Emma Wilkinson
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emmajourno.bsky.social
Emma Wilkinson
@emmajourno.bsky.social
Freelance journalist writing about medicine/health/biosciences. Bylines in BMJ, Pulse, Pharmaceutical Journal, Sunday Times, Lancet, BBC and more. Co-founder Freelancing for Journalists. Co-author of Ultra Women. Often found running up Sheffield hills.
Pinned
Well they said no one would be interested cos it’s about women… so it was a bit of a jaw-dropping moment to find out that @lilycanter.bsky.social and I have made it on to the @bookieprize.bsky.social for Ultra Women. (Currently running around the house screaming excitedly!!)
I understand impulse to criticise BUT it’s vital people feel they can come forward for vaccines at any point. Never too late and it’s FREE on NHS so get them done! Also MMR is v effective vaccine used globally - there are good reasons the single jabs aren’t www.independent.co.uk/life-style/h...
I’m a London parent who hasn’t vaccinated my kids against measles, let me explain
A new outbreak of measles is spreading across north London, and it’s a wake-up call to all mums like me who didn’t give the MMR vaccines to our children, says Charlotte Cripps
www.independent.co.uk
February 17, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by Emma Wilkinson
🎵It’s pancake day
Yes it’s pancake day
Yes it’s p-p-p-p-p-p-p-p-pancake day🎵

Happy Tony Robinson Day, to all who celebrate!

youtu.be/gj_aHCpZl4k
Pancake Day - Maid Marian
YouTube video by Swimace
youtu.be
February 17, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Spent a hilarious day digging kids out of piles of fresh powder up to their waists. Soooo much snow barely any runs open but they had an absolute blast! Here’s a video to cleanse your timeline…
February 17, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Reposted by Emma Wilkinson
NHS ’clearly failing’ to ensure children get measles vaccine, experts warn www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
NHS ’clearly failing’ to ensure children get measles vaccine, experts warn
Calls grow for reform of England’s vaccination system including delivery of jabs in pharmacies as take-up falls
www.theguardian.com
February 17, 2026 at 7:40 AM
Same with phone bans in schools (while simultaneously expecting children to access learning through apps) but doing absolutely nothing to address strong evidence that intense exam/academic pressure is very bad for teen mental health
Always a bit suspicious when 'the most pressing public heath issue' crosses over with 'removing the autonomy of young people'. 'Ban screens for youths' is such catnip because it sound big and weighty but doesn't actually cost anything. Develop spaces and activities for youth does, though
‘It’s the most urgent public health issue’: Dr Rangan Chatterjee on screen time, mental health – and banning social media until 18
February 17, 2026 at 6:36 AM
Reposted by Emma Wilkinson
not that it's not a complex issue but it drives me *insane* that we've been watching the world set itself on fire over the past decade or so partly because of people quite suddenly going from Not Very Online to Way Too Online and governments now want to recreate that experience with teens everywhere
February 16, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Can’t all be sunshine and views can it now….
February 16, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Reposted by Emma Wilkinson
Members! Make sure you RSVP for our annual lecture night on 05 March with Professor Chris Whitty. We will have invited guests from across the health sector for the all important networking. Log in to our website and RSVP here: mjauk.org/2026/02/04/p...
mjauk.org
February 16, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Reposted by Emma Wilkinson
Second nice thing to post about today. Earlier this month I was named as one of the shortlisted applicants for the 2026 Tenacious Journalist Award. It's a very long shortlist but also a generous award, made to 10 different people - so fingers crossed!

www.publicinterestnews.org.uk/blog/announc...
Announcing the shortlist for the 2026 Tenacious Journalist Awards
PINF's Deputy Director, Joe Mitchell, announces the shortlist for the Tenacious Award and introduces this year's judging panel with the unenviable job of deciding the winners.
www.publicinterestnews.org.uk
February 16, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Likely the only day not in a snow storm so enjoy….
February 15, 2026 at 7:43 PM
This is really worrying but inevitable and something public health officials had been predicting. Lots of pockets of very low uptake in London for complex reasons including access/poverty/transient populations. NHS is trying to address as @shaunlintern.bsky.social points out but needs resource
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Health officials are racing to contain a growing measles outbreak in London, which has struck down dozens of young children and affected 7 schools and a nursery.

UKHSA has warned an outbreak across London could see 40,000 - 160,000 cases:
www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...
London measles outbreak: more than 60 children infected
Cases are spreading between children in Enfield as the virus exploits low MMR vaccination rates, medical experts say
www.thetimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Reposted by Emma Wilkinson
This matters because London has among the lowest vaccination rates for measles in England - there are many pockets of unvaccinated communities that could be at significant risk from a runaway outbreak:
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Health officials are racing to contain a growing measles outbreak in London, which has struck down dozens of young children and affected 7 schools and a nursery.

UKHSA has warned an outbreak across London could see 40,000 - 160,000 cases:
www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...
London measles outbreak: more than 60 children infected
Cases are spreading between children in Enfield as the virus exploits low MMR vaccination rates, medical experts say
www.thetimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Just listened and was cheering @hannahfearn.bsky.social on wholeheartedly in the ‘good guy’ thing. Put so so well!! 🙌
Latest Oh God, What's Happening with Starmer Now is out now....

I'm in it.

Please enjoy your Friday!
First thing on Monday it looked like Starmer was organic sourdough toast. By teatime he looked safe – for now. Can the PM weather the brutal months ahead? @nndroid.bsky.social, @rmcunliffe.bsky.social, @hannahfearn.bsky.social & guest @morganj0nes.bsky.social discuss ➡️ linktr.ee/ohgodwhatnowpod
February 13, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Love in a cold climate: Winter Olympic village runs out of condoms after three days www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/f...
Love in a cold climate: Winter Olympic village runs out of condoms after three days
Free condoms for competitors at the Winter Olympics have run out within a record-breaking three days
www.theguardian.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Had a whistle stop tour of London yesterday having various meetings but it started with @lilycanter.bsky.social and I having a blooming lovely chat about Ultra Women with Ben and Rick from the @runnersworld.bsky.social pod
February 13, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Lucy is so excited to get through to the English finals. She’s also known Freya since they were 3 and besties at nursery. They did their first school cross country age 8… #proudmum
KES Superstars! We are thrilled to announce that Year 10 students Freya and Lucy have been selected for the SY Schools' Cross Country team and will represent the region at the English Schools' Championships in Liverpool on 14 March. We couldn’t be prouder of them!
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February 12, 2026 at 10:48 AM
Bureaucracy, contracts, clearing backlog blah blah. How about we put patients back at the centre of decisions. She’s a child who has grown out of her wheelchair - that is an urgent clinical need.
February 12, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Reposted by Emma Wilkinson
Girl, 6, left waiting for new wheelchair for a year
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Girl, 6, left waiting for new wheelchair for a year
Alba is among 2,018 wheelchair users whose orders were not transferred to a new contractor.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 7:37 AM
I’m going to seriously jinx this but I’m on a train to London and it’s on time and I have a seat and a plug socket…
February 12, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Can anyone remember a time from before the rain…. I don’t know when I last saw sky. Just a layer of mist….
a person is sitting in a chair in the fog .
ALT: a person is sitting in a chair in the fog .
media.tenor.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Reposted by Emma Wilkinson
First cup of tea: the day’s parachute opens and I float gently into the morning.
February 10, 2026 at 7:00 AM
You can mess around with breakfast all you want (green smoothies yuck) but you will never better boiled egg and soldiers
February 9, 2026 at 9:26 AM
Reposted by Emma Wilkinson
An attempt to block a transplant surgeon who sexually harassed four female colleagues from returning to practice has failed
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Court upholds return of Oxford surgeon who harassed colleagues
James Gilbert, who was based in Oxford, was previously suspended for sexual harassment.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Anyone else see a cute friendly robot having a nap…
February 7, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Two eldest kids running for Sheffield in South Yorkshire schools cross country race today. Ground was mainly sludge. The 15yo managed to mix in a massive nose bleed at the end 🤦🏼‍♀️. The 12yo went straight off to do an escape room so we’ll have to chip that mud off at some point… character building 👍🏻
February 7, 2026 at 1:40 PM