The government’s Mental Health Bill has passed its third reading in the House of Commons, marking a major step towards updating legislation first introduced in 1983. The reforms aim to reduce the number of people with learning disabilities and autistic people being detained in mental health hospitals, shifting the focus towards community-based support and person-centred care.

The Bill proposes greater oversight of compulsory detention and introduces statutory care and treatment plans to ensure patients have a clear route to recovery and discharge. Health Minister Stephen Kinnock announced a new package of measures, including improved community services, education and treatment reviews, and dynamic support registers. It also strengthens safeguards for individuals who cannot consent to treatment, ensuring earlier involvement of an independent second opinion.

Kinnock said the changes reflect modern attitudes toward mental health and will prioritise patient choice and dignity. Reforms include clinical checklists, advance choice documents, nominated persons, and extended advocacy services. Once approved, the next step will be to consult on the code of practice with people who have lived experience, families, and professionals.

Campaigners have welcomed the focus on community care, particularly for over 2,000 autistic people and individuals with learning disabilities currently detained. However, they stress urgent action is needed to prevent unnecessary hospitalisation and ensure the reforms deliver meaningful change.

A coalition of leading health and disability organisations has warned that learning disability nursing in England is on the brink of collapse, risking more preventable deaths among people with learning disabilities. In a joint letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, groups including the Royal College of Nursing, Mencap, the Down’s Syndrome Association, and the Challenging Behaviour Foundation urged the Government to urgently recommit to the training and recruitment targets outlined in the NHS Workforce Plan.

The organisations called for renewed investment in training, financial support for students, and funding for employers to cover the cost of apprenticeships and staff backfill. They warned that without action, the profession faces an unsustainable future. The number of learning disability nurses has already fallen by 43% since 2009, with projections showing only a handful likely to qualify in England by 2028. Course closures at universities such as Winchester and Keele have left some regions with no training provision at all.

Campaigners pointed to the latest Learning from Lives and Deaths Review (LeDeR), which found that people with learning disabilities die nearly 20 years earlier than average and are twice as likely to experience preventable deaths.

Mencap’s chief executive Jon Sparkes OBE said the situation was critical, warning that without urgent intervention “this profession will disappear,” and calling for an emergency meeting with ministers to agree a rescue plan.

As autumn settles in, many across the UK are battling coughs, colds, and sniffles - but are chilly temperatures really to blame? According to Dr Oscar Duke, a GP and TV presenter, it’s not the cold itself but our tendency to retreat indoors that fuels the spread. Enclosed spaces create the perfect environment for viruses to circulate, particularly in schools, nurseries, and university halls where close contact is unavoidable.

Distinguishing between a cold, flu, or Covid can be tricky as symptoms often overlap. Colds usually come on gradually, affecting the nose and throat, while flu strikes suddenly with fever, fatigue, and body aches. Covid, however, can cause loss of taste or smell and, in newer strains such as Stratus and Nimbus, a sharp sore throat and digestive upset. Dr Duke advises resting at home but urges those with breathing difficulties or lingering symptoms to seek medical help.

Recovery can be aided by simple remedies. Paracetamol or ibuprofen help ease fever and pain, and staying hydrated is vital. While vitamin C offers limited benefit, vitamin D supplements are recommended during darker months. Decongestant sprays can relieve stuffiness but should only be used for a few days to avoid rebound congestion.

Finally, Dr Duke stresses the importance of vaccination. The NHS flu jab is free for eligible groups, including young children and vulnerable adults, and remains the best defence against severe seasonal illness.

More than one billion people worldwide are now living with mental health disorders, according to new figures released by the World Health Organization (WHO). Conditions such as anxiety and depression are widespread, affecting all communities and age groups, and are a major contributor to disability, rising health costs, and lost productivity. The WHO is calling for urgent investment to expand services, warning that mental health must be treated as a fundamental right rather than a privilege.

The organisation’s latest reports – World Mental Health Today and the Mental Health Atlas 2024 – highlight both progress and persistent shortcomings. While many governments have strengthened policies and introduced community-based programmes, spending has stagnated at just 2% of health budgets worldwide. Huge inequalities remain, with high-income nations spending up to $65 per person on mental health compared with only a few cents in poorer countries. Staffing shortages are also critical, particularly in low- and middle-income regions.

Suicide continues to pose a devastating challenge, with more than 700,000 lives lost in 2021. Current progress suggests the UN target of cutting suicide rates by one-third by 2030 will not be met. Depression and anxiety alone are estimated to cost the global economy over $1 trillion annually.

The WHO is urging governments to step up legal reforms, increase funding, and expand access to community-based care. It argues that scaling up mental health support would not only save lives but also strengthen societies and economies worldwide.

The government has confirmed a £500 million investment to deliver England’s first Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care workers, aiming to tackle low pay and poor working conditions in a sector long criticised as undervalued. A new statutory body will be established to bring unions and employers together, tasked with negotiating wages and working conditions, as well as improving recruitment and retention. The plans, underpinned by the Employment Rights Bill, will see the Adult Social Care Negotiating Body created in 2026, with the first Fair Pay Agreement expected to take effect in 2028.

The Fair Work Agency will also be introduced to strengthen enforcement, ensuring providers comply with new standards and preventing exploitation. The £500m sits within a wider £4bn boost for adult social care between 2025-26 and 2028-29, though critics argue it will not stretch far enough. Early analysis suggests the sum could equate to only a modest uplift in hourly pay when shared across the sector’s 1.5 million-strong workforce.

Sector leaders have welcomed the move but caution that meaningful reform requires more than headline funding. The Care Provider Alliance and the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group have both stressed the importance of fully resourced negotiations and local authority support to prevent rising costs being passed on to service users.

Think tanks, including the Health Foundation and the King’s Fund, warn that while the Fair Pay Agreement is an important first step, sustained long-term funding is essential. Without it, they argue, any gains in pay risk being offset by higher care fees or cuts to frontline services.

Netflix, in partnership with the Production Guild of Great Britain (PGGB), has announced a new training programme aimed specifically at deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent accountants looking to build careers in film and television. The year-long initiative, fully funded for five participants, combines five weeks of classroom learning with hands-on placements on Netflix productions, offering trainees a direct path into future industry roles. Applications close on 4 November 2025, with the course beginning on 25 February 2026.

The scheme builds on a programme first launched by PGGB two decades ago, with Netflix joining as a partner in 2018. Since then, graduates have worked on major productions such as Bridgerton, Supacell, and My Oxford Year. Organisers say the 2026 intake reflects a renewed focus on creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce, ensuring that underrepresented groups have clear opportunities to step into Assistant Production Accountant roles.

Support will also be provided by Access All Areas, a creative organisation that mentors people with learning disabilities and autistic individuals. Alumni of previous cohorts have praised the course for providing vital contacts, knowledge, and access to an industry that can otherwise be difficult to enter. Many have gone on to work on both independent projects and large-scale productions.

Industry leaders describe production accountants as central to the smooth running of film and TV projects, yet acknowledge that these roles have lacked diversity. By opening doors to new talent, the scheme aims to create a more inclusive pipeline of professionals, while strengthening the finance side of production for years to come.

Several leading autism organisations in the UK have spoken out against new claims from the US suggesting that paracetamol use during pregnancy could increase the risk of autism in children. Ambitious about Autism, Autism Alliance, Autistica, and the National Autistic Society said the evidence behind the claims is “very weak” and based on flawed studies. They pointed to well-conducted research showing no credible link, urging expectant parents to continue following NHS advice on safe medication use in pregnancy.

The claims came from the US Department of Health and Human Services during an event led by President Donald Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The announcement included warnings about paracetamol (acetaminophen) and outlined new steps for addressing autism. While the US Food and Drug Administration acknowledged conflicting research, it advised doctors to use the lowest effective dose when prescribing paracetamol to pregnant women, balancing potential risks against the dangers of untreated fever.

The FDA also signaled plans to expand the use of leucovorin, a folate-based treatment, for children with autism who show speech-related challenges. Early studies suggest leucovorin may improve language and social abilities in certain cases, though experts stressed it is not a cure and must be combined with other therapies. Larger clinical trials are now being planned by the National Institutes of Health.

UK charities emphasised that there is no drug or therapy that “cures” autism and criticised repeated inaccurate claims from the Trump administration. They argued that rising autism rates reflect better awareness and improved diagnosis, not environmental causes. Experts warn that misleading statements risk stigmatizing autistic people and distracting from vital research focused on support and inclusion.

More than 90 MPs spent three hours debating whether to preserve the legal right to assessment and support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The discussion followed a petition by Save Our Children’s Rights, now topping 125,000 signatures, urging ministers to keep current law so vulnerable pupils can access education and thrive. On the same day, a rally by the Disabled Children’s Partnership, SEND Sanctuary and Let Us Learn Too pressed for reform with firm red lines to safeguard existing rights.

Campaigners fear the forthcoming Schools’ White Paper could dilute statutory support or phase out Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). They argue the system’s strain stems from underfunded education, health and social care, not from EHCPs themselves. Plans confer enforceable entitlements and a conditional right to choose a school; without one, there is no duty on schools to meet a child’s specific needs. Supporters contend these rights save money later by reducing adult costs.

Opening the debate, Dr Roz Savage MP called EHCP protections “essential, not optional”, citing Institute for Fiscal Studies analysis: since 2018, EHCP numbers have risen nearly 80% (from under 3% to over 5% of pupils); high-needs deficits could hit £8bn by 2027; independent special school places cost more than double state equivalents. MPs repeatedly stressed early intervention, inclusion, accountability, and an end to parent-blaming.

Summing up, Education Minister Georgia Gould prioritised early help, community-based support and working with families on reforms. Rachel Filmer of Special Needs Jungle welcomed the cross-party defence of legal rights—but warned MPs must hold the line if the White Paper falls short.

DanceSyndrome, a pioneering dance charity that creates opportunities for people with learning disabilities, has secured over £340,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund to expand its work. Founded in 2009 by Jen Blackwell, who has Down’s syndrome, along with her parents, the project was born out of Jen’s struggle to find inclusive community dance opportunities.

The organisation currently runs four weekly Everybody Dance community sessions in person, alongside five online classes, as well as offering training and performance opportunities. With the new funding, DanceSyndrome aims to extend its reach by 2030, particularly by opening up pathways for children with learning disabilities to engage in dance at all stages of life.

At the heart of its success is a co-production model. This approach sees Dance Leaders with learning disabilities work side-by-side with professional artists, shaping accessible sessions together. Jen explains that this model is crucial, as it challenges perceptions of disability and demonstrates what people can achieve with the right support. Participants have reported boosts in confidence, independence, and a stronger sense of belonging.

In 2023, the charity also launched the DS Youth Collective, which highlighted the demand for more inclusive opportunities for children and young people. Managing Director Julie Nicholson said the new funding will help deliver accessible dance activities across the North West and beyond, ensuring families can enjoy the transformative benefits of dance in their communities.

People with learning disabilities who develop type 2 diabetes face a greater risk of dying from the condition, despite often showing better blood sugar control than others. A large-scale study published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care found that although rates of vascular complications were similar, those with learning disabilities were 20% more likely to experience faster disease progression and require insulin therapy sooner. They were also more likely to already be on treatment for diabetes or high blood pressure and to present with complications at the time of diagnosis.

Researchers examined anonymised health records of more than 280,000 adults newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the UK between 2004 and 2021. Of these, just over 2,000 had a learning disability. This group was typically younger at diagnosis – average age 51 compared with 64 – and included higher numbers of men, people with severe obesity, White ethnic backgrounds, and individuals living in areas of deprivation.

The study’s authors stressed that managing type 2 diabetes can be especially difficult for people with learning disabilities, as it requires consistent monitoring and self-management. They suggested that more tailored support and adjustments from healthcare professionals could improve outcomes, including longer consultations and clearer communication.

Previous research has highlighted barriers to care, such as a lack of diabetes knowledge among caregivers and insufficient accessible information. The authors recommend better training for both staff and carers, and greater efforts to ensure individuals with learning disabilities are supported to take an active role in managing their condition.