Author: swfhealthsocial

The serious shortage of some prescription medicines in SWF and elsewhere continues and worsens. Common medications like ramipril, co-codamol, and dispersible aspirin are affected. Link to current information is at Current Drug Shortages List - Drugs.com . Please don’t blame pharmacy or GP staff; it isn’t their fault. NHS England announced £140m will fund 14 urgent care … Continue reading An update from SWF Health & Social Care Group

Sunday 18 October 2026 - new and updated items first The serious shortage of some prescription medicines in SWF and elsewhere continues and worsens. Common medications like ramipril, co-codamol, and dispersible aspirin are affected. Link to current information is at Current Drug Shortages List - Drugs.com . Please don’t blame pharmacy or GP staff; it isn’t their … Continue reading An update from SWF Health & Social Care Group

Our scientists are tracking influenza (flu) and other respiratory viruses and they need your help. Join our FluSurvey UK-wide citizen science programme and contribute directly to protecting the nation’s health this winter. Read the new post: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/10/15/join-our-flusurvey-programme-and-contribute-to-protecting-the-nations-health-this-winter/

Ebola has been in the news since the World Health Organization’s declaration of a public health emergency of international concern on 17 May 2026, for an outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. This blog post outlines what the disease is, how it spreads, and what it means for the UK. Read … Continue reading Ebola: what are the symptoms and how does it spread?

The serious shortage of some prescription medicines in SWF and elsewhere continues and worsens. Common medications like ramipril, co-codamol, and dispersible aspirin are affected. Link to current information is at Current Drug Shortages List - Drugs.com . Please don’t blame pharmacy or GP staff; it isn’t their fault. We are aware that Kingsway Surgery ran out of … Continue reading An update from SWF Health & Social Care Group

The latest NHS Essex news round up is below. We would like to draw attention to the move of the Minor Injuries Unit on Monday 2 November from Orsett to Thurrock. This will continue to be a very helpful alternative to visiting A&Es for those conditions it will continue to deal with at the times … Continue reading NHS Essex news round up

Group A streptococci (GAS), also referred to as strep A, are common bacteria. Some of us carry strep in our throats and on our skin and it doesn’t always result in illness. However, GAS does cause infections, some mild and some more serious. Read the new post: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/10/09/what-is-group-a-strep-and-how-do-you-catch-it/

Early signs suggest that flu season may be starting earlier this year. According to our winter virus surveillance data, flu activity throughout September has been higher than in the same period over the past 4 winters. While levels remain at baseline, meaning still relatively low overall, the upward trend if it continues in the coming … Continue reading Are we seeing an early flu season? What we know so far about this year’s strains

Rates of COVID-19 continue to fluctuate throughout the year, and people have asked how the most common current lineages – or groups of genetically similar viruses – compare to previous COVID-19 variants. Read the new post: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/10/08/should-we-be-worried-about-the-current-covid-19-variants-2/

Sunday 4 October 2026 - new and updated items first The serious shortage of some prescription medicines in SWF and elsewhere continues and worsens. Common medications like ramipril, co-codamol, and dispersible aspirin are affected. Link to current information is at Current Drug Shortages List - Drugs.com . Please don’t blame pharmacy or GP staff; it isn’t their … Continue reading An update from SWF Health & Social Care Group