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NHS urges people to book flu jabs ahead of winter as A&E attendances hit record 2.5 million

The national booking system is now open.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 18th August 2026

The NHS is urging people get their flu jabs booked ahead of the upcoming season.

After A&E attendances hit a record 2.5 million in July, and staff experienced the three busiest months ever recorded between May and July in emergency departments, the NHS wants to do everything it can to ‘ease demand’ ahead of winter flu season arriving.

Flu season usually peaks in December and January, so the health service is starting to administer the vaccinations from autumn onwards to ensure fewer people are hospitalised.

Flu can cause significant issues for children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with some long-term health conditions – with issues including hospitalisation and, in certain cases, severe respiratory failure or even death.

It’s estimated that around 104,000 hospitalisations could have been avoided last year, which is why the NHS is keen to cut that number this winter.

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Those eligible will be able to get their flu vaccination from a variety of places in their local community, including their GP practices and participating high street pharmacies.

The jab is given in injectable form in the vast majority of cases, while a nasal spray is provided for most children.

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“Vaccinations play a vital role in protecting those most at risk from flu and they are also crucial for relieving pressures on our NHS over the winter months,” explained Health Secretary Yvette Cooper.

“Everyone who is eligible for a free vaccination will be notified through their phone or in the post, and the system for booking appointments is now open. Together, we can save lives, support the most vulnerable, and ensure our NHS is there for everyone who needs it this winter.”

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The national booking system is now open so that eligible people – including pregnant women and children – can pre-book their flu vaccinations when appointments start on 1 September.

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Get booking here.

Featured Image – NappyStudio (via Unsplash)

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Manchester City Council approves petition calling for Market Street to be less of a ‘sensory overload’

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Market Street could be less of a 'sensory overload', if a new petition to manchester city council succeeds

A petition has been launched calling on Manchester City Council to review the management of Market Street, hoping to make it ‘more peaceful’ and less of a ‘sensory overload’.

All Mancs know that a walk down Market Street is no easy undertaking – it’s a hugely busy shopping street and pedestrian thoroughfare, often populated by buskers, street performers, charity fundraisers, and roving stalls.

One does not simply ‘pop to the shops’ in Manchester city centre. Instead, we pinball our way along the street which often feels like an urban obstacle course.

And now, an online petition has been launched and approved by Manchester City Council, calling for the street’s management (and that of Piccadilly Gardens) to be reviewed.

The petition calls on the council to assess ‘the cumulative effect of these activities, including excessive noise, sensory overload, obstruction, and difficulty navigating the city centre’.

And while it is ‘not directed at any particular group of people, business, political belief, charity, religion, or organisation’, the petition organisers believe that the large number of organised street solicitation, amplified sound, gazebos and stalls, and organised gatherings, are all significantly impacting pedestrian movement.

“These spaces should remain accessible, comfortable, safe, and easy to navigate for everyone,” the petition states.

A 'quiet' Monday lunchtime on Market Street
A 'quiet' Monday lunchtime on Market Street
A ‘quiet’ Monday lunchtime on Market Street. Credit: The Manc Group

Management measures for both Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens that have been put forward include designated locations for organised activities, permits, reasonable controls on noise levels, a review of street trading locations, and more measures to reduce obstruction in high-footfall areas.

It reads: “The review should also consider whether the concentration of multiple organised activities within the same locations operating during the same time slots is appropriate, and whether a more balanced distribution across the city centre would improve accessibility while continuing to respect the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and legitimate trading.

“The aim is not to prevent lawful expression, peaceful assembly, or legitimate trading. Instead, it is to ensure that Manchester’s busiest public spaces remain welcoming, accessible, and functional for everyone by achieving an appropriate balance between the many activities taking place within them, while protecting the rights of all who use these shared public spaces.”

The petition has made its way onto the Manchester Reddit subreddit, where one person described Market Street as an ‘absolute sensory overloaded obstacle course’ and a ‘sweetcorn scented sleep paralysis demon’.

The petition calls for more thought into the organisation of traders, performers, and more on Market Street. Credit: The Manc Group

One person commented: “Literally walked down market street just yesterday and thought about this, very glad something might actually be done. I moved away years ago and it was never good, but yesterday I’d never seen anything like it. Preachers, half a fun fair, sweet stand, rapper, guy dancing in a banana suit and more. It’s absolutely f*cked.”

Someone else posted: “People can practice whatever religion they want, but it’s horrible hearing loud chanting music, combined with two other religions doing the same thing, combined with random preaching, and then the buskers that seems to think if they’re super loud it means that are super good.”

You can see and sign the petition to review Market Street HERE.

Featured image: The Manc Group

News

Happy ending for pregnant cat who was PLUCKED of her fur by abusive owner

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Luthien the cat was held down and PLUCKED by her owner, the RSPCA has said

A pregnant cat who was forcibly held down and plucked of her fur has got her happy ending.

Beautiful Luthien was found in a Manchester apartment building by the RSPCA at the age of just six months old, with just a tuft of fur left on the top of her tail.

A concerned neighbour had called the animal rescue charity after seeing the cat being pinned down and plucked by her owner on a balcony in the city.

Not only was the poor animal almost completely bald, but she was also pregnant.

She was taken into the care of RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for a veterinary examination, missing fur over the top of her head, neck, back, belly, and down her front legs.

The vet suspected that this abuse had happened in multiple occasions due to the extent of the fur loss.

She was then transferred into the care of the RSPCA’s Crewe and Nantwich District Branch where staff nicknamed her ‘Velcro’ because she was so affectionate to everyone.

Luthien, or Velcro, gave birth to four kittens and was later rehomed by Kathy Miller, 75, in Cheadle.

Luthien was plucked by her owner
Luthien was plucked by her owner
She was just six months old, and pregnant
She was just six months old, and pregnant
Credit: RSPCA

She now looks like a completely different cat, and her fur has fully grown back.

A man was given a 12 month ban on keeping animals by magistrates, ordered to pay a £40 fine and £100 costs when he pleaded guilty to one Animal Welfare offence of failing to ensure that the needs of an animal were met.

RSPCA Inspector Jess Araujo, who investigated, said: “I have been an inspector for eight years but I had not seen anything like this before in terms of cruelty.

“Poor Luthien was only a six month-old kitten and most of her fur had been plucked from her body. This must have been terrifying and painful for her. She was also pregnant at the time so the added stress of this would have been awful.

“She was pinned down screaming in pain while this happened – and we are not sure how many times she was subjected to this treatment. The RSPCA attended the address with the police and the owner agreed to sign her over into our care.”

Rachael Dyer, a trustee at RSPCA’s Crewe and Nantwich District Branch, said: “She was the most lovely cat from the start – she was so loving and kind – it is amazing really when you think about what she had been through. We called her Velcro because she just wanted cuddles so much and would just stick to you.

Luthien now, with new owner Kathy. Credit: RSPCA

“She had four adorable kittens and she was fantastic with them. She was only young herself, but she cared and loved those kittens so much. She stayed with her babies until they were weaned and could be put up for adoption and once the kittens had found homes at around three months old it was her turn to find her forever home.

“I saw how her fur began to grow back and as it did her personality began to shine through too – she was such a friendly little cat in our care, really adorable.

“Once she was advertised for adoption her new owner applied and she came to see her. It really was love at first sight between both of them. There were a couple more follow up visits so they could bond while the kittens were rehomed – and they just got on so well and Luthien loved getting fussed.”

Kathy, Luthien’s new owner, said: “I have always adopted rescues and when I saw a cat advertised called ‘Velcro’ and all her kittens were named after sewing items – with me being a seamstress I just thought, ‘oh, here is a connection’ and I felt it was a sign.

“I arranged to see her at the branch and the first time she met me she was quite shy but I gave her a treat in my hand and she took it willingly and I thought this is another connection.

“When I first saw her I was shocked at her lack of fur. I knew from the website she had very little, but in real life all she had was a tuft at the end of her tail, it was like a pom-pom. I was told what had happened and it just made me sick to think of all the pain and suffering she must have gone through while pregnant too.

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“She is such a lovely-natured girl and very sweet but she still won’t sit on my knee. She will cuddle and sleep on my bed but won’t sit on my knee – so I think it’s still some trauma from what happened.

“I did change her name as I am a Tolkien fan and have a dog called Arwen so I thought Lucien suited her and they are best friends (pictured). Velcro was a cute name when she was at the branch and it was apt because she loved cuddles and fuss and stuck to carers like Velcro – she still does love attention!”

The animal welfare charity is telling Luthien’s story as part of its Cruelty Hurts, Love Rescues fundraising campaign – which coincides with the charity’s busiest time as heartbreaking cruelty reports peak over summer.

New figures show that in June, July and August last year the RSPCA received 6,322* cruelty calls to their emergency line last year which is one call every 10 minutes when the line is open. In comparison the charity took 3,852 calls for the same period in 2021 – showing a massive 64% increase over the five years.

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Featured image: RSPCA

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