Smoking ban for people born after 2008 in the UK agreed The "landmark" legislation aims to stop anyone born after 1 January 2009 from taking up smoking to create a smoke-free generation.

Smoking ban for people born after 2008 in the UK agreed

The 2026 IBD UK Standards of healthcare service design and delivery
for adults and children living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Maternity services in England This briefing gives an overview of women’s experiences of maternity services in England, including disparities in the care received by women from minority ethnic groups. It provides details of…

Maternity services in England

Environmental sustainability in the NHS The NHS has played a leading role internationally in championing the need for more sustainable approaches to health and care, and this work now needs to be accelerated.

Environmental sustainability in the NHS

Nursing apprenticeships: extra 2,000 to launch in targeted areas The government will launch 2,000 new nursing apprenticeships, targeting areas with the highest nursing shortages in England. Read about the new scheme and what nursing leaders think of it

Government announces 2,000 new nurse apprenticeships launching in areas with the highest nursing shortages and deprivation in England

Huge variation in NHS stop smoking funding leaves high need areas underresourced

Diabetes and mental health This Review summarises the research into five common mental health problems that can affect adults living with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, or gestational diabetes: fear of hypoglycaemia, diabete...

Mental health problems are common among adults with #diabetes & can substantially decrease the quality of life & self-care, & increase the risk of adverse health outcomes, such as high HbA1c, comorbidities, & premature mortality www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
#T1D #T2D #GDM

#MedSky #EndoSky

NHS England » Online course – nurturing compassionate and inclusive NHS cultures NHS England » Online course – nurturing compassionate and inclusive NHS cultures

Online course – nurturing compassionate and inclusive NHS cultures

The image is a promotional graphic for the UK Eye Care Data Hub by The College of Optometrists. It features the text: "Taking a hard look at the future of eye care doesn’t have to be hard." Logos for co‑funders appear at the bottom, including ABDO, BIOS, The College of Optometrists, NHS Health and Social Care Northern Ireland, FODO, and Optometry Northern Ireland.

The UK Eye Care Data Hub has been expanded, bringing together the eye care workforce and eye disease data in one place.
It supports commissioners, researchers & clinicians to identify future population eye care needs, track trends over time & optimise the existing workforce https://coptom.uk/4sI8z2V

New addition to series of preoperative support guides focuses on the management of atrial fibrillation - Getting It Right First Time - GIRFT GIRFT has added further guidance to its series supporting the streamlining of preoperative processes to maximise theatre efficiency, with a new resource focusing on the management of atrial…

New addition to series of preoperative support guides focuses on the management of atrial fibrillation

NEW State of the Art Review

Advances in the drug treatment of Alzheimer’s disease: pathophysiology and mechanisms of action
www.bmj.com/content/393/...

Active April - Day 21: Regularly pause to stretch and breathe during the day actionforhappiness.org/active-april

Can I trust health advice from an AI chatbot? Abi has had very mixed results when asking a chatbot for guidance about her health issues.

Should you really trust health advice from an AI chatbot?

Pregnancy vaccine reduces baby hospital admissions for RSV by 80% A study confirms the vaccine gives excellent protection for babies against life-threatening chest infections.

Pregnancy vaccine reduces baby hospital admissions for RSV by 80%

Quiet nights, better care: How tackling noise in hospitals supports recovery In this blog, Kelly Morley tells us about Nottingham University Hospitals' Noise at night sleep pack project

🗨️Because a quieter night isn’t just about comfort—it’s about better care and better patient outcomes.🗨️

Kelly Morley tells us about the Noise at night sleep pack project at Nottingham University Hospitals, a finalist at the Picker Experience Network 2025 Awards.

Research in context panel for a paper published in The Lancet, entitled "Clinical and bacteriological effectiveness of three different short-course antibiotic regimens and single-dose fosfomycin for uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections in women (SCOUT): a pragmatic, multicentre, open-label, randomised clinical trial". Copyright: 2026 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A new study, presented at @escmid.bsky.social, found that Nitrofurantoin was the most effective treatment and single-dose fosfomycin the least effective treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections.

Explore the research 👉 spkl.io/63320A4Yui #ESCMIDGlobal2026 #ESCMID

New take at home drug recommended for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia NICE has recommended a new take at home tablet for some people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia whose disease has returned after treatment. The draft guidance could give patients greater choice and…

New take at home drug recommended for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

NHS England » Lifesaving spring COVID-19 jab offers protection to millions of vulnerable people NHS England » Lifesaving spring COVID-19 jab offers protection to millions of vulnerable people

Lifesaving spring COVID-19 jab offers protection to millions of vulnerable people

Close-up of a human eye with intricate patterns and varied colors in the iris, surrounded by eyelashes and eyebrow.

🚨CMG Updates🚨
The following Clinical Management Guideline (CMG) has been amended and updated:

✅Microbial keratitis (Acanthamoeba sp.)

College Members can log in via our website or app to explore a summary of the latest updates ➡️ https://coptom.uk/CMGs

#TheCollegeofOptometrists #Optometry

Clinical characteristics of primary sclerosing cholangitis. (A) The disease affects the biliary tree through inflammation and fibrosis, which results in multifocal biliary strictures and a high risk of cholangiocarcinoma. (B) When the disease progresses, high-grade strictures, often with prestenotic dilatation, can develop, leading to biliary obstruction and clinical symptoms. (C) Fatigue, itching, jaundice, bacterial cholangitis, and intermittent or persistent right upper-quadrant abdominal pain are common symptoms and signs in primary sclerosing cholangitis. Primary sclerosing cholangitis is associated with inflammatory bowel disease and 50–80% of affected individuals have concomitant inflammatory bowel disease. Primary sclerosing cholangitis inflammatory bowel disease shows distinct features from classic isolated inflammatory bowel disease, often with extensive colitis, a patchy inflammatory distribution that shows dominance of inflammation in the ascending colon, rectal sparing, and an increased risk of colorectal dysplasia compared with colitis without primary sclerosing cholangitis. (D) The inflammation almost always involves the colon and isolated ileal disease is rare. Reproduced with permission from Kari C Toverud.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a rare liver disease, characterised by biliary inflammation and fibrosis.

A Seminar explores the clinical features, pathogenesis, and challenges and opportunities in managing the disease: spkl.io/63323A4P8d

We have updated our End of Life Care Key Messages.

Click the link to read the full article.
BGS key messages have been developed to provide members and multidisciplinary colleagues with topline information about specific issues relating to older people's healthcare.
buff.ly/1gVbtbh

Patient access to robot-assisted surgery on NHS is 'postcode lottery' The Royal College of Surgeons says robotic surgery offers 'real benefits', such as faster recovery times, fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.

Access to robotic‑assisted surgery on the NHS is a postcode lottery.
 
We have published new analysis showing wide variation in funding and access, with some hospitals relying on charitable donations despite national ambitions for robotics to become routine.
 
More: https://ow.ly/4yFj50YMnwK

Informational graphic promoting a pulmonary rehab webinar on April 23, focusing on eating well with breathlessness.

The RCP community of practice for pulmonary rehabilitation is hosting our next session on 23 April at 1:00pm. Join us to hear cardiorespiratory dietitian Maisie Lowes share insights on diet and respiratory conditions.

Register now: https://ow.ly/1CsY50YJzAb

Active April - Day 20: Focus on 'eating a rainbow' of multi-coloured vegetables today actionforhappiness.org/active-april #ActiveApril

How relational leadership practices can transform workplace culture Using relational leadership to boost nurse engagement and resilience.

How relational leadership practices can transform workplace culture

Syncope is defined as transient loss of consciousness due to cerebral hypoperfusion. Most syncope is not cardiac in aetiology, but cardiac syncope is a high risk subgroup.

This Practice article looks at how to identify cardiac syncope #MedEd
https://bit.ly/4esUYsA

Women put at the heart of care in renewed Women’s Health Strategy | National Health Executive Women across England are set to be better heard, better supported and better served under the government’s renewed Women’s Healt

Women put at the heart of care in renewed Women’s Health Strategy

Rollout of Covid vaccines extraordinary feat - inquiry report Covid vaccines saved hundreds of thousands of lives, but a small minority harmed need better support, says report.

Rollout of Covid vaccines extraordinary feat - inquiry report

Cover of The Lancet's April 18, 2026 issue. Quote on cover reads: "Platinum-resistant ovarian cancer is a leading cause of gynaecological cancer-related mortality worldwide".

Epithelial ovarian cancer frequently recurs and becomes resistant to platinum chemotherapy.

In our latest issue, two separate phase 3 trials highlight two potential new treatments for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

Read this & more ▶️ spkl.io/63325A4OfN

Anti-amyloid Alzheimer’s drugs show no clinically meaningful effect | Cochrane Researchers have found that the absolute effects of anti-amyloid drugs on cognitive decline and dementia severity were absent or trivial

Anti-amyloid Alzheimer’s drugs show no clinically meaningful effect