Home and Away spoilers reveal Irene’s collapse after Bree’s misdiagnosis sends shockwaves through Summer Bay
Next week on Home and Away in the UK, Summer Bay is rocked by one of its most emotionally devastating storylines in recent memory, as beloved stalwart Irene Roberts faces a terrifying health crisis that threatens to unravel her life — and expose a heartbreaking medical mistake that leaves her shaken to the core. What begins as a series of small, unsettling lapses quickly escalates into a full-blown nightmare. Irene’s recent struggles with her memory can no longer be ignored, especially after John Palmer becomes the first to notice that something is seriously wrong. When Irene forgets an entire conversation they’d shared earlier that same day, John brushes it off at first. But alarm bells truly start ringing when Irene completely forgets a dinner date at Salt — despite having confirmed the plans via text just hours earlier.
It’s no longer a harmless slip. Irene later confides in John that these lapses are becoming more frequent and more disturbing. She admits she recently found herself standing in her nightie in the back garden with absolutely no recollection of how she got there. Still, true to form, Irene insists on minimising the problem, desperate to keep life ticking along as normal.
That fragile denial shatters when Irene experiences a moment that leaves her deeply shaken. Hearing baby Archie crying, she wanders into Harper’s room — only to find the infant alone. Panicked and confused, Irene reaches for her phone to call Harper, only to discover a message thanking her for agreeing to babysit. Irene has no memory of the arrangement. Terrified that she could have placed Archie in danger without even realising it, Irene calls John in tears, begging him to come over before Harper returns.
As the cracks widen, those closest to Irene begin noticing worrying signs. When Marilyn is forced to call Leah after Irene fails to open the diner — turning up two hours late and utterly oblivious — concern starts spreading through Summer Bay. Matters worsen when Irene encourages Dana to ask Sunny out, completely forgetting that the pair have already been dating for weeks. Though Leah initially dismisses it as a joke, Dana isn’t convinced.
Determined to test Irene, Dana gently probes again later — only for Irene to contradict herself entirely. The realisation is chilling. Irene hasn’t just forgotten — she’s forgotten that she forgot. Alarmed, Dana calls John, who arrives just as Irene reveals she never followed through on her promise to see a GP. Worse still, she doesn’t even remember the conversation.
John insists it’s time to seek professional help and urges Irene to contact Bree Cameron. Thanks to the Northern Districts Health Service pulling strings, Bree is able to see Irene at the hospital that very afternoon. Calm and reassuring, Bree explains that memory problems can happen to anyone — stress, fatigue, and emotional overload can all play a role. Still, she insists on a thorough investigation to rule out anything serious.
The tests are extensive: blood work, a CT scan, and a lumbar puncture. Irene tries to stay composed, but fear lurks beneath her brave front. John, waiting anxiously nearby, confides in Dana that he’s struggling with how to reassure Irene when he himself has no idea what lies ahead.
When Bree finally calls Irene and John in to discuss the results, the news initially seems encouraging. The scans are clear. There’s no bleeding, no infection, nothing structurally wrong with Irene’s brain. Relief briefly flickers — until Bree delivers the bombshell.
The lumbar puncture has raised a red flag.
Carefully emphasising that it’s only a preliminary finding, Bree explains that the results suggest a possible diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The words hit Irene like a physical blow. In an instant, her world collapses. John tries desperately to steady her, reminding her that it’s not a confirmed diagnosis — just an early indicator. But Irene is already spiralling.
That night, she barely sleeps, consumed by fear as she dives into online research about Alzheimer’s, confronting the terrifying realities of memory loss, independence slipping away, and the long shadow the disease casts over families. By morning, Irene is exhausted and emotionally frayed. John admits he spent the night doing the same — desperately searching for hope.
Though he tries to remain optimistic, Irene refuses to hide behind denial. She knows pretending everything is fine won’t protect either of them.
Meanwhile, life in Summer Bay marches on. Leah and Justin ask Irene to cover diner shifts while they plan a short getaway. Despite the crushing weight on her shoulders, Irene agrees — determined not to let her possible diagnosis define her. John, however, is deeply uneasy. When he urges her to step back, Irene snaps, insisting she can cope and that Marilyn will be there to help.
But fate intervenes. Bree calls with an update: she’s managed to fast-track Irene’s neurology appointment to the very next day. With no choice, Irene scrambles to back out of covering for Leah, spinning a lie about her daughter Finley needing her urgently. Though Leah and Justin accept the explanation, John is increasingly troubled by the growing web of secrecy surrounding Irene’s condition.
As pressure mounts, cracks begin to show. When Harper asks Irene to look after Archie once more, the request sends her into a panic. Haunted by her earlier lapse and paralysed by fear of harming someone she loves, Irene lashes out — snapping that people need to stop asking her for favours and storming out in a moment of raw, unfiltered emotion.
It’s a shocking outburst that leaves Harper stunned — and signals that Irene is nearing breaking point.
But just as Summer Bay braces for the fallout, a devastating twist looms. New information suggests Bree’s alarming diagnosis may be wrong — a misinterpretation that could have sent Irene into unnecessary despair. As Irene’s stress peaks and her health deteriorates, the consequences of that misdiagnosis threaten to become catastrophic.
With Irene on the brink of collapse and her secret growing harder to contain, Home and Away is setting the stage for a powerful, emotionally charged reckoning. How long can the truth stay hidden? And when it finally comes out, will it heal — or destroy — one of Summer Bay’s most beloved figures?