to address the concerns. Those meetings will seek assurance that the governance framework and delivery of key workstreams will evidence sustained improvement in outcomes and deliverables.
November saw the second biggest drop in the waiting list for 15 years outside of the early days of the pandemic, as new data shows staff faced record demand in 2025.
The waiting list fell by more than 86,000 in November to 7.31 million. This came despite the NHS’s busiest ever year, with 27.8 million A&E attendances in 2025 – up over 367,000 on 2024, with 2.33 million attendances in December alone.
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