• In Focus

    Wheelchair and community equipment services in England

    Local authorities and the NHS in England can provide equipment such as wheelchairs and mobility aids to people assessed as requiring support. However, several reports have highlighted problems with wheelchair and community equipment provision. Some stakeholders and parliamentarians have called on the government to do more to improve services. The government has said responsibility for commissioning and managing services lies with integrated care system bodies and local authorities.

  • In Focus

    Domestic manufacture of medical nuclear radioisotopes

    Medical nuclear radioisotopes are used in the diagnosis and treatment of a range of health conditions. The UK has no domestic supply of the majority of radioisotopes needed by the health service, and many of the facilities responsible for global supply are several decades old. The UK government has said it is in regular contact with stakeholders and working to better understand the shape of future supply.

  • In Focus

    Fracture liaison services: Towards universal coverage in England by 2030

    Fracture liaison services proactively identify people at risk of fractures caused by osteoporosis. Patients can then be assessed and treated to prevent future fractures. The provision of fracture liaison services in England has been called a ‘postcode lottery’ by the Royal Osteoporosis Society, and evidence shows variation in quality and reach. The government has committed to 100% coverage by 2030.

  • In Focus

    Protecting infants from respiratory syncytial virus

    Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that causes mostly mild respiratory symptoms. However, RSV can be serious for higher-risk groups such as infants. An RSV vaccination programme to protect newborns, via maternal vaccination, was introduced in England in September 2024. A study has shown the vaccine to be effective in preventing infant hospitalisations, however data has shown variability in vaccine uptake by NHS commissioning region and ethnic group.

  • In Focus

    Prostate cancer: Tests for men at the highest risk

    Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in men aged over 45 in England, with higher risks linked to ageing, Black ethnicity, and family history. However, there is currently no UK-wide screening programme. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests can detect early signs but have limitations. This briefing covers current testing guidelines, and calls for change, including targeted screening and awareness campaigns. It also outlines government policy and the TRANSFORM trial aiming to improve early detection.

  • Research Briefing

    Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: HL Bill 112 of 2024–25

    The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would allow adults in England and Wales with a prognosis of less than six months to live to be provided with assistance to end their lives, subject to eligibility criteria and conditions. It is a private member’s bill that was introduced in the House of Commons by Kim Leadbeater (Labour MP for Spen Valley). It completed its passage through the Commons in June 2025. Its second reading in the House of Lords is due to take place on 12 September 2025.

  • In Focus

    World’s first personalised DNA editing treatment

    US scientists have used a breakthrough therapy to edit an infant’s DNA and correct a life-threatening mutation. Preliminary results suggest the approach may have been successful, potentially paving the way for addressing a range of genetic diseases. This briefing investigates this cutting-edge technology and considers the key challenges of regulatory approval and high costs.

  • In Focus

    Creating a national accident prevention strategy

    Highlighting the human and economic costs of accidents, and rising rates of accidental deaths in the UK, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has called for the government to create a national accident prevention strategy. RoSPA argues that currently, responsibility for accident prevention is too fragmented. The government has not yet commented on this proposal.

  • In Focus

    Competition for specialist training programmes in the NHS: Sector views and the government’s plans for resident doctor training posts

    In recent years, resident doctors (formerly known as junior doctors) have faced increased competition for specialty training roles. Doctors can apply for specialty training after completing two years of foundation placements. While NHS England is in the process of reviewing postgraduate training for medics, the government’s new 10 year plan for the NHS has pledged to prioritise UK medical graduates and other doctors with significant NHS experience for specialty training. The plan also included an ambition to create more specialist posts.

  • In Focus

    Cardiovascular disease: What is the government doing about England’s leading cause of premature death?

    Premature deaths from cardiovascular disease were decreasing until 2019, but have since risen. The government has said it aims to reduce premature deaths from heart disease and strokes by 25% within a decade. While local authorities must commission ‘health checks’ to assess risk factors in 40- to 74-year-olds, the National Audit Office found variable delivery, uptake and regional inequalities. Health organisations have called for a dedicated strategy on cardiovascular disease.

  • In Focus

    NHS staff access to single-sex spaces

    The House of Lords is due to discuss NHS staff access to single-sex spaces on 1 May 2025. Following a recent Supreme Court judgment about the meaning of the term ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010, the Equality and Human Rights Commission issued an interim update on 25 April 2025 about the implications of this for workplaces and services provided to the public.

  • In Focus

    Access to prosthetics for amputees in England

    In England, the NHS provides prosthetics where suitable for people who have had a limb amputation. However, concerns have been raised about how quickly individuals can access multifunctional limbs. Also, while high-performance sports prosthetics are available for children, some campaigners are calling for adults to be able to access them from the NHS.

  • Research Briefing

    Tobacco and Vapes Bill: HL Bill 89 of 2024–25

    The bill aims to create a 'smoke-free generation' by banning tobacco sales to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009, alongside other measures to tackle smoking and tobacco harms. It would also further regulate vaping, curbing its appeal to children, while enabling adult smokers to use vapes as a quitting tool. The bill is similar to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which fell at dissolution 2024.

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