Tag: Department of Health and Social Care

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 1 December 2025.

The government has launched a scheme which will see thousands of people benefit from improved HIV testing and treatment under a new action plan.

• Government unveils HIV Action Plan to tackle stigma and end transmissions in England by 2030, backed by £170 million   
• First ever national programme to re-engage people back into life-saving HIV care and treatment   
• Opt-out HIV testing in A&E will pick up infections earlier, when treatment is most effective   

Thousands of people across England will benefit from improved HIV testing and treatment under a new action plan designed to end new transmissions by 2030.   

The Action Plan, unveiled by Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting today [Monday 1 December], tackles the stigma that remains a barrier for too many people – fear of judgement and discrimination means some people avoid getting tested, leaving infections undiagnosed and untreated.   

At the heart of the plan is a first of its kind national programme will find and support people who are not accessing lifesaving HIV treatment and bring them back into care.     

HIV is now entirely manageable – with the right treatment, people can live long, healthy lives and cannot pass the virus onto others.   

Around 5,000 people are no longer in care, with reasons including mental health issues, addiction, poverty or fear of judgement.    

This targeted support is particularly crucial for groups who are more likely to face problems including racism, stigma, poverty and housing issues that can make their lives more difficult.    

Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said: 

On World AIDS Day, we honour both the memory of those we have lost and stand together with those living with HIV. 

I promised to end HIV transmissions in England by 2030 and we are making this a reality thanks to our action plan, with a groundbreaking new HIV prevention programme, at home tests made available through the NHS App, and delivering opt out testing in emergency departments.

My message is simple – no one should ever have to fight HIV alone. Together, we will end the cycle of transmission, improve treatment and better protect people.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:   

HIV treatment has been transformed. Today, people living with HIV can enjoy full, healthy lives – and can’t pass the virus on to others. That’s remarkable progress.   

But we can go further. Ending new HIV transmissions by 2030 is ambitious – and this government is determined to make it happen.  

Our national re-engagement programme, a truly innovative and agile approach, targets the epidemic where it’s growing and leaving no one behind.  We’ll bring people into life-saving care and find infections early, when treatment works best, so everyone can live the full, healthy life they deserve.   

Thanks to the work of determined campaigners across our country, ending new HIV transmissions by 2030 – a history making, world changing goal – is within reach. This government will now put its shoulder to the wheel to deliver this change.

Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: 

We’re making progress – 95% of people living with HIV now know they have the virus. But around 4,700 people remain undiagnosed, including one in three in Black African communities and higher rates of late diagnosis in older age groups. 

People need testing that meets them where they are, in ways that feel safe and accessible. We need to make starting PrEP straightforward for anyone who wants it, with particular focus on heterosexual and Black communities who are being failed by current disparities. And when someone is diagnosed, they should get consistent, respectful support that helps them stay on treatment and stay engaged in care. 

This £170 million HIV Action Plan delivers on these priorities, enabling continued progress towards our 2030 goal.

Dr Claire Fuller, NHS England’s National Medical Director, said:  

The NHS is fully behind this Action Plan, which gives us the tools to diagnose people earlier, reconnect those who are not currently receiving care, and ensure every person living with HIV receives support without stigma.

Alongside opt-out HIV testing in A&E, we are launching a new £5 million digital trial so people can order home testing kits through the NHS App – making it easier and more discreet than ever to get checked. 

With early diagnosis and the right treatment, people with HIV can live long, healthy lives and cannot pass the virus on and this plan brings us a major step closer to ending new HIV transmissions in England by 2030.

Richard Angell OBE, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said:  

The government has an ambition that is both momentous and historic: that England becomes the first country in the world to end new HIV cases. This new plan recognises the scale of the challenge, with the biggest new investment in HIV testing and care in decades.  

National funding to re-engage people in life-saving HIV care, putting HIV home-testing on the NHS App and long-term funding for opt-out HIV and hepatitis testing in emergency departments will be transformational. This is what people with HIV need. This is what we have been calling for. Now we must work together to make it happen.  

The leadership involved in pulling off this remarkable suite of initiatives is a tribute to Wes Streeting, Ashley Dalton and Kevin Fenton. We are in their debt, but will not hesitate to hold their feet to the fire.

Robbie Currie, Chief Executive, National AIDS Trust, said:   

National AIDS Trust welcomes the commitments in the HIV Action plan which provides a solid foundation for achieving the goal of ending HIV cases by 2030.    

Re-engaging people who are no longer in care is crucial to ensuring they can live well with HIV, and we’re pleased to see a new national programme dedicated to this. However, stigma, discrimination and inequality still push people away resulting in poorer health outcomes. Stigma training for hospitals is a welcome step towards ensuring healthcare settings are safe and inclusive.   

We are also delighted to see funding for formula milk – a priority we have campaigned on alongside our partners. This plan can get us on track to achieve the 2030 goals, but success requires rapid action and having the right policies in place across Government.

Anne Aslett, CEO, The Elton John AIDS Foundation, said:   

The new HIV Action Plan is an important step toward ending new HIV transmissions in England. We welcome the extra funding for opt-out testing in emergency departments, a model the Foundation first piloted in 2018. The latest results speak volumes, over 90% of people newly diagnosed in EDs had never been tested for HIV before. Smart, targeted investment like this saves lives.  

With up to 12,000 people living with HIV currently out of care, the £9 million investment in retention is crucial for keeping people healthy and stopping onward transmission. But without bold investment in prevention, including making PrEP widely accessible to everyone who needs it, ending new infections will remain out of reach.

Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, Chair of the LGA’s Health and Wellbeing Committee, said:   

Councils are ready to play their part in delivering this national action plan through council-commissioned sexual health clinics, close partnership working, and developing their own locally tailored HIV plans.  

We are committed to achieving the collective ambition to end new HIV transmission in England by 2030.  

Local government, the NHS, and our wider partners must continue working together to ensure equitable access to HIV prevention, testing and treatment. This includes reaching underserved communities, supporting innovative approaches such as opt-out testing and a push on tackling HIV stigma in health and social care.

The Action Plan, backed by over £170 million, is also continuing funding for testing in A&E, meaning if you’re having a routine blood test, you’ll automatically be tested for HIV – unless you choose not to.    

This testing programme is being delivered across areas with the highest rates, including London and Manchester, reaching thousands of people with undiagnosed infections who might never otherwise visit a sexual health clinic.   

Communities most affected by HIV will also benefit from a national HIV prevention programme to improve awareness about safer sex, testing and treatment.   

The prevention programme will work directly with those most at risk, providing tailored support and targeted testing to break down barriers and ensure no one is left behind.   

Hospital staff will also receive anti-stigma training, so patients can access care without fear of being judged for their HIV status.   

A groundbreaking £5 million trial, announced on Sunday will see home HIV testing kits ordered at the touch of a button through the NHS App.     

The trial will allow at-risk patients to order home HIV tests seamlessly, receive results securely, and contact their GP or sexual health clinics – all from their phone.   

The new digital service will offer a discreet route for those anxious about their sexual health to get tested without visiting a clinic.   

The Action Plan comes as new UKHSA analysis published today shows HIV testing in England must adapt to reach the groups that need it most. The report reveals that while 95% of people with HIV are diagnosed, around 4,700 people remain undiagnosed – with additional investments in emergency department testing alone insufficient to reach all those in need.

Gaps remain in testing in lower prevalence areas and general practice settings that reach out to those who need prompt testing, including ethnic minority heterosexual populations and people aged 50 years and over. 

Today [Monday 1 December], Minister Ashley Dalton will meet with people living with HIV and organisations working in the HIV sector to discuss and hear first-hand about how their experiences could be positively impacted by the HIV Action Plan.   

Gillian McLauchlan, lead for sexual health for the Association of Directors of Public Health, said:  

This new HIV Action Plan is particularly welcome because it recognises that only through true collaboration between local authority public health teams, the NHS, and the voluntary and community sector will the UK end HIV transmissions.   

Sustained and adequate investment is also vital – not just in the fight against HIV but to ensure that everyone can access high quality sexual and reproductive health services at the right time for them.

James Woolgar, Chair of the English HIV and Sexual Health Commissioners’ Group added:  

The plan’s promise of continued investment in emergency department testing, the new national re-engagement in care plan, anti-stigma training and education are all very welcome. We of course also need a sustained commitment to the provision of PrEP and other prevention programmes.  

I am extremely proud of the hard work and progress that local government has made in tackling this issue and, by strengthening collaboration, we can ensure evidence-based interventions reach communities more effectively, reduce inequalities, and tackle stigma. Only then can we reach our collective goal of zero new transmissions by 2030, and support those living with HIV to not only survive, but also thrive.

Professor Matt Phillips, President, British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said:  

The launch of today’s Action Plan marks a pivotal moment in shifting the dial in the HIV response. It also offers an opportunity to reflect on the progress we’ve made in recent years, and the work that still lies ahead.  

Reconnecting those living with HIV who have been lost to care is a critical part of this work, and is key to achieving our target of reaching zero new HIV transmissions by 2030. The publication of this new Action Plan therefore provides us with a real chance to build on recent successes, through better enabling expert care and treatment to be accessed by all those who need it.  

BASHH stands ready to work alongside the Government to help translate these vital ambitions into reality.

Dr Tristan Barber, Chair Elect of the British HIV Association (BHIVA) said:  

The combination of prevention, treatment and testing, with an effective plan to re-engage people with HIV treatment and care, and access peer support, together provide a strong and pragmatic framework for progress.    

It is vital that we prioritise the groups most affected by HIV, where diagnoses continue to rise. Half of all black African heterosexuals are diagnosed late, and women and young people also find it hard to access prevention using Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which should be available to everyone who needs it.   

The success of Emergency Department opt-out testing has already shown what is possible so extending it, with the addition of at home testing via the NHS App, alongside renewed investment in sexual health services, will be key to achieving the 2030 goals.

Dr Amanda Williams, Paediatrician and Chair of the charity Chiva said:  

Children and young people living with perinatally acquired HIV have to attend healthcare appointments and take medication their whole life, for what is still a highly stigmatised health condition. For many, missing appointments becomes more common in adolescence, and during the transition from paediatric to adult care.  That’s why we’re pleased to see plans to tackle HIV stigma and re-engage people back into care.  

We welcome the Government’s decision to fund formula milk for all babies born to mothers living with HIV, who need it as part of HIV prevention measures during pregnancy through to post-birth – something that Chiva, The Food Chain and NAT have been calling for. Funding formula milk ensures women can follow medical guidance and are empowered to make informed choices about how to safely feed their babies without financial barriers.

Dr Zara Haider, President of the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, said:   

We warmly welcome the publication of the HIV Action Plan, especially as it places women firmly within its focus by recognising the unique barriers they face in accessing HIV services. Measures such as funding for formula milk and sterilising equipment for women living with HIV, expanded opt-out testing, and tailored prevention programmes will directly support women who are too often forgotten.   

With investment in home testing kits, a national HIV prevention programme, and plans to tackle the discrimination that still stops too many from seeking care, this Plan has real potential to improve HIV care in England by ensuring women are not left behind.

Darren Knight, Chief Executive, George House Trust, said:  

George House Trust proudly backs the implementation of the new HIV Action Plan. Putting people living with HIV at the heart of this work, tackling HIV stigma, and ensuring everyone can live well and stay engaged in care isn’t just important, it’s essential.   

We’re ready to collaborate with government, health and care partners, and our voluntary sector partners to work for a world where HIV holds no one back.

Charlotte Cooke, Director of Services, LGBT Foundation said:   

LGBT Foundation welcomes the HIV Action Plan. We are pleased that gay and bisexual men remain a priority, alongside men who have sex with men – a community we have long supported and recognised as needing targeted interventions.  

It is key to invest in prevention in order to achieve zero transmissions by 2023. It is cost-effective, delivers long-term impact, and depends on working together to ensure equitable access and uptake of HIV prevention services. We are committed to playing our part in this effort.

Sophie Strachan CEO of the Sophia Forum said:   

We welcome this new ambitious Action Plan and hope that this will help address the health inequities and improve outcomes that prevents further marginalisation of communities who have to date have experienced ongoing health inequalities and poorer health outcomes.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 25 November 2025.

The government has announced an extension of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to more high-sugar drinks, including milk-based drinks.

• Soft drinks levy will be extended to cover more products, including sugary milk-based drinks.
• Changes could cut 17 million calories a day from the nation’s daily intake, helping to prevent cancer, heart disease and stroke, and take pressure off the NHS
• Companies have until January 2028 to remove sugar or face the new charge, which will add £1 billion in health and economic benefits

Children will have a healthier start to life after the government announces an extension of the soft drinks levy to more high-sugar drinks, making it easier for families to buy less sugary products.

Changes will apply the charge to pre-packaged milk-based and milk-alternative drinks with added sugar like supermarket milkshakes, flavoured milks, sweetened yoghurt drinks, chocolate milk drinks and ready-to-drink coffees.

Many of these products can contain as much added sugar as fizzy drinks, where much of that sugar is added separately to the milk, but were previously exempt from the levy, which so far has seen the average sugar content of drinks in scope fall almost 50% since it was introduced. Plain, unsweetened milk and milk-alternative drinks are not and will not be included.

Obesity is one of the root causes of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. With the UK now having the third highest rate of adult obesity in Europe, it remains a critical public health challenge, costing the NHS £11.4 billion a year, 3 times the NHS budget for ambulance services. 

This and other measures the government is taking to tackle the obesity crisis will prevent hundreds of thousands of people becoming obese, helping to prevent cancer, heart disease and stroke.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

An unhealthy start to life holds kids back from day one, especially those from poor backgrounds like mine. We’re on a mission to raise the healthiest generation of children ever, and that means taking on the biggest drivers of poor health.

The levy has already shown that when industry cuts sugar levels, children’s health improves. So, we’re going further.

A healthier nation will mean less pressure on our NHS, a healthier economy and a happier society. It’s a simple change that is part of this government’s mission to give every child a healthy start to life.

The threshold is being lowered from 5g to 4.5g of sugar per 100ml. This means more high-sugar drinks will fall under the levy unless manufacturers reduce sugar, with businesses given until 1 January 2028 to reduce sugar in their drinks.

This is a levy on manufacturers and importers, which has led to companies acting by halving sugar content in popular drinks to avoid the tax. The government expects companies to do the same with the extension.

Changes follow a government consultation that ran from April to July 2025. HMRC has today (25 November 2025) outlined the final policy in a formal response: Strengthening the Soft Drinks Industry Levy: summary of responses.

High sugar intake puts children at greater risk of dental decay and obesity – and obese adults are at risk of long-term health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Tooth decay outpaces other common childhood conditions, including acute tonsillitis, as the leading cause of hospital admissions among 5 to 9 year olds in England.

Between 2015 and 2024, the levy has cut sugar levels in affected products by almost half.

These interventions have led to substantial reductions in hospital admissions for children requiring caries-related tooth extractions, with decreases of over 28% among 0 to 4 year olds and more than 5% among 5 to 9 year olds.

In addition, businesses have consistently experienced increased sales of drinks. According to comprehensive Department of Health and Social Care data, these products recorded a 13.5% rise in volume sales (litres) between 2015 and 2024, demonstrating strong consumer acceptance and the commercial viability of healthier reformulated beverages.

The new plans are expected to reduce daily calorie intake by around 4 million in children and 13 million in adults across England. This could prevent almost 14,000 cases of adult obesity and nearly 1,000 cases of childhood obesity.

It is expected to also deliver almost £1 billion in health and economic benefits, including by saving the NHS £36 million, reduce social care pressures by £30 million, and contributing around £221 million in economic output through improved workforce participation

England’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, said:

Creating an environment where children are encouraged to have drinks which contribute to increased levels of obesity can harm their health for the rest of their lives.

The existing Soft Drinks Industry Levy has already substantially reduced the amount of sugar in shop-bought products, helping slow the increase in childhood obesity and bring down hospital admissions for tooth extractions among young children.

Extending the sugar levy is likely to have further benefit for child health.

This change is part of a package of measures the government is using to tackle obesity and prevent heart disease, stroke and cancer, including:

• the healthy food standard to make the average shopping basket of goods healthier
• banning junk food adverts before the 9pm watershed
• banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children aged under 16
• giving local authorities powers to stop fast food shops setting up outside schools

Katharine Jenner, Executive Director at Obesity Health Alliance, said: 

Ending the exemption for sugary milkshakes and bringing more sugary soft drinks into the levy is a sensible and long-overdue step to protect children’s health – especially their teeth. The Soft Drinks Industry Levy has already removed billions of teaspoons of sugar from the nation’s diet without harming industry growth, proving that clear, consistent rules are effective.

We now urge the government to press on with implementing the rest of its 10 Year Health Plan – helping to rebuild a food environment that supports children’s health rather than undermines it.

Eddie Crouch, British Dental Association chair, said:

The success of this policy won’t be about filling the black hole in the public finances; it will be whether industry will reformulate.

Voluntary action here has achieved nothing. But since it rolled out in 2018, the sugar levy has led industry to remove tens of thousands of tonnes of sugar from soft drinks.

Tooth decay is the number one reason for hospital admissions among young children. This is precisely the time for government to go further and faster with tried and tested policies.

Helen Kirrane, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Diabetes UK, said: 

With cases of type 2 diabetes continuing to rise at an alarming rate, particularly in younger people, we need bold action to cut unnecessary sugar from food and drink. 

The Soft Drinks Industry Levy has already substantially reduced the sugar in soft drinks, lowering the amount of sugar consumed by children. Expanding it to include milk-based and milk-alternative drinks, which can contain large amounts of hidden sugar, is a welcome step forward.

We know that, for many people, it can be overwhelming to navigate such a wide range of products, and it’s not always clear what is good for us. This change will help ensure the healthier choice is the easier choice.

Dev, Youth Activist at Bite Back, said:

This is great news from the Government, especially because it finally tackles sugary milkshakes and other milk-based drinks.

The amount of sugar in these products has been completely outrageous, and young people like me have been saying it for years.

We’re targeted with these drinks everywhere — in supermarkets, on our streets, and across our socials — so this is a really important step. But it can’t stop here. We need this to be part of a bigger package that also strengthens advertising rules.

Dr Ian Walker, Executive Director of policy at Cancer Research UK, said:

We welcome the UK Government taking stronger action on sugary drinks by extending the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to milk-based products and lowering the sugar threshold.

These steps will help cut sugar consumption, support healthier choices, and ultimately reduce the risk of cancer – something Cancer Research UK has long called for.

Bold measures like this, alongside commitments on junk food advertising and healthy food standards, must now be delivered in full and enforced properly to create healthier environments for everyone.

Barbara Crowther, Children’s Food Campaign Manager at Sustain, said:

This update rightly prioritises children’s health over corporate profit. The Soft Drinks Industry Levy has brilliantly succeeded in getting companies to reduce sugar and treating sugary milkshakes the same as fizzy drinks is the right thing to do.

Companies who’ve already reduced sugar will now be rewarded for acting responsibly, whilst those still stacking excess sugar into milkshakes will now have a clear choice: change their recipe or pay for the health harm caused.

Aligning the levy threshold with advertising and promotion rules is a sensible move, giving industry one consistent benchmark and making it easier to do business.

Lynn Perry, Chief Executive of Barnardo’s, said: 

Children in the UK are consuming too much sugar and too many are missing out on a balanced diet. This has a hugely negative impact on their health – with tooth decay now the leading cause of hospital admissions for children aged five to nine. 

Today’s announcement is another positive step in the right direction towards creating the healthiest ever generation of children.

Alongside this, it’s important that we support families living in poverty to improve their access to nutritious food.

Background

• The Soft Drinks Industry Levy applies to pre-packaged drinks with added sugar, and with more than 5g of total sugar per 100ml. This will fall to 4.5g per 100ml.
• Drinks containing between 4.5g and 7.9g per 100ml will continue to fall into the lower levy band. The current rate for this band is £1.94 per 10 litres (19.4p per litre).
• Drinks above 8g per 100ml will remain in the higher levy band. The current rate for this band is 2.59 per 10 litres (25.p per litre).
• This doesn’t apply to open top drinks in cafes/restaurants

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 24 November 2025.

Millions of Brits could boost their mood by spending 5 minutes taking a Healthy Choices Quiz launched by the government and the NHS.

• Government launches free 5-minute health quiz that reveals personalised steps to boost your mood and energy
• Research shows how 19 million people could boost their mood by making lifestyle changes, all while helping shift the NHS from treating sickness to preventing it
• Radio and TV presenters Melvin Odoom and Rickie Haywood-Williams share how taking the easy quiz gave them tips and advice to improve their health

Millions of Brits could boost their mood by making a simple healthy lifestyle change, according to new research ahead of the launch of a new online quiz today.

The 5-minute Healthy Choices Quiz, launched by the government and NHS, will give people across England personalised steps to boost their health, mood and energy.

The interactive mobile-friendly quiz has been designed to identify healthy changes that people can make and signpost to an array of trusted NHS resources to support healthier living. 

Research from University College London estimates that 19 million adults in their middle years could boost their mood by making a healthy change. Increasing physical activity can improve mental wellbeing in just 4 weeks.

The quiz supports the government’s 10 Year Health Plan to shift the NHS from treating sickness to preventing it, and from analogue to digital healthcare – putting people in control of their own health through modern technology. 

Health Minister Ashley Dalton said:

Taking this quick and easy quiz could be the first step for people to live healthier and happier lives.

We’re doing our part to cut smoking, obesity and provide better mental health support – this quiz gives people the chance to help themselves by taking advantage of expert NHS advice at the touch of a screen.

This simple, free and easily available quiz will bring expert NHS advice to your fingertips as part of our 10 Year Health Plan to move from treating sickness to preventing it.

The campaign aims to encourage adults – particularly those aged 40 to 60 and from more deprived backgrounds – to take control of their health and identify where they need support.

The quiz asks questions on a range of topics including nutrition, movement, smoking, vaping, alcohol consumption, mental health and sleep.

Users receive an overall score out of 10, along with tailored advice and links to free NHS apps and tools such as the Active 10 app to improve fitness or the NHS Every Mind Matters webpage which offers simple and practical advice to ease anxiety, manage stress, lift your mood and sleep better.

Radio DJs and TV presenters Rickie Haywood-Williams and Melvin Odoom are backing the campaign and feature in a short film where they share candid stories about their own health journeys and reveal their quiz results. They talk about the steps they have taken to improve their health, their motivations and the benefits they have experienced. 

Rickie Haywood-Williams said: 

Since becoming a dad, I’ve been more focused on my health – especially now my youngest is 3. I’ve started walking more and cycling when I can, and I’ve noticed a massive improvement both mentally and physically. Like most people juggling busy schedules, I still struggle with sleep and routine. I’ve got into the habit of eating late, and that’s one thing I’m trying to change.

That’s why I think the Healthy Choices Quiz is such a brilliant tool. It’s quick, easy and gives you a clear picture of where you’re at with your health. It gave me loads of practical tips that I can actually fit into my life. It’s not about being perfect – it’s about taking that first step and understanding how to start making changes that really make a difference.

Melvin Odoom added: 

As I’ve got older, staying healthy has become a bigger priority, but it’s taken some trial and error to figure out what works for me. I’ve always loved running but going solo or training for marathons never stuck. Joining a running club changed everything – the social side and sense of community keep me coming back, and now being active is something I genuinely enjoy. I’ve also made changes within my lifestyle, like cutting down on drinking. Now I only have a drink on rare occasions, and the difference in my mood and energy is huge.

Eating better is still a work in progress, but the Healthy Choices Quiz gave me a fresh perspective – especially on things like fibre, which I hadn’t really thought about. It’s helped me figure out realistic changes that really fit my lifestyle, and given me some tools to get started.

A new review by University College London, using Health Survey for England data, highlights how millions could improve their health and wellbeing by making healthy lifestyle choices such as quitting smoking, drinking less alcohol, eating more healthily or moving more.

Dr Radha Modgil, NHS GP and broadcaster, said: 

As a GP, I know how important it is to make healthy changes that fit into your everyday routine, but knowing where to begin can be tough – that’s why I’m excited about the new Healthy Choices Quiz.

It’s a simple first step that helps you understand where you’re at and gives you manageable tips that can boost your energy, lift your mood, and improve your physical and mental wellbeing.

Whether you’re building on progress or just getting going, you’ll be supported by free NHS apps, tools and advice that can help you move towards a healthier, happier future in a way that feels right for you.

The Healthy Choices Quiz is designed as an additional tool to help empower adults to live happier and healthier lives.

Other examples include a new digital NHS points scheme where people are rewarded for taking positive actions to improve their health. As announced in the 10 Year Health Plan, we will soon begin engaging with businesses to determine which behaviours should be incentivised.

Background information

Watch Melvin and Rickie taking part in the quiz.

Those who have tried the quiz are already seeing the benefit.

Melissa, 41, from London, said:

As a busy mum juggling work and family life, it’s easy for healthy habits to slip. I used to be really active, but after becoming a parent, I’ve had to rethink how I stay well. I’m now focusing on small, realistic changes – like improving my sleep and making better food choices when I’m low on energy.

Tools like the Healthy Choices Quiz are great for helping people like me find simple ways to get back on track. It’s pointed me in the direction of making healthier food choices, and shared some great advice on how to sleep better. I’d recommend others give it a go.

Craig, 49, from London, said:

Staying active is really important to me – whether I’m running, walking, or just making sure I hit my step count – but I’m always looking for ways to do a bit better. Taking the Healthy Choices Quiz gave me a fresh perspective and introduced me to NHS tools I hadn’t used before, like the Drink Free Days app.

They’ve helped me think more about balance, especially when it comes to food and alcohol, and I like that they offer flexible options that fit around my lifestyle. I’m not aiming for perfection, just small changes I can stick with and that feel achievable.

Ian, 59, from the West Midlands, said:

After years of walking miles every day as a postman, walking has remained a simple, low-impact way for me to stay active. I enjoy tracking my steps and often set myself goals to achieve, which makes it a little more fun when walking in adverse weathers. I know there’s still room to improve my lifestyle, but I’m taking it one step at a time.

Recently, I’ve started making changes to my diet by cutting out sugary snacks for healthier options. I’m always looking for ways to keep improving, and tools like the Healthy Choices Quiz offer helpful ideas to build on what I’m already doing.

Kristina, 41, from the West Midlands, said:

Life gets so busy and it’s so easy to forget about yourself, but it’s important to feel empowered in the choices you make. For me, I love going outside and moving when I have a spare moment – even if it’s just for a dog walk. I use it as a time to reflect and it has made a real difference to my mental health.

Taking the Healthy Choices Quiz was the first step that helped me understand where to start and how to feel healthier and happier – especially if, like me, you didn’t know where to begin.

Joanne, 45, from the south-east, said:

As someone with a busy professional and family life, when it comes to a healthy lifestyle it’s not about being perfect – it’s about doing what you can do, when you can. Life can feel like a loop of sleep, work, repeat, but it’s vital to break that cycle and make time for yourself every day, whether that’s walking, running or enjoying a nourishing meal.

I’d recommend the Healthy Choices Quiz as a first step for anyone looking to feel healthier and happier.

Dr Richard Piper, CEO at Alcohol Change UK, said:

Too many of us still struggle to understand the link between the alcohol we drink and the impact it is having on our daily lives – from poorer sleep and worsening mental health to long-term conditions. This is made harder by the myths and misinformation across health and lifestyle content, including alcohol. 

That’s why free, quick and easy interactive tools from trusted sources like this new Healthy Choices Quiz are an effective way to help more of us connect the dots between our lifestyles, including drinking habits, and our physical and mental health. Alcohol Change UK is proud to support the NHS and provide additional free, impartial tools and advice for anyone looking to change their relationship with alcohol.

Douglas Twenefour, Head of Clinical at Diabetes UK, said: 

Eating a healthy diet, moving more and cutting back on alcohol can lower a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It can also be really beneficial for people living with all types of diabetes – helping them reduce their risk of serious complications, such as heart attacks and strokes. 

The Healthy Choices Quiz gives people a clear snapshot of their mental and physical health, offering practical tips that can make a real difference to their overall wellbeing. 

Dell Stanford, senior dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, said: 

Making small changes to your diet can have a big impact on your heart health. Eating more fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and pulses while cutting back on foods high in salt, sugar and saturated fat is one of the most effective ways to protect your heart. 

Alongside this, being physically active and avoiding smoking are also important steps people can take to maintain good heart health. This quick, 5-minute quiz is a useful way for people to understand what changes could make the biggest difference for them. 

But individual action alone isn’t enough. We also need to create a healthier environment where nutritious, affordable options are the easiest choice for everyone. This includes making healthy food more accessible so improvements are within reach for all. 

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 20 October 2025.

Gemma Aldridge has accepted a direct ministerial appointment to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to undertake a short review of DHSC’s and NHS England’s media and digital work.

As the former editor of the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, she brings a wealth of journalistic experience and will work across DHSC and NHS England for 3 months. Gemma, previously a features editor and assistant editor at the titles, became editor at the 2 Sunday papers in April 2021 and left in 2024.

The review will focus on effective communication of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan and comes ahead of future plans to integrate the 2 organisations.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 18 October 2025.

Government to launch a consultation in 2026 on Liberty Protection Safeguards to improve safeguarding for vulnerable people.

• Protections for people lacking mental capacity to be strengthened through major changes planned by the government to improve safeguarding
• Changes expected to address deep-rooted issues within the system by reducing the need for intrusive processes, providing better support for families, carers and health professionals
• Comes as Supreme Court reviews what counts as a deprivation of liberty in a case put forward by Northern Ireland

Vulnerable people lacking the mental capacity to make decisions about their care are expected to benefit from major changes to safeguarding and protections, following a consultation announced by the government today.

The proposed Liberty Protection Safeguards aim to deliver improved protection and an easier and improved system to allow carers, psychologists, social workers and families to provide care to vulnerable people in circumstances that amount to a deprivation of liberty.

The current Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards system is bureaucratic and complex, leading to poor understanding and application of the law by professionals, unacceptable distress for families and a backlog of 123,790 individuals, putting pressure on the social care system.

The implementation of these new safeguards is expected to streamline processes and reduce the backlog of applications – focusing on those most vulnerable.

A consultation on the Liberty Protection Safeguards will be launched in the first half of next year, seeking the views of those affected such as families, carers and practitioners including social workers, nurses, psychologists and occupational therapists. It will be jointly run by the Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Justice.

This delivers on calls from organisations including the Care Quality Commission, Mencap and Mind for the implementation of new Liberty Protection Safeguards to replace the outdated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

For example, under the current system:

1. A lady in the advanced stages of dementia, who for over 3 years has had no concept of place, person or time and cannot walk, talk or chew, is required to have an assessment every year.
2. The assessment involves a GP, social worker, care home staff, admin staff and her advocate, and results in a long report to determine whether she should be deprived of her liberty and if the care home is the best place for her.
3. Part of this assessment includes a GP visit. The GP asks her a string of questions, despite this vulnerable individual having no indication of understanding or even awareness of anyone being there and cannot give any response.
4. This repetitive process is distressing for her family to witness every year and to be told they are depriving their loved one of liberty. Many other people have conditions like this which are unchanging.

Liberty Protection Safeguards will allow for existing assessments to be reused, or for assessments to last for longer than one year. This will reduce the need for intrusive processes, which can be harmful or distressing for individuals and their families, and will allow for better focus on people who most need support and protection.

Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock said: 

Safeguarding the vulnerable and protecting their rights is the absolute priority of this government. This is about fixing a broken system by hearing directly from those with lived experience and their families.

There is currently a shameful backlog in the system of unprocessed cases under the current system, which means that people’s rights are not being protected. At the same time, we know that many people in the system and their families find these intrusive assessments distressing.

This is about ensuring we are fully focused on the most vulnerable people in our society and their families – understanding their needs, ending the maze of referrals and paperwork, and delivering the best protections and safeguards possible.

A 2014 Supreme Court ruling, known as Cheshire West, established an ‘acid test’ which broadened the definition of what it means to be ‘deprived of liberty’ and led to an increase of 300,000 referrals between 2013 to 2014 and 2023 to 2024 – in addition to a backlog of 125,000 cases.

Each case represents an extremely vulnerable person who needs comprehensive care and support and does not have the mental capacity to make decisions about their care alone.

In August, Northern Ireland put forward a challenge to the Supreme Court about the Cheshire West ‘acid test’ and what is considered a ‘deprivation of liberty’. This is a challenge to the current Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, with any ruling having a UK-wide impact.

The UK government has been granted permission by the Supreme Court to intervene in this case – as it recognises the issue within the current system and sought to be part of this vital conversation and put forward a UK-wide solution.

The responses from this consultation will be used to inform a final Mental Capacity Act (2005) Code of Practice, which will be laid in Parliament.

The revised code of practice will incorporate changes in case law, legislation, organisational structures, terminology and good practice since 2007, addressing critical challenges in the existing Deprivations of Liberty Safeguards framework. 

The last time the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice and Liberty Protection Safeguards were consulted on was in 2022, which did not lead to any changes.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 October 2025.

Settlement provides £26 million annually offering crucial financial certainty for services supporting seriously ill children and families.

• Children’s and young people’s hospices will receive £80 million over 3 years
• Multi-year settlement provides certainty for vital services providing support for seriously ill children and families
• Funding will ensure thousands of children can continue to receive compassionate care and support

Children’s and young people’s hospices in England will receive almost £80 million in funding over 3 years, ensuring these services can continue supporting families during the most challenging times.

The multi-year revenue funding builds on the government’s £100 million investment in hospices – the largest in a generation – and will allow compassionate care to continue to be provided for thousands of children and their loved ones across the country.

This funding will be adjusted for inflation and distributed through local integrated care boards (ICBs), on behalf of NHS England.

Around 99,000 children across the UK are living with life-limiting conditions – such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, brain or spinal injuries – a number that has tripled in the last 20 years. Hospices provide care, support and wraparound services for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

This commitment for the remainder of this Parliament gives children’s hospices certainty so they can plan ahead and continue to deliver high-quality, compassionate care to children with life-limiting conditions and their families during some of the most challenging times in their lives.

As part of the 10 Year Health Plan, the government will shift more care out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive more personalised care in the most appropriate setting. The palliative and end-of-life care sector, including hospices, will have a big role to play in that shift.

Minister Kinnock yesterday (15 October 2025) visited Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Barnet, London where he met children, families and staff. Noah’s Ark has received £882,000 from this year’s (2025 to 2026) £26 million allocation for children’s and young people’s hospices. Individual hospice allocations for the next 3 years will be published in due course.

Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, said:

Children’s hospices provide invaluable support to children, families and loved ones facing unimaginable challenges.

Through this funding, we are making sure hospices can continue delivering invaluable, compassionate and high-quality care to children and their families – and ending the cliff edge of short-sighted, annual funding cycles – providing certainty for children’s hospices, but crucially for those they care for.

Having witnessed first hand the extraordinary impact of Noah’s Ark, I am determined that children receive the excellent, wraparound care they deserve.

The revenue funding will be adjusted for inflation and distributed via ICBs, on behalf of NHS England. It is intended to be spent by hospices to provide high-quality care and support for the children and families they care for, either in the hospice or in the community, including in children’s homes.

They could use this funding to provide respite care for children who have high health needs, physiotherapy or occupational therapy, or 24/7 nursing support for a child at the end of their life.

Distributing funding through ICBs will help ensure there is a more consistent national approach, helping to end the postcode lottery of funding for palliative care services and meeting the needs of local populations across the country.

Nick Carroll, Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives, said:

I warmly welcome this news and thank ministers for listening to families of seriously ill children and those who provide them with the children’s hospice services they rely on.

Children’s hospices are amazing and create precious moments of joy for seriously ill children and their families. As demand for this lifeline care grows in both volume and complexity, children’s hospices are providing more support than ever before.

Maintaining and increasing this funding over 3 years will help to bring some clarity and reassurance to children’s hospices, helping them to plan and deliver care over a longer period. Above all, it will help ensure seriously ill children and their families can continue to access vital hospice care beyond 2025 to 2026.

I look forward to continuing to work with ministers to make sure children’s hospices are in a position to play a full role in realising the shifts in healthcare set out in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan. Together, it’s vital that we shape a palliative care delivery plan which means seriously ill children can access high-quality, sustainable support in hospital, in the community and in children’s hospices.

Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK, said:

This is a welcome and significant first step to placing the children’s hospice sector on a sustainable footing. The stability provided by a multi-year settlement will have a real impact on the care children’s hospices provide and the families they support.

We look forward to working with the government on long-term reforms which are essential to safeguarding all hospice services and ensuring they can play their role in the shift towards more care delivered in the community.

Sophie Andrews OBE, CEO of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, said:

We were delighted to welcome Minister Kinnock to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice and meet a family who receive our support and those who provide it. We welcome this announcement as a real step forward for children’s palliative care funding.

This funding will allow us to support more children and families in our catchment area, providing not only moments of normality but of magic and joy.

Background information

£26 million will be provided to children’s and young people’s hospices for financial years 2026 to 2027, 2027 to 2028, and 2028 to 2029. This will be adjusted for inflation.

The allocation of funding for individual hospices over these 3 years will be published in due course based on new prevalence data received by NHS England.

£26 million was also provided to children’s and young people’s hospices for financial year 2025 to 2026, of which £882,000 was allocated to Noah’s Ark hospice.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 October 2025.

The government has launched a new campaign to alert young people to the dangers of ketamine, counterfeit medicines and adulterated THC vapes.

• New campaign to alert young people to the dangers of ketamine, counterfeit medicines and adulterated THC vapes
• Ketamine use and drug poisonings highest on record with 8 times more people seeking treatment since 2015
• Government investing £310 million into drug treatment services alongside awareness campaign

Young people are being warned that they risk irreparable bladder damage, poisoning and even death if they take ketamine, synthetic opioids or deliberately contaminated THC vapes, as part of a new anti-drugs campaign.

Launching today (16 October 2025), the campaign, which includes online films, will target 16 to 24 years olds and social media users, following a worrying rise in the number of young people being harmed by drugs. There has been an eight-fold increase in the number of people requiring treatment for ketamine since 2015.

Supported by £310 million investment in drug treatment services, this initiative directly supports the government’s Plan for Change mission to create safer streets by reducing serious harm and protecting communities from emerging drug threats.

Health Minister Ashley Dalton said:

Young people don’t always realise the decision to take drugs such as ketamine can have profound effects. It can destroy your bladder and even end your life.

We’ve seen a worrying rise in people coming to harm from ketamine as well as deliberately contaminated THC vapes and synthetic opioids hidden in fake medicines bought online.

Prevention is at the heart of this government’s approach to tackling drugs and this campaign will ensure young people have the facts they need to make informed decisions about their health and safety, so they think twice about putting themselves in danger.

As part of the campaign, experts will highlight particular risks, including the:

• potentially irreparable damage ketamine can cause to your bladder
• dangers of counterfeit medicines containing deadly synthetic opioids purchased online
• risks from so-called ‘THC vapes’ that often contain dangerous synthetic cannabinoids like spice rather than THC

Resources will be available for schools, universities and local public health teams with content available on FRANK, the drug information website.

There are growing concerns about novel synthetic opioids, particularly nitazenes, which are increasingly appearing in counterfeit medicines sold through illegitimate online sources. Users purchasing these products are typically younger and more drug-naïve.

Reports of harms from THC vapes have also increased, with many products containing synthetic cannabinoids (commonly known as ‘spice’) that have higher potency and unpredictable effects.

Katy Porter, CEO, The Loop, said:

The Loop welcomes the further investment in evidence-based approaches and support to reduce drug-related harm.

Providing accurate, non-judgemental information equips and empowers people to make safer choices and can help reduce preventable harms.

Drug poisoning deaths reached 5,448 in England and Wales in 2023, the highest number since records began in 1993. The campaign emphasises that while complete safety requires avoiding drug use altogether, those who may still use substances should be aware of the risks and know how to access help and support.

The campaign underlines that ketamine’s medical applications do not make illicit use safe, with urologists increasingly concerned about young people presenting with severe bladder problems from recreational ketamine use.

Resources will be distributed to local public health teams, drug and alcohol treatment services, youth services, schools and universities. The campaign provides clear information on accessing help and support for those experiencing drug-related problems or mental health issues.

This year the Department of Health and Social Care is also providing £310 million in additional targeted grants to improve drug and alcohol treatment services and recovery support in England, including specialist services for children and young people.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 10 October 2025.

People with mental health issues to benefit from groundbreaking research, backed by £50 million in government funding.

• People with mental health issues to benefit from groundbreaking research, backed by £50 million in government funding, that could deliver more effective treatments
• Poor mental health affects 1 in 4 people in England, and its impact costs the UK economy £300 billion a year
• The Mental Health Goals programme will attract industry partnerships and commercial clinical trials to the UK, supporting our £100 billion life sciences sector to grow and delivering on Plan for Change

People with experience of mental health problems will be brought into the heart of cutting edge research to develop more effective treatments, as part of up to £50 million funding being announced by the Government on Mental Health Day (Friday 10 October).

This crucial work will make sure that the latest innovations in mental healthcare truly focus on solving the problems that could meaningfully change their lives. This backing will supercharge the efforts of researchers who are bringing the best of British science to help people manage their illness and prevent issues from escalating, with measures also planned to improve access to the UK’s world-class medical research data and facilities.

Improving life for the millions of Britons living with mental health problems is one of the most pressing healthcare challenges facing the UK today. Poor mental health affects 1 in 4 people in England alone, and is the UK’s single biggest driver of disability, with enormous consequences on people’s quality of life.

Similarly, the economic impact is vast, with mental health problems costing the economy some £300 billion a year owing to unemployment, staff absence, and the costs of care. Improving this picture forms an important part of delivering the health and economic growth missions that are central to the Plan for Change.

The funding being announced today, on World Mental Health Day, will:

• Be used to set up a cohort of 20,000 volunteers, whose health data can be securely used for mental health research. This will provide a better, data-driven, understanding of how our biology links to our mental health.
• Enable the creation of an Industry Alliance Team: a new point of entry for innovators to get streamlined support to access to the UK’s high quality mental health research facilities, health data, as well as wider support in rapidly standing up clinical trials.
• Launch a pioneering new Lived Experience Industry Partnership, to ensure that people who have actually experienced mental health problems are at the heart of how research is prioritised and undertaken by industry – giving them an impactful voice in this important work, so that efforts truly focus on tackling problems that can meaningfully change their lives.

Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

Mental health problems blight the lives of millions of people across the country. This isn’t something we should just accept. Scientific research has led to breakthroughs that are changing the game for physical problems, like cancer, and heart disease. We should be every bit as ambitious for what science can do in tackling mental health challenges as well.

That is why this funding matters and what our Plan for Change delivers. By making the right resources readily accessible we can look to a future where mental health is tackled faster, more precisely, and more effectively.

Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said:

Too many people across Britain are struggling with poor mental health. It doesn’t have to be this way – and we’re determined to change it.

That’s why we are building an NHS fit for the future, including by investing £50 million to back research into breakthrough treatments that could transform millions of lives through effective mental health support, tailored to their needs.

We are also hiring 8,500 extra mental health workers, delivering more talking therapies and providing better access to help through the NHS App through our 10 Year Health Plan.

Co-Chair of the Mental Health Goals programme, Professor Kathryn Abel, said:

This programme goes far beyond funding research – it’s about creating a step change in the way we deliver innovation for improved mental health outcomes. Building the infrastructure and partnerships needed to make the UK the most attractive place in the world for mental health innovation is key for the investment needed for change. At its heart is a new kind of collaboration between people with lived experience and industry, built on mutual respect, aligned priorities and shared purpose. We cannot deliver meaningful progress without industry, and industry cannot succeed without listening to those most affected. This is how we change the system – together.

Co-Chair of the Mental Health Goals programme, Professor Husseini Manji, said:

With this landmark investment, we have the chance to do for mental health what has been done in other areas of medicine – turn cutting-edge science into real breakthroughs that change lives. By combining world-class research, powerful data, and the wisdom of lived experience, we will help develop novel therapies truly tailored to patients’ needs. By embedding lived experience at the heart of research, we will ensure that new therapies are designed not just to work in theory, but to make a real and lasting difference in people’s lives. Our goal is simple: to bring better care to everyone affected by mental health challenges.

Up to £50 million will be delivered over the next 5 years, under the Government’s Mental Health Goals programme, which was set up to speed up the pace at which new mental health medicines, technologies and therapies can be tested, proven, and then put to work. The Medical Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation, will deliver investments enhancing mental health research data and digital infrastructure.

A central part of the Mental Health Goals programme is ensuring people with lived experience of mental health problems have a genuinely meaningful voice as new treatments and therapies are worked on.

One example of what this can look like in practice is the work by DATAMIND, a mental health research hub funded principally by the Medical Research Council. DATAMIND worked with people with lived experience of mental health problems to produce a plain-English glossary of commonly-used mental health data science terms. This is a simple tool with powerful results: helping people to understand and have greater influence over how their health data is being used, building trust, and supporting them to engage confidently with research and trials in which they are participating to shape it for the better.

Major advances in genetics, neuroscience, imaging, and data science, as well emerging new digital technologies that could improve treatment, have immense potential to overhaul how we tackle mental health problems.

Bolstered by today’s investment, the Mental Health Goals programme will support researchers, the NHS and patients to work together to seize this opportunity. Efforts to improve the story on mental health underpin the wider work of the Life Sciences Sector Plan, to unleash life sciences as a force to better our health and wealth, and the 10 Year Health Plan, which is moving the health service from treatment to prevention.

Stakeholder support for the Mental Health Goals programme:

Rachel Hastings-Caplan, Clinical Research Policy Manager at Rethink Mental Illness, said:

We are delighted to see government investment to develop a new generation of effective mental health treatments. People living with severe mental illness often face limited treatment options and must rely on medications that, while lifesaving, can cause significant side effects. For too long there has been a need for greater investment in mental health research, coupled with improved research infrastructure within the NHS and the meaningful involvement of people with lived experience throughout the process. We are pleased that government is addressing these issues with this new initiative, which we hope will ensure mental health treatments that are effective and make a real difference in people’s lives.

Dr Vanessa Pinfold, co-founder and research director at The McPin Foundation said:

We welcome the ambition to put lived experience at the centre of this new investment in mental health research. Those with lived experience of mental health issues should always have a leading role in the design and delivery of this type of research, working as core partners and decision makers. Working with industry, trust needs to be developed carefully. Transparency must be built into the principle of all partnership working, and this level of resource and ambition demonstrates this will be possible. We hope that this investment is a commitment to long-lasting system change and better outcomes for those living with mental health issues.

Andrew Davies, Executive Director of Digital Health at the ABHI said:

Mental health remains one of the most significant societal challenges of our time, and we all have a responsibility to support better, more personalised and compassionate care. HealthTech has a vital role to play in this mission, from digital tools that enhance early diagnosis and treatment adherence, to technologies that enable continuous support and recovery. This investment represents an important step forward in harnessing the UK’s world-class research and innovation capabilities to deliver meaningful improvements for people living with mental health conditions.

 Miranda Wolpert, Director of Mental Health at Wellcome, said:

Mental health conditions affect so many of us, yet for too many, current treatments can fall short. This new investment is a vital step towards unlocking the untapped potential of science to deliver more effective and personalised approaches. Crucially, by bringing people with lived experience together with industry experts , this programme ensures that innovation is driven by the needs of those it aims to serve. It’s an exciting opportunity to reshape mental health care in ways that can make a real and lasting difference.