Data and release highlights
All-cause and cause-specific mortality by sexual orientation
On 13 January 2026, the ONS published all-cause and cause-specific mortality by sexual orientation in England and Wales. This is the first time the ONS has analysed how different causes of death can differ by sexual orientation.
Census 2021 included a voluntary question on this topic.
Using this information, the ONS have linked census data to death registrations in England and Wales between March 2021 and November 2024. Leading causes of death and mortality rates, for all-cause deaths, as well as causes such as alcohol-specific and drug-related deaths, were analysed by sexual orientation and sociodemographic groups.
Drug misuse in England and Wales: year ending March 2025
On 11 December 2025, the ONS released an overview of the extent and trends of illicit drug use. The data was taken from the Crime Survey for England and Wales.
Findings show an estimated 8.7% of people aged between 16 to 59 (around 2.9 million people) reported using any drug in the last 12 months for the year ending March 2025.
Drug use was higher among people aged 16 to 24 years, with 15.1% reporting any use in the last 12 months. While levels among young adults are far below their late 1990s peak, drug use remains broadly stable. The release highlights notable declines in the use of specific substances, including nitrous oxide, psychoactive substances and hallucinogens in the 16 to 24 age group.
Adult social care services
In January, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) published several adult social care reports on the GOV.UK website.
This report contains official statistics on the number of people receiving adult social care services, and information on adult social care settings.
This report contains official statistics in development on insights from client level data from local authorities. It includes information on assessments and long-term support.
This report includes data on local authority arrangements with individuals to support the payment of their care costs. It also includes the number and value of these arrangements.
Welsh Government releases on health and care in Wales
This report details monthly data on ophthalmology outpatients who were waiting within their target date or within 25% beyond their target date, at the end of November 2025.
This release provides data on Welsh resident smokers making a quit attempt via smoking cessation services for July to September 2025.
A report summarising data on activity and performance in the Welsh NHS.
This bulletin makes data, including health and wellbeing data, for the constituencies publicly available to all interested parties and to support any research that may be conducted ahead of the May 2026 elections.
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