Last year saw an increase in measles cases, taking the number of cases to the highest it has been in decades. Vaccination is important to ensure the long-term health of your child, and of the nation as a whole.

From 1 January 2026, all children will be offered the combined MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella and varicella) vaccine at 12 and 18 months of age. This adds protection against chickenpox to the existing provision of protection against measles, mumps, and rubella.

This guidance for healthcare professionals describes eligibility, administration and safety, and answers frequently asked questions about the new vaccination programme.

To learn more about the MMRV vaccine vist the NHS webpage https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/mmrv-vaccine/ 

Measles, mumps and rubella are highly infectious illnesses, with potentially life-changing complications, that can easily spread between unvaccinated people. Mumps outbreaks are currently occurring across England. Children need two doses of the safe and effective MMR vaccine. Both doses are needed to ensure full and lasting protection against measles, mumps and rubella.

If your child has missed either of these two doses, please contact us for an appointment with Nurse Jo. It’s never too late to catch up and protect those around you.

Stress is not always a ‘bad’ thing, it is meant to help us survive dangerous situations by putting us into ‘fight-or-flight’ mode, and can improve focus on a task. However, when we experience stress in our workplace or everyday lives, it can make our brains over-react and stop us ‘thinking straight’ overall. If we are kept in a state of stress for long periods, the excess chemicals released by our brain can also harm our health.

The Stress Management Society says that workplace stress is reaching record levels worldwide:

• 1 in 4 workers report feeling unable to cope with stress at work
• 91% of employees have faced high stress or workplace pressure in the past year
• Over 50% of workers show signs of burnout, like exhaustion and disengagement
• Work-related stress contributes to lost productivity and days off

Stress Awareness Month gives organisations a chance to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and actively support employee wellbeing before issues escalate.

This year, the theme is #BeTheChange, inspired by Gandhi’s ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world.’ Learn how your workplace or personal life can embrace this theme on their website: https://www.stress.org.uk/stress-awareness-month-2026/

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK. It is most often seen in people over 50, but it can affect anyone of any age. This month is aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and knowing the symptoms, which include:
Bleeding from your bottom

• Blood in your poo
• A change in your pooing habits
• Losing weight but you’re not sure why
• Feeling very tired all the time but you’re not sure why
• A pain or lump in your tummy

These symptoms don’t mean you definitely have bowel cancer, but it’s important to check. The earlier bowel cancer is spotted, the more treatable it is, and the more likely it can be cured. Bowel screening kits are being sent to eligible people in the post, but if you have symptoms, don’t wait, ask your GP about an at-home test.

Why not get involved in Bowel Cancer UK’s ActiveApril campaign, and get active while fundraising to support people with bowel cancer! Sign up on their website: https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal condition that causes episodes of abdominal pain and often discomfort when using the toilet. It affects around 5–10% of the population worldwide, of all ages and genders.

IBS does not shorten your life, but leads to more pain, health care appointments, diagnostic tests, and surgeries, impacting quality of life, and sometimes the ability to work full-time.

This April, you can help to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and support people with IBS by sharing the hashtags #IBSAwarenessMonth and #MoreThanAStomachache

Find out more at https://aboutibs.org/living-with-ibs/ibs-awareness-month/

Autistic people face discrimination and barriers across all sectors of society:

• 8 out of 10 autistic people experience mental health problems
• 55% of autistic people avoid going out, being worried how people will treat them
• Only 26% of autistic pupils feel happy at school
• Only 30% of autistic people are in employment

Autistic people, and their families and carers, need support to overcome those barriers, and opportunities to explore interests, develop skills and lead fulfilling lives.

World Autism Acceptance Month is a time for everyone to get involved in fundraising, sharing resources, raising awareness and helping to create a society that works for autistic people. Walk, run or fundraise your own way!

Find out more and sign up at https://waam.autism.org.uk

In the UK, around 166,000 people live with Parkinson’s, and someone new is diagnosed every 20 minutes.

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition, and symptoms start to appear when the brain can’t make enough dopamine to control movement properly. There are over 40 symptoms of Parkinson’s. But the main three are a tremor (shaking), slowness of movement and rigidity (muscle stiffness).

Make it Blue! Last year, more than 180 landmarks, buildings and homes were lit up in blue to shine a light on Parkinson’s, and people knitted, baked and wore blue to raise awareness and fundraise for research and support.

Find out how you can join in this year’s ‘Make it Blue’ campaign at https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/community/world-parkinsons-day

More than 150,000 people in the UK have Multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition that affects the nerves in your brain and spinal cord. The coating (called myelin) that protects your nerves is damaged, and this causes a range of symptoms like blurred vision and problems with how you move, think and feel.

MS affects people from many different ethnic backgrounds, and about two and half times as many women as men. It is a lifelong condition, but treatments can help to manage the condition and its symptoms.

MS Awareness Week is designed to raise awareness about the condition and the issues people with MS are talking about. In 2026 the focus is on challenging MS assumptions and the harm they can cause. You can find out more at https://www.mssociety.org.uk/get-involved/ms-awareness-week

An allergy is when the body’s immune system reacts inappropriately to normally harmless substances such as food, pollen, animal products, insect stings or medicines. This can be minor, such as localised itching, but in more severe cases it can cause anaphylaxis, a condition which can lead to upper respiratory obstruction and collapse and can be fatal.

Allergy affects more than a quarter of the UK population, yet many people still struggle to recognise the symptoms or access the support they need. So this year, Allergy Awareness Week continues the ‘I Wish I Knew’ campaign, highlighting ‘Diagnosis Matters’.

You can find out more about the campaign and learn about allergy symptoms, next steps and anaphylaxis on the Allergy UK website: https://www.allergyuk.org/allergy-awareness-weeks/

World Immunisation Week aims to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease across the globe.

The ultimate goal of World Immunisation Week is for more people and communities to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. This year’s theme is, ‘For every generation, vaccines work,’ and this awareness week will promote how vaccines have safely protected people, families, and communities for generations – and continue to safeguard our future.

To find out more about the importance of immunisation, or to get involved, visit https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-immunization-week/2026

If you’re caring for someone at risk of going missing, you might want to have a look at the Herbert Protocol. Named after a war veteran called George Herbert, the Herbert Protocol helps you to establish information about someone who’s at risk before they go missing.

In the event that they later do go missing, you’re able to quickly share the information with the police force.

We’ve linked some national information below, but you’ll be able to find the information for your local police force and their forms by carrying out an internet search. The police will ask additional questions about what happened if/when the individual goes missing, but having the protocol ready helps you to think about important information beforehand when you’re not in a moment of intense stress.

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-s...gether-magazine/scheme-support-missing-people

The safety initiative ‘Ask for Angela’ is being rolled out to bars, clubs and other licensed businesses across England.

People who feel unsafe, vulnerable or threatened can discreetly seek help by approaching venue staff and asking them for ‘Angela’. This code-phrase will indicate to staff that they require help with their situation and a trained member of staff will then look to support and assist them. This might be through reuniting them with a friend, seeing them to a taxi, or by calling venue security and/or the police. 

Venues that support ‘Ask for Angela’ have been given Welfare And Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) training. Delivered by the Met’s licensing officers and Safer Sounds partnership, it gives staff the ability to help customers who may be in a situation that makes them vulnerable or unsafe.

For more information about the scheme, visit: https://askforangela.co.uk/

Aged 17 to 65?

Generally fit and well?

Weigh more than 7st 12lbs (50kg) and less than 25st (158kg)?

You could help by donating blood as stocks are critically low.

Giving blood

You can give blood at thousands of donation venues across England, from permanent donor centres to pop-up community venues.

More about giving blood

Giving plasma

You can give plasma (part of your blood that can make life-saving medicines) at 3 donation venues in England:

• Birmingham
• Reading
• Twickenham

More about giving plasma

Information: 

Note that you can't donate blood and plasma at the same appointment.

If you have a baby under six months of age, it can be really difficult to know whether you need to make a medical appointment, or whether you can safely look after your baby at home.

The Lullaby Trust have built an app to help parents of young babies to know the difference:
https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/baby-check-app/

But don't forget we are here for you if you have any doubts, worries or concerns. 

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Babies are usually ready to start trying their first solid foods when they reach six months of age.

Giving your baby a wide variety of normal family foods can encourage habits for life, but we do need to make sure we’re careful as some foods such as salt and honey aren’t suitable for very young children.
https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/weaning/how-to-start-weaning-your-baby/