Hundreds of young carers from across Scotland will come together this week for the annual Scottish Young Carers Festival, a unique event providing young people with caring responsibilities the opportunity to take a break, connect with others and enjoy new experiences.
Young carers are children and young people who help care for a family member, friend or loved one who has an illness, disability, mental health condition, addiction or additional support needs.
Organised by Carers Trust Scotland and receives funding by the Scottish Government, the three-day festival brings together young carers from across the country for a programme of activities, entertainment and opportunities to spend time with others who understand the realities of being a young carer.
The festival offers young carers a chance to step away from their day-to-day caring responsibilities and focus on friendship, fun and wellbeing. It also provides an opportunity for young people to share their experiences and ensure their voices are heard on issues that affect their lives.
The event will also welcome a number of decision-makers and stakeholders, giving young carers the opportunity to share their experiences and perspectives directly with people involved in shaping policy and support services across Scotland.
Through activities, discussions and informal conversations, young carers will have the chance to highlight the issues that matter most to them, including breaks from caring, education, wellbeing and recognition.
Why a Break Matters
There are at least 30,000 young carers under the age of 18 in Scotland, many of whom provide vital unpaid care for family members. Carers Trust Scotland’s work highlights that time away from caring duties is not just a treat – it’s essential for young carers’ wellbeing, development and happiness.
Becky Duff, Director of Carers Trust Scotland, said:“The Scottish Young Carers Festival gives young carers the chance to take a break from their caring responsibilities, spend time with friends and enjoy opportunities that they might not otherwise have access to.
“We know from listening to young carers how important breaks, friendships and support are to their wellbeing. The festival brings young carers together from across Scotland, creating a space where they can connect with others who understand their experiences and simply enjoy being young people.
“It is also an opportunity to highlight the important contribution young carers make every day and ensure their voices continue to be heard by decision makers.”
Alison Thewliss MSP, Minister for Community Care, said: “Young carers make an invaluable contribution to their families, communities and to society as a whole The care and support they provide every day is remarkable, but I also recognise that caring responsibilities can bring challenges and make it harder to access the same opportunities as their peers.
“We remain committed to supporting young carers through initiatives such as the Young Carer Grant, the Young Scot Young Carer Package and our work to deliver a Right to Breaks for carers.
“I am delighted to attend this year’s Scottish Young Carers Festival and hear directly from young carers about the issues that matter most to them. I hope everyone attending the festival has a fantastic time and creates memories and friendships that will last long after the event has ended.”
The festival is supported by local carer organisations from across Scotland, who work throughout the year to provide advice, information and opportunities for young carers in their communities.
Throughout the event, young people will take part in a wide range of activities while building confidence, making new friends and creating lasting memories.
Patients having blood samples taken at NHS Lothian’s two Emergency Departments (A&Es) are likely to be tested for blood-borne viruses as part of a national initiative to save lives by diagnosing and treating infections earlier.
The testing – which is safe, confidential and optional – will be provided to Emergency Department patients aged 16 and over who are assessed at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh from 4 August, and at St Johns Hospital in Livingston from 1 September.
People may have no symptoms and be unaware they are living with an infection. Of the three viruses that will be tested for, hepatitis C can be cured, and hepatitis B and HIV can be managed with effective treatment so that people can lead long and healthy lives. But if left untreated, these can result in serious illnesses and, in some cases, death.
With around half of Emergency Department patients having blood samples taken as part of their care, the additional tests will enable early detection. If a test is positive, the patient will receive a telephone call within 2 weeks to discuss highly effective treatment options.
Any patient who does not wish to be tested can opt out by letting a member of staff know. This decision will not affect the care they receive.
The initiative, funded by the Scottish Government, follows an NHS Lothian trial. In testing elsewhere in the UK, 1 in 180 patients tested positive for hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV and received specialist follow-up care.
Susan Webb, Director of Public Health, NHS Lothian, said: “This testing is a positive step for public health in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
“It will ensure patients are diagnosed and treated far sooner than they otherwise would have been.
“Early diagnosis improves the clinical outcomes for these patients, and reduces ongoing transmission across our communities. This ties in with the Scottish Government’s drive to eliminate hepatitis C, end new transmissions of HIV and treat people living with hepatitis B – continuing the progress that has already been made.
“The tests are safe, confidential and optional, with the initiative designed to protect and improve health.”
The tests are only for adults attending NHS Lothian’s Emergency Departments because they need emergency care.
Posters about this initiative will be displayed throughout the Emergency Departments, with further information about blood-borne viruses and testing available on the NHS Inform website. All this reminds patients that if they wish to opt out, they should tell a staff member.
Anyone who believes they may have been exposed to a blood-borne virus should seek advice and testing as soon as possible from their GP practice, or from sexual health services at the Chalmers Centre or its local clinics.
Glasgow woman who had cancer four times welcomes development
A drug commonly used to treat parasitic worm infections could offer a new way to tackle one of the most difficult childhood blood cancers to treat, research funded by Leukaemia UK has identified.
Dr Noelia Che and her colleagues at UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, investigated whether the drug mebendazole, could be repurposed and used in combination therapies to treat childhood acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
While survival rates for childhood leukaemia have improved dramatically in recent decades, AML remains one of the most challenging forms of the disease.
Established treatments such as chemotherapy and stem-cell transplants, while effective, are intensive and can often lead to relapse and serious long-term side effects for patients.
This was the case for Nichola Smith, whose diagnosis of AML at aged 12 led to decades of difficult treatment, relapse and serious life-long consequences. “I was constantly tired and run down,” recalled Nichola, now 44, from Glasgow.
“Then one day after playfighting with my cousins I noticed an enormous hand-shaped bruise where one of them had grabbed me. Then the next day I collapsed and my mum took me to Yorkhill Children’s Hospital where, to my shock, I was diagnosed with leukaemia”.
Nichola underwent intensive chemotherapy. After relapsing a year later months later, she also required a stem cell transplant and more chemotherapy.
While her treatment was successful, the impact on Nichola has been life-long. In 2006, a routine mammogram revealed pre-cancerous cells in both her breasts, a recognised long-term effect of the leukaemia treatment she had received as a child. She underwent a double mastectomy and several major operations.
Then, in 2022, Nichola was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a blood cancer that can develop into AML.
“I was devastated,” she said. “I kept saying to myself, ‘Here we go again’ and ‘Why me?’ I couldn’t believe I was going to have to fight another blood cancer after everything I’d already been through.”
Her condition later progressed and she once again required chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a stem cell transplant.
Experiences like Nichola’s are driving researchers to find more targeted and less toxic ways of treating AML. Reducing the devastating long-term effects.
Dr Che, a recipient of the Leukaemia UK John Goldman Fellowship, is focusing her research on a protein called MYB, which AML cells rely on to survive and grow.
She and her colleagues found that mebendazole can reduce levels of MYB within leukaemia cells, depriving them of a key survival mechanism and causing them to die.
She hopes the approach could form part of a new generation of targeted therapies. Unlike chemotherapy, which attacks all rapidly dividing cells, targeted therapies attack cancer cells more precisely while reducing damage to healthy tissue.
Dr Che and her colleagues are now exploring further how mebendazole can be used with newer targeted therapies rather than chemotherapy, identifying a promising treatment strategy for children with AML. Potentially avoiding the increased toxicity associated with more intensive chemotherapy.
Dr Noelia Che said: “Our research is exploring whether mebendazole, a safe and well-established drug, could be used in a completely different way to target vulnerabilities within AML cells.
“We hope this work will contribute to gentler, more effective treatments, so that children survive without life altering complications.”
Simon Ridley, Director of Research and Advocacy, Leukaemia UK, said: “We’re proud to support innovative researchers such as Dr Che who are exploring bold new approaches to treatment.
“It is important to note that this research is still in early stages, but it shows one of the many routes that researchers are working to fight leukaemia through new strategies, repurposed medications and innovative combinations.
“Which, in the future, could reduce the long-term impact of treatment on patients and their families.”
Urgent work to take place to protect bereaved families
Proposals for formal regulation of the funeral sector to be developed following harrowing case in Hull
DHSC to lead cross-government work to ensure that every person in every setting is treated with the respect they deserve in death.
Work will formally commence following the sentencing of criminal funeral director Robert Bush today
Regulation is already in place in Scotland
The UK government has announced urgent plans to crack down on rogue operators in the funeral sector and ensure better protection for bereaved families after the sentencing of Robert Bush yesterday.
Bush, of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a total of 67 charges, including the prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud, fraudulent trading, and theft.
The Department for Health and Social Care will now drive forward work alongside other government departments, including the Ministry of Justice and the Law Commission to crack down on rogue operators in the funeral sector, and to protect bereaved families against the heartbreak of having their loved ones mistreated in death.
This will include developing a range of detailed proposals to drive up standards, including regulation of the funeral sector. These will be drawn up in discussion with established operators, faith groups, families, and other stakeholders.
As part of this work, the Law Commission will undertake a review of the criminal law in relation to the deceased, consider any gaps in existing legal protections and make recommendations on the creation of new offences, if they are needed.
For bereaved families, there can be few things more painful than knowing a loved one was not treated properly after they died. The deceased cannot speak for themselves, which is why clear safeguards, stronger oversight and consistent standards are needed to protect their dignity and give families the reassurance they deserve.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Yvette Cooper said: “Robert Bush’s actions were utterly abhorrent, and my thoughts are with all the bereaved families in Hull who have been so badly let down.
“In the wake of this horrific case, we will now bring forward comprehensive proposals to ensure respect and dignity for the deceased in every setting, including proper regulation of the funeral sector. We are determined to drive rogue operators out of this industry, and protect other families from suffering this same heartache.
“Every person in every situation deserves dignity in death, and every bereaved family deserves certainty that their loved ones are being treated with care and respect.”
The Government will work closely with bereaved families, funeral providers, faith groups and others to ensure that future policy is proportionate, effective and informed by those with relevant experience.
This will ensure action is designed to give families confidence that funeral providers are meeting clear, consistent standards, no matter where they live or which provider they choose.
It will also reinforce the profound responsibility placed on anyone entrusted with caring for someone after death.
This case is another horrendous example of where the deceased have not been honoured with the care and respect many of us would have expected. The findings from Sir Jonathan Michael’s independent inquiry into the actions that allowed David Fuller to commit his horrific crimes showed that we need to consider how we can ensure better standards across all settings that look after our loved ones after they die, including where some level of regulation is already in place.
Many funeral providers offer compassionate and professional care every day. Stronger oversight, including regulation and other measures, would protect families from poor practice, support good providers, and restore confidence in a sector people rely on when they are at their most vulnerable.
Andrew Judd, Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Funeral Directors, said: We welcome the government’s commitment to raising standards and oversight across the whole funeral sector and look forward to working with government to ensure that every single deceased person and their bereaved families are treated with the respect and dignity that they deserve.
“We will work with Government and industry during the engagement to secure meaningful change for all bereaved families as soon as possible. We believe that statutory regulation can best achieve this aim and will continue to make that case during this process.”
Paul Allcock, Government Liaison at the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF), said: “SAIF welcomes the DHSC’s commitment to engaging with the funeral profession on regulation.
“Any framework must protect the deceased and their families as a priority, but must also uphold standards and recognise small and medium-sized independent funeral businesses. It should be proportionate, preserve family choice and maintain a diverse market.
“We’re committed to supporting the engagement and cross-government work.
“SAIF members currently follow the UK Funeral Director Code and undergo inspections of premises, mortuary facilities and administrative processes. Families also have access to an independent complaints and redress process, delivered by an externally audited alternative dispute resolution body certified by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, providing an added safeguard.
We’ll continue working closely with the DHSC and MOJ to shape regulation that protects the deceased, their families and supports a sustainable funeral profession.”
Phil Rosenberg, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: “We look forward to working with the Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Justice to ensure the improvement of standards in the funeral sector enable all families and communities to bury their loved ones with dignity and care.
“The Jewish community is proud of its high standards of care for the deceased and internal regulatory processes, which ensure that Jewish people are buried safely, respectfully, and in accordance with religious requirements.”
Mohamed Omer MBE, Chair, National Burial Council, said: “We have followed the Robert Bush (Legacy Independent Funeral Directors) case with deep distress. The findings are profoundly troubling and have caused immense pain to families who entrusted their loved ones to this service. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to all bereaved families affected by this appalling breach of trust, care and decency.
“The National Burial Council welcomes the Government’s commitment to urgent action to strengthen oversight, accountability and professional standards across the funeral sector.
“Muslim and Jewish communities have specific religious requirements for timely burial and respectful handling of the deceased, making dignity and transparency essential. NBC works closely with burial societies and funeral directors to uphold high standards and will support DHSC and the Ministry of Justice in strengthening safeguards and effective self‑regulation.”
NOTE: Regulations are already in place in Scotland.
Expanding access to “national front door” to family support
A charity support line providing a one-step gateway to cost of living and whole family support will be expanded by Scottish Government funding to help up to 7,500 families.
Children First’s service offers practical, emotional and financial help and advice to families across Scotland 365 days a year by phone, webchat, text, email, video and face to face. Scottish Government investment will allow the charity to more than double the support it provides, including:
immediate cash grants and practical tips on budgeting and debt management
emotional support to help families manage stress and anxiety
practical advice to navigate public services, helping to access things like childcare and housing
connections for families to specialised support to help people get into and stay in work.
A total of £2 million from the Scottish Government in 2026-27 will equip the charity to bolster its offer across the country as a key part of work under the child poverty delivery plan “Bringing Hope, Building Futures”.
Visiting the charity in Glasgow, First Minister John Swinney said: “During the cost of living crisis, there are families struggling to make ends meet and accessing help can often be overwhelming.
“We want to provide a better future for every parent and every child, and to do that we need to make support as simple, accessible and effective as possible.
“That’s why we are pleased to be supporting Children First to develop a national front door for support, so that help is in the right place, at the right time. Organisations like Children First play such an important role and I am pleased that we are supporting them to double the support they provide to families across Scotland.”
In 2025-26, the Children First support line has supported over 5,000 families nationally. This investment will enable the charity to expand staffing, enhance specialist expertise and increase Money Advice capacity, including helping people with their energy bills, ensuring more families can easily access support which is sustained for as long as they need it.
Linda Jardine, Director of Children and Family Services, Children First said: “This funding is fantastic news for Scotland’s children and families, who often tell us that they don’t know where to turn for support.
“Parents and carers, who are often stressed and exhausted trying to find the right help when they need it, will welcome this with open arms.
“By connecting families to joined-up practical, emotional and financial help through our support line, we will reduce the impact of poverty, strengthen families and make sure thousands more of Scotland’s children enjoy the safe and secure childhood, which is every child’s right.
“Children First’s support line is open seven days a week, 365 days a year. If your family is in need of help, our friendly and understanding support line team are here to help. Call us on 08000 28 22 33 or start a webchat at childrenfirst.org.uk/supportline.”
Jasmine, a young Mum who has been supported by Children First said: “Things are so expensive nowadays and with my baby I was feeling the pressure before I met Children First. I also felt quite lonely and alienated because I didn’t know other young people who had babies. It wasn’t good for my mental health.
“The help from Children First has been outstanding. The emotional and financial help they’ve given has had a positive impact on us – I can get fresh fruit and vegetables for the baby and I feel less isolated because I’ve met other young mums. Without the support from Children First, I don’t think our lives would be anywhere near as good.”
New figures show that more than 7,000 consultations were held at Scotland’s first GP walk-in services.
The number of consultations at the centres increased to a high of 2,299 in June as services were established, Public Health Scotland data shows.
The services are part of an innovative pilot, testing a new way of accessing same-day care from GPs or Advanced Nurse Practitioners at a wider range of times. They have been designed to provide more choice for patients while helping to relieve pressure on wider NHS services.
Between February and June GP walk-in pilot services were opened in six locations.
Health Secretary Angela Constance said: “We have promised to end the frustrating 8am rush for GP appointments and this new data shows that more people are benefiting from appointment-free care, at a time that works best for them.
“Some 7,082 walk-in consultations have already been carried out – giving patients access to urgent, same-day care – and we will roll this out to many more communities over the weeks and months ahead.
“Our focus is not simply on counting every patient, but on making every patient count. The pilot is just getting started and as it grows we will know more about how it is working.
“But behind every attendance is a person who has received timely assessment, reassurance, treatment or advice that may have improved their experience, supported earlier intervention, or prevented a more serious outcome.
“We have opened ten of the originally planned 16 GP walk-in services in five months and will soon be announcing even more locations as the pilot expands.”
‘Scheme more about politics rather than practicality’
Dr Iain Morrison, chairman of the BMA’s Scottish GPs committee, told BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme that doctors had expressed reservations about the walk-in clinics when they were first announced – and it now looked like a case of ‘I told you so’.
He said: “In terms of any pilot it’s important to learn to fail fast. My concern is that we’re not going to learn to close this down when all the evidence suggests that it’s not working. “It’s going to continue to be worked upon, potentially expanded, despite evidence crying out that it’s not having the impact that’s desired.
“The way you improve capacity, to provide as many appointments as are required, is to invest into core services. It’s not to put in additional money into separate services that fail to alleviate the core problem”
New findings from neurodiversity charity Salvesen Mindroom Centre (Mindroom) highlight 88% say caring responsibilities have limited their career progression, while more than half provide the equivalent of a full-time working week of unpaid care.
Leading neurodiversity charity Salvesen Mindroom Centre (Mindroom) has published a pioneering national survey examining the workplace experiences of parents and carers of neurodivergent children, revealing thousands are being forced to reduce hours, turn down career opportunities or leave work altogether because of gaps in health, education and family support.
Based on responses from over 250 parents and carers surveyed across Scotland and the UK in Autumn 2025, Holding It All Together: Workplace Experiences of Parents and Carers of Neurodivergent Children (supported by Baillie Gifford’s Neurodiversity Network) suggests the biggest barriers to employment are not caring responsibilities alone, but delays in diagnosis, fragmented services and inconsistent support.
The full findings will be unveiled at an online launch event on 4 August, where Mindroom will present the research for the first time, explore what it means for families, employers and policymakers, and outline the action needed to tackle the issues identified. Registration is now open.
The report paints a stark picture of parents trying to balance employment with caring responsibilities:
88% said caring responsibilities had limited their career progression
80% reported a negative impact on household income.
98% said the experience had negatively impacted their mental health.
55% provide 30 hours or more of unpaid care each week.
74% have changed their working patterns, and 58% have reduced their hours.
Despite this, 69% continue to balance professional or management roles and 44% work in hybrid roles.
Mindroom’s report’s central message is that the difficulties experienced by parents and carers are not caused by neurodivergent children themselves, but by systems that fail to provide timely and coordinated support. The report is launched alongside Mindroom’s 2025 Impact Report, which highlights rising demand across Scotland.
In 2025 alone, the charity supported 2,172 children, young people and families, received 1,801 new enquiries, and has seen demand increase by 309% since 2020. *
Aileen Shrimpton, Mindroom’s Director of Development, says:“Supporting parents and carers is not a niche issue.
“When support is delayed or inconsistent, families carry the consequences, and so do workplaces. This report provides a baseline for action.”
Gill Christie, Baillie Gifford, Chair of employee-led Neurodiversity Network, on behalf of the project team, continues: “Parents and carers of neurodivergent children are still holding work, family life and overstretched systems together, often invisibly.
The challenges described in this report arise not from them or their children, but from the fallout of systemic pressures outwith their control.”
Alan Thornburrow, CEO of Mindroom, concludes:“This research exposes an invisible workforce issue that has been hiding in plain sight.
“Parents and carers of neurodivergent children are not stepping back from work because they lack ambition or ability. They are doing so because they are carrying the consequences of delayed diagnoses, fragmented services and inadequate support systems.
“When skilled people reduce hours, turn down progression opportunities or leave employment altogether, families lose income, employers lose experienced staff, and the economy loses valuable talent. Supporting these families isn’t simply a welfare issue, it’s an economic one.”
To register for the official online launch event for Holding It All Together and discover the full extent of the findings, please visit: ‘Holding It All Together’ Launch**
First Minister: Delivering better access to care will be Scottish government’s legacy
Reducing long waits for NHS treatment in Scotland is the focus of the government’s new £90 million investment in planned care.
First Minister John Swinney said substantial progress had been made in the past year but the government remains focused on accelerating delivery to eradicate long waits for good.
Visiting the National Treatment Centre in Fife, Mr Swinney announced the additional funding for health boards to spend directly on bringing down outpatient waiting lists and for scheduled operations and procedures such as hip and knee replacements.
The First Minister said: “Over the past year we have seen long waits falling with new outpatient waits over 52 weeks reducing for 12 months in a row. Our network of National Treatment Centres have been key to this success with thousands more procedures taking place.
“The direction of travel is positive, but there is more work to do – I am determined that ending long waits for NHS treatment will be my government’s lasting legacy.
“This dedicated funding of £90 million will support those waiting the longest for treatment and help to create more capacity within our wider healthcare system. I am confident we will continue to see long waits reduce but I need our health boards focused on accelerating progress.
“People can expect delivery with my government. I have been clear with health boards that I will expect to see month-on-month reductions on the back of this new investment.
“This investment supports our commitment to building an NHS fit for the future. Initiatives including GP walk-in services and Hospital at Home are expanding access so patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. We have also committed to publishing a new hospital flow plan during our first 100 days in office.”
Chief Executive of NHS Fife William Edwards added: “The National Treatment Centre in Fife is helping transform access to planned care, having delivered more than 2,550 operations and supported nearly 15,700 outpatient appointments in 2025/26.
“With high theatre utilisation, shorter hospital stays and most patients returning home within a day, our teams are making a real difference for patients across Scotland. This additional investment will help us continue to work towards reducing waiting times and help us treat more people, sooner.”
Healthy weight loss takes time, not shortcuts. As demand for weight-loss medicines continues to rise, the MHRA is reminding people how to use GLP-1 medicines safely, spot illegal sellers and avoid diet changes that could interfere with their medicines
With prescription weight loss medicines being advertised illegally on social media alongside quick-fix slimming claims, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), warns Brits to not let summer slimming put their health at risk.
From over-dosing on prescription weight-loss meds to buying dangerous fakes online, the MHRA reveals the mistakes that could leave you seriously ill, and the simple steps to lose weight safely.
1. Follow doctor’s orders if you are prescribed a GLP-1
If you’ve been prescribed a GLP-1 weight-loss medicine, don’t be tempted to fast-track your weight loss by upping your dose. Semaglutide (Wegovy), tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and liraglutide (Saxenda) should only be taken as prescribed by a healthcare professional.
Follow doctors’ orders and take your prescribed GLP-1 alongside a healthy diet and a fitness regime. Whether you’re taking it for diabetes management or weight loss, maintaining good nutrition and exercise can help support muscle, bone, and overall health as your calorie intake changes.
2. Steer Clear of Fake Weight-Loss Meds
If you’re not eligible for a prescription for weight-loss medicines, don’t be tempted to buy them from unregulated websites or social media sellers. GLP-1 medicines authorised in the UK have only been shown to be safe and effective for people with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27 or more. Buying from rogue sellers is a huge risk. You can’t be sure what’s in the product, and some fake medicines are contaminated with toxic substances.
Don’t be tempted by the online hype around retatrutide. It has not been authorised for use in the UK, meaning anyone selling this product is doing so illegally. These products haven’t been tested for safety, quality or effectiveness and there’s no guarantee that they even contain retatrutide. You could be putting your health at serious risk.
Head of the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit, Andy Morling, said: “Rogue sellers are driven by profit, not your safety, and the fake medicines they sell could put your health at serious risk.
“These products may not contain the GLP-1 medicine you think you’re buying and could be contaminated with bacteria and other harmful substances.
“Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true and check the pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. The simple rule for staying safe is that if you’re offered a GLP-1 medicines without the need for a prescription – walk away.”
3. Check Your Meds Before Changing Your Diet
Trying to eat more healthily before your holiday? Great – but make sure your diet doesn’t clash with your medication. Always read the patient information leaflet before making dietary changes, as some foods could compromise medicines’ effectiveness. People taking simvastatin to lower their cholesterol should avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice as they slow the rate the body breaks down the medicine, increasing the risk of serious side effects.
Thinking about intermittent fasting? Remember that some medicines need to be taken with food to work most effectively and lower your risk of side effects. Metformin, used to treat diabetes, and the painkiller naproxen should both be taken with or after food to help prevent stomach upset.
MHRA’s Chief Safety Officer, Alison Cave said: “There’s no shortcut to safe weight loss. If you’re trying to slim down, follow medical advice, avoid fake medicines and remember that healthy eating and regular exercise are still the safest ways to get in shape for summer.”
Counterfeit Weight-Loss Pills Could Be the Next Online Health Scam
Pharmacist reveals the warning signs that a weight-loss medicine may be fake as the first GLP-1 tablet is approved in the UK
Consumers are being warned to watch for fake weight-loss tablets appearing on social media and unregulated websites following the approval of the first oral GLP-1 medicine for weight management in the UK.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved the semaglutide tablet for weight loss on 11 June 2026, creating a needle-free alternative to injectable treatments.
However, Sobia Qasim, Superintendent Pharmacist at Curely, warns that growing public interest in weight-loss pills could also create a new opportunity for illegal sellers.
Unlike injectable pens, tablets can be placed in ordinary bottles, blister packs or envelopes and posted without specialist equipment, potentially making counterfeit products appear more convincing to consumers.
Fake medicines may contain the wrong dose, no active ingredient or entirely different and potentially harmful substances. The MHRA has already uncovered organised criminal networks manufacturing illegal weight-loss medicines and seized almost £45 million worth of illegal medicines during 2025.
Sobia said: “The arrival of an approved weight-loss tablet is an important development for patients, particularly those who are uncomfortable with injections. However, high demand and widespread online interest can also attract illegal sellers looking to exploit people who want quick or cheaper access.
“A tablet may look less suspicious than an injection because consumers are accustomed to receiving pills through the post. But a professional-looking box, blister pack or website does not prove that the medicine is genuine.
“Prescription weight-loss medication should only be supplied after an appropriate clinical assessment by a qualified healthcare professional. Any seller willing to bypass that process should immediately raise concern.”
Seven signs a weight-loss pill could be fake
Warning sign
Why it should raise concern
It is sold through social media messages
Genuine prescription medicines should not be bought through private messages, marketplace listings or informal social media accounts.
No medical consultation is required
Weight-loss medication is not suitable for everyone. A regulated provider should assess your health, current medicines and eligibility before prescribing it.
The seller guarantees a specific amount of weight loss
Results differ between patients. Guaranteed outcomes are a marketing tactic, not responsible clinical advice.
You are pressured to act quickly
Countdown timers, limited stock claims and urgent payment requests may be used to stop consumers checking whether a provider is legitimate.
The price appears unusually low
A price substantially below recognised providers may indicate that the medicine is fake, unlicensed, incorrectly stored or obtained illegally.
The tablets arrive loose or in unfamiliar packaging
Medicines should arrive in sealed, labelled packaging with clear dosage information and a patient information leaflet.
There is no registered pharmacy information
Consumers should be able to identify the pharmacy supplying the medicine and verify that it is registered with the appropriate UK regulator.
A familiar brand name does not guarantee a genuine product
Sobia warns that counterfeiters may copy recognised brand names, logos, batch numbers and packaging to make illegal products appear authentic.
In February 2026, the MHRA confirmed that a falsified version of a Mounjaro injection had been supplied through an online pharmacy in the UK. The regulator said fake medicines may contain incorrect ingredients, no active ingredient or harmful substances.
Previous fake GLP-1 injections discovered in the UK have also contained insulin, creating a risk of dangerously low blood sugar for people who unknowingly used them.
Sobia continued: “Counterfeiters can reproduce colours, logos and packaging extremely convincingly. Consumers should never judge a medicine by appearance alone.
The checks around the medicine are just as important as the product itself. Who prescribed it? Was a proper consultation completed? Which registered pharmacy supplied it? Can you contact a healthcare professional if something goes wrong?
“If those questions cannot be answered clearly, do not take the tablets.”
What consumers should check before ordering
Before purchasing weight-loss medication online, Curely recommends checking that:
Genuine clinical assessment is required
Qualified prescriber reviews the order
The dispensing pharmacy is registered in the UK
The provider asks about existing health conditions and medication
Clear contact details are available
The medicine arrives sealed and properly labelled
Instructions and patient safety information are included
Follow-up support is available throughout treatment
The NHS warns that medicines bought from unregistered websites may be out of date, diluted, fake or unsuitable for the person taking them.
What to do if you think a weight-loss medicine is fake
Anyone who believes they have received a counterfeit or suspicious medicine should not take another dose until they have spoken to a pharmacist or doctor.
Consumers should keep the packaging, receipt and details of the website or seller. Suspected fake medicines and side effects can be reported through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
Those who experience severe or persistent abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness or symptoms of dangerously low blood sugar should seek urgent medical assistance.
Sobia added: “People may feel embarrassed if they have bought medication from an unofficial seller, but healthcare professionals need to know exactly what may have been taken so they can provide the right treatment.
Do not throw the packaging away and do not assume that feeling unwell is simply a normal side effect. With an unregulated product, there is no reliable way to know what the tablet contains or what dose has been supplied.
The safest route is always a properly regulated service offering clinical assessment, genuine medication and ongoing professional support.”
