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 Irene Roberts faces

the terrifying possibility that her life may be about to change forever. What begins as a series of small, unsettling memory lapses quickly escalates into

a medical nightmare — one that leaves Irene shaken to her core and threatens to expose a secret she and Jon are desperately trying to keep buried.

The first signs that something is wrong are easy to miss. Irene, a pillar of the community and the beating heart of the diner, casually forgets a conversation she had earlier that same day. Jon brushes it off at first, but alarm bells begin to ring when Irene fails to turn up to a planned dinner date at Salt. Even more troubling is her complete lack of recollection of the text messages confirming their plans. This isn’t forgetfulness — it’s as though those moments never existed at all.

Eventually, Irene admits the truth to Jon: the memory slips have been happening more often than she’s let on. One particularly disturbing incident saw her standing in her nightdress in the back garden with no idea how she got there. Still, Irene insists it’s nothing serious and tries to laugh it off. But her bravado collapses when she hears baby Archie crying and discovers him alone in Harper’s room — only to find a text thanking her for agreeing to babysit. Irene has no memory of that agreement, and the realisation leaves her visibly shaken. Terrified she might make a dangerous mistake, she calls Jon immediately, needing reassurance and control before Harper returns.

The situation worsens the following week when Irene completely forgets to open the diner. Marilyn is forced to call Leah in a panic, and Irene eventually turns up, unaware she’s two hours late. Her confusion continues later when she casually suggests that Dana ask Sunny out, completely forgetting that the pair have been dating for weeks. Dana initially laughs it off, but unease settles in when Irene later appears baffled that Dana is already in a relationship. It’s not just that Irene forgot — it’s that she doesn’t even remember forgetting.

Concerned, Dana calls Jon, who wastes no time pushing Irene to seek medical help. When Jon asks how her GP appointment went — something Irene had promised to arrange — she has no memory of that conversation either. Realising the situation is spiralling, Jon urges her to contact Bree Cameron.

Thanks to Bree’s position as head of emergency and the efficiency of the Northern District Health Service, Irene is seen at the hospital that same afternoon. Bree initially attempts to reassure her, explaining that memory issues can be caused by stress, fatigue, or anxiety. Still, she insists on running a full set of tests to rule out anything serious. Blood tests, a CT scan, and a lumbar puncture are ordered — a process that leaves Irene frightened but hopeful for clarity.

While Irene undergoes testing, Jon waits anxiously at the hospital, wrestling with his own fears. He admits to Dana that he wants to promise Irene everything will be fine — but the truth is, he simply doesn’t know. When Bree finally calls them in to discuss the results, the news is both relieving and devastating.

The blood work and scans show no infection, no bleeding, and no obvious physical cause for Irene’s symptoms. But the lumbar puncture tells a different story. Bree carefully explains that while the results are only preliminary, they indicate a possible diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

The words hit Irene like a freight train.

Despite Bree’s insistence that nothing is confirmed, Irene is overwhelmed by fear. In her heart, she believes Bree is right. That night, Irene barely sleeps, spiralling into frantic online research, trying to understand what Alzheimer’s could mean — for her independence, her relationships, and her future. Jon spends the night doing the same, desperately searching for hope he can offer her.

The following morning, Jon tries to stay positive, insisting it may not be as bad as it seems. Irene, however, refuses to cling to false hope. Denial, she tells him, won’t protect them from what might be coming.

As if the emotional weight isn’t heavy enough, Irene agrees to cover Leah’s shifts at the diner while Leah and Justin plan a short getaway. Jon is deeply uneasy, urging her to pull out, but Irene stubbornly insists she can handle it — especially with Marilyn around. However, fate intervenes when Bree calls with an update: Irene’s neurology appointment has been fast-tracked to the very next day.

Forced to cancel her commitment, Irene lies to Leah, claiming she needs to see her daughter Finley, who is supposedly upset. Leah and Justin accept the explanation without suspicion, but Jon grows increasingly anxious about the web of lies they’re weaving to protect Irene’s privacy.

The strain becomes painfully visible when Harper asks Irene to mind Archie at short notice. The request triggers Irene’s deepest fears, reminding her of the last babysitting scare and her possible diagnosis. Overwhelmed, she snaps — lashing out at Harper in a way that leaves everyone stunned. Irene storms off, leaving Harper shocked and Jon frozen, realising just how close they are to the truth coming out.

As Irene’s world begins to unravel, the question looms larger than ever: how long can they keep her devastating secret hidden — and what will happen when Summer Bay finally learns the truth?