NHS England has secured a new deal which means that children with peanut allergies in the UK will be the first to receive a groundbreaking new treatment.
The oral treatment – named Palforzia – decreases the severity of symptoms brought on by peanut allergies, including the potentially life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis, and will soon be available to up to 600 children aged four to 17 the first year, and 2,000 the following year, thanks to the new deal.
The deal has been secured after Evelina London Children’s Hospital took part in two large peanut allergy trials – the Palisade and Artemis studies.
Both trials are said to have transformed the lives of some of its participants.
“This pioneering treatment can be life-changing for patients and their families and, thanks to the deal the NHS has struck, people here will be the first in Europe to benefit,” explained NHS Medical Director, Professor Stephen Powis.
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“It will reduce the fear and anxiety for patients and their families who may have been living with this allergy for years.
“And carrying around emergency medication just in case.
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“They should be able to enjoy meals out or holidays abroad together without worrying about an allergic reaction that could land them in hospital or worse.”
Palforzia decreases the severity of symptoms brought on by peanut allergies, including anaphylaxis / Credit: Flickr
In the UK, peanut allergies are currently said to affect one in 50 children.
The Artemis study, in particular, found that around six in 10 of the participants aged four to 17, who reacted to around 10mg of peanut protein at the start of the trial, were able to take a dose of 1,000mg by the end, which is well above the amount of accidental exposure.
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As mentionted, around 600 children aged four to 17 are expected to be treated with Palforzia this year, and the after that, some 2,000 children will be treated a year.
Professor George du Toit – Children’s Allergy Consultant at Evelina London – was senior investigator for the UK for both of the trials, and has called the rollout of the treatment “great news” for children and young people with peanut allergies.
“This will make a huge impact to the everyday lives of our patients and their families,” he added.
Council approves £1 billion budget to ‘improve Manchester’ after 14 years of Government funding cuts
Emily Sergeant
Manchester City Council has officially approved a £1 billion budget for 2026/27.
After 14 years of funding cuts and ‘unfunded pressures’ from 2010 to 2024, which saw Manchester among the hardest hit places in the country, Manchester City Council says that its financial position has improved this year due to ‘fairer funding’ from the current Government which overall reflects the city’s needs.
For the first time this year, the Council’s revenue budget exceeds £1 billion (£1.045 billion, to be exact.)
This leaves the Council able to invest even more in supporting residents’ priorities, and ultimately begin to build back some of things which were previously affected by austerity.
As well as continuing to support those who are considered to be most in-need in the city, this current 2026/27 budget also makes a series of investments in measures – which the Council says will make ‘visible improvements’ across the city.
Some of these measures include £5.13m towards ‘ significantly enhancing’ street cleaning services across the city, more than £1.7m to boost the maintenance of public spaces, especially parks and green spaces, and almost £1m to further crack down on flytipping and littering.
This year, there’ll also be one-off investments of £1.1m improve road, pavement, and path surfaces, and £500,000 to increase pavement and footpath gritting in local centres.
The Council has approved a £1 billion budget to ‘improve Manchester’ / Credit: Chris Curry (via Unsplash) | Manchester City Council
Elsewhere, capital funding will continue to be used to build the Council, social, and ‘genuinely affordable’ homes that the city needs, as well as invest in local high streets and district centres across the city.
“Manchester is an incredible city which we are all proud to call home,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, who is the leader of Manchester City Council.
“We’re seeing record levels of investment in our neighbourhoods and communities, more council and social homes built than for decades and stronger economic growth than anywhere in the UK.
“But we believe that Manchester can be even better, and that’s what we’re determined that this budget will help achieve – a city where everyone can have a good home, a good job and a good life in an well cared for, invested-in neighbourhood.
“That’s exactly where the extra funding available to us in this budget is being focused.”
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
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Oasis announce surprise exclusive song on new War Child album HELP(2) releasing this week
Emily Sergeant
Surprise… we’re getting a new Oasis song on Friday.
Well, not actually ‘new’ – but we had to get your attention somehow, and hopefully we succeeded. That’s because, if you didn’t already know, this Friday (6 March) is release day for the new HELP(2)album in aid of War Child, and even before this announcement, it was already gearing up to be one of the most anticipated projects of the year.
But now, it’s got even better, as War Child Records has today announced that Oasis will feature on the album with a very-special inclusion – a stand-alone 7” single.
Fans of the iconic Manchester band will be able to listen to the track enclosed within the gatefold of the vinyl edition and as a hidden track on the double CD version, as well as it also being available to stream from this Friday too.
The band have generously contributed an exclusive live version of the fan favourite song, ‘Acquiesce (Live from Wembley Stadium, 28 September ‘25)’, to the album.
This marks the first physical release of a live recording from Oasis’ record-breaking 2025 world tour, with the recording taken from the final night of their seven-show run at Wembley Stadium.
In case you don’t remember, Oasis actually previously featured on the original HELP album all the way back in 1995, opening the record with ‘Fade Away’, and Noel Gallagher also contributed as one third of The Smokin’ Mojo Filters, alongside Paul McCartney and Paul Weller, so this is actually the band’s return nearly three decades on.
Oasis’ return proves their enduring support for War Child’s mission to ‘protect, educate, and stand up for’ the rights of children affected by conflict.
HELP(2) is being released on Friday 6 March / Credit: Supplied
‘Acquiesce – Live’ follows other recent releases taken from the HELP(2) record, including ‘Begging For Change’ by Pulp, ‘Opening Night’ by Arctic Monkeys, ‘Flags’ by Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten & Kae Tempest, and ‘Let’s Do It Again!’ by The Last Dinner Party.
Other big-name artist set to feature on the album are Fontaines D.C, Olivia Rodrigo, Depeche Mode, Foals, Wet Leg, Ezra Collective, and countless more.
Emily Sergeant -
23rd December 2021 
