(1/6) Today we published the 2026 CMO Annual Report on health in rural areas and small towns.

Health, and risk factors for health, are systematically different in rural and small town populations from larger urban areas. We must plan for this difference.

gov.uk/government/pub…

(5/6) Poverty and deprivation in rural areas and small towns are different from in cities. They are often hidden in national statistics.

We must improve our ability to identify rural deprivation, to ensure resources can be targeted towards those whose health will benefit most.

(6/6) Sectors of the economy and society based in rural settings, including farming and military bases, have unique health needs that must be considered in the design of local healthcare services.

The high rate of fatal injuries in agriculture is a serious concern.

Flu can be a serious illness, especially for vulnerable people.

UK CMOs urge eligible groups to get vaccinated.

Healthcare workers have a professional responsibility to protect patients from infectious diseases. We urge them to take up flu vaccination.

nhs.uk/nhs-services/v…

Aiming to addict children and young people under 18 to nicotine of any kind will set them up for lifelong health harms and is completely unacceptable.

New regulations coming in today will make it harder for those trying to profit from doing this.

gov.uk/government/spe…

Smoking causes enormous preventable harm. ONS data released today shows smoking in England now under 10% with rapid falls in young adults. E-cigarette use no longer rising in people under 25. The figure below shows drop by age since 2011.

Targeting nicotine vapes at children using colours, flavours and displays to addict them is shameful.
Vapes can help adult smokers quit but marketing to children is unacceptable.
A consultation on proposals to reduce the appeal of vapes to children is open gov.uk/government/con…

Today, the UK CMOs have published updated physical activity guidelines. These reflect stronger evidence on the benefits of increasing activity for anyone, but especially for the least active. Even small amounts of activity can have big benefits for health. gov.uk/government/pub…

Adults should aim for 150 minutes (2 1/2 hours) of moderate intensity physical activity each week, but even small amounts can improve physical and mental health.
Activity should be enjoyable, useful, and building it into your routine also helps.

Keeping strength and balance into older age can be the difference between an active and independent later life and earlier frailty and dependency.
Any strengthening activity is better than none and is important to develop or maintain strength, including for those on GLP-1 drugs.

A red heat-health alert has been issued this week. Extreme heat can be dangerous for young children, elderly and vulnerable people. Rehydrating and cooling can be life saving. For advice on identifying and treating heat exhaustion and heatstroke see here:
nhs.uk/conditions/hea…

A new study shows HPV vaccination in England has led to the number of deaths from cervical cancer falling to zero in vaccinated women under 25.

Please encourage all eligible children to get vaccinated.

thelancet.com/journals/lance…

(1/7) The Tobacco and Vapes Act has now received Royal Assent and becomes law.

Smoking has killed and disabled millions of people. Most smokers wish they had never started but are trapped by addiction to nicotine- addiction takes their choice away.

(6/7) Vapes are safer than smoking and can help smokers quit, but if you don’t smoke don’t vape, and marketing of vapes to children is completely unacceptable.

The Act will restrict marketing of vapes at children using packaging, colours, flavours and shopfront displays.

(7/7) The most deprived areas have worse health outcomes. Smoking is a major cause of this.

Most smoking-associated cancers (red arrows below) are highest in areas of deprivation.

This Act will reduce the health difference between wealthy and deprived areas.