Updated and new items first
Amber and Yellow heat alerts have been perpetual this week. Train derailment has come to Wickford. Recent Essex coastal tragedies are in our thoughts. 2,877 excess deaths have been caused by May and June heatwaves. Heat health warnings continue. At time of writing the latest is Yellow Alert for 0900 08/08/26 to 2100 11/08/26.
Heat puts immense physical strain on the body, made worse by dehydration, with the heart pumping harder and faster to cool you. Babies, older people and those with existing health conditions are most at risk. It can cause heart attacks, strokes and other potentially fatal emergencies. Intense heat can affect anyone and is a ‘silent killer’ because early symptoms are easily overlooked. 2,877 excess heat-associated deaths are the early estimate for the two notable periods of hot weather in May and June 2026. That is significantly more than the 1,504 for the whole of the 2025 Summer.
- Keep cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms facing the sun
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Avoid direct sunlight, especially between 11am and 3pm when UV levels are highest
- When outside, cover-up with suitable clothing, eg an appropriate hat and sunglasses, seek shade and apply sunscreen regularly
- Do physical activity when it’s cooler in the morning or evening.
- Check weather forecasts to see when it’ll be cooler
- Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them.
Swimming is a great way to enjoy the summer, but 90% of accidental drownings over the last five years occurred at inland or coastal open water sites. Many tragedies are preventable by attention to safety. Even on warm days, water temperatures can remain dangerously cold. Entering cold water suddenly can trigger cold water shock, causing an involuntary gasp, rapid breathing and loss of control in the water. If you get into difficulty ‘Float to Live’ by tilting your head back, floating on your back and controlling your breathing until help arrives or you’re able to swim to safety.
The Measles outbreak continues. It has spread into East of England. Parents should get children vaccinated and check children’s vaccination status. In 2026 to 3 August 953 English measles cases have been confirmed (959 in whole of 2025), mostly driven by the North London outbreak. This continues increasing. 2 children have died of measles in 2026. Essex is in danger.
Patients across Essex benefited from more than one million GP appointments in June, an increase of more than 141,000 compared to May. There was also an increase in the number of same day and face to face appointments. However, missed appointments continue to put pressure on the availability of GP appointments. In June alone, more than 32,000 appointments across Essex were missed, equivalent to around 2,157 hours of clinical time that could have been used to see other patients. Changes to the way patients are triaged and how they use community pharmacists are also improving access into GP practices. Online Triage allows practices to understand a patient’s needs quickly and safely. Patients then receive the care that best meets their needs. Patients may need to see a GP, but sometimes a practice nurse, physiotherapist, pharmacist, or another member of the practice team may be better suited to a patient’s needs. Some problems can be addressed with advice over the phone, while others need a face-to-face examination. It is fully recognised that one size does not fit all. Some people want a telephone call, while others are happy to use online services if it means they can get help more quickly. The important thing is making sure people get the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
NHS Essex plans to improve local urgent care for patients in Thurrock and the surrounding area. These plans would see the existing Minor Injuries Unit presently run at Orsett Hospital transfer to more modern facilities at Thurrock Community Hospital, where it will be located alongside the Community Diagnostic Centre to help more people get faster diagnosis and treatment, supported by £1m of additional external funding. The plans are still being finalised and will be subject to further engagement and further decision-making alongside partners in the coming months.
The Minor Injuries Unit at Orsett is a real alternative to Broomfield or Basildon Hospitals’ A&E units but you need to see if it’s open and can deal with your issue. Full Details are at https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/services-bsbwtk-minor-injuries-unit/ . It’s at Orsett Hospital, Rowley Road, Orsett, RM16 3EU; it’s open daily 1000-1930 except it’s not open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and closes at 1830 on the last Thursday of each month. It treats Minor Injuries as follow:
- Minor head injuries with no loss of consciousness
- Uncomplicated fractures between shoulder to fingers and knee to toes
- Minor burns and scalds. (All airway/inhalation burns must attend A&E)
- Foreign bodies in eyes, abrasions of cornea.
- Retained foreign body such as fishhook.
- Bites and stings (with no associated anaphylaxis).
- Sprains and strains.
- Animal bites.
- Foreign bodies, ear, nose & throat
- Chest injury without difficulty in breathing
- Facial injuries.
- Firework injuries
- Mouth injuries
- Neck injuries
- Minor road collisions
- Closure of laceration wounds by suturing, stapling, gluing or steristrip
X-rays
Following clinical assessment, if indicated, an x-ray can be carried out on site Monday to Friday from 10am until 4pm. Weekends and bank holidays from 10am to 2.00pm.
X-rays can be carried out for injuries between the shoulder and fingers and the knee to the toes only. X-ray at MIU is not available for children under seven years of age due to the complexity of interpreting results. Your GP can request that you have an x-ray without the need to attend MIU first . You can arrange this by calling 01268 524900.
A £343 million plan will open 159 NHS mental health centres in England, giving people earlier crucial local support and specialist crisis care outside A&E.New centres in communities are designed to catch problems early, so fewer people reach crisis point in the first place. People in crisis will get dedicated mental health emergency care rather than a long wait in a busy A&E. Demand for mental health services has risen sharply, particularly among children and young people, with around 1 in 5 people experiencing a common mental health condition each year. Too often, people only receive support once they reach crisis point, leaving families without the help they need and placing greater pressure on NHS services.
The new centres will make it far easier for people to get the right help the first time they ask for it, by bringing mental health and specialist teams together under one roof – working alongside GPs, councils, the voluntary sector and families, with direct links into housing and employment support. The first sites open from autumn this year, with further facilities following from March 2027. Essex is expected to get community-based mental health centres offering walk-in support without a referral and without a months-long wait at Clacton-on-Sea
And Thurrock Community Hospital.
Clinical researchers at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust are working with researchers at Imperial College London on two research studies that aim to detect cancers using a simple breath test.
A new team of specialist volunteers at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary will be helping stop cancer patients losing their hair as they undergo chemotherapy treatment.
Between now and April 2027 ‘The Big Conversation on Care’ will give us the opportunity to say what they want and expect from a future National Care Service, including on the tough questions on who it should support, what families should reasonably be expected to do, and how the country should pay for care in a fair and sustainable way. What is care? Who should get the most help? Who should pay what for what? We will be looking into how SWF can contribute to this.
Between 20-31 July 89,261 first doses of the life-saving double dose meningitis B vaccine have been given to young people, many of whom are preparing to go to universities in September. What a great start to the NHS’s biggest ever catch-up campaign for this serious virus.
The NHS will begin contacting half a million men from this week inviting them to join a major research programme to improve early detection and treatment of prostate cancer.
Men who have had or are living with prostate cancer will receive letters and text messages explaining how they can register to take part in what is hoped will become one of the world’s largest prostate cancer research resources.
Salmonella and Campylobacter cases rise during the summer BBQ season, often linked to undercooked or mishandled meat, poultry and eggs. Always cook meat all the way through, checking juices run clear and that a thermometer reads at least 75°C. Use separate utensils for raw and cooked food; keep food chilled, out of direct sunlight; take extra care with high-risk dishes like cooked chicken, egg dishes and prepared salads.
When abroad follow simple steps to have a fun and healthy trip:
- Prevent mosquito bites using 50% DEET repellent, sleep under treated nets and wear long-sleeved clothing to protect against malaria, dengue, Zika and other infections.
- Choose piping hot food, follow “boil it, cook it, peel it or leave it,” and wash your hands regularly.
- In malaria-risk areas, take medication exactly as prescribed. Avoid buying antimalarials abroad, as they may be fake, substandard or intended for treatment rather than prevention.
- If you feel unwell abroad, seek medical attention immediately. Don’t wait until you’re back in the UK.
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