Tag: Department of Health and Social Care

The press release issued by the Department for Health and Social Care on 1 June 2026.

NHS Modernisation Bill will introduce the single patient record, resulting in safer, more co-ordinated care for patients.

• Single patient record will mean people don’t have to repeat their medical history to different NHS staff unnecessarily
• NHS Modernisation Bill will introduce reforms to support patients and ease burden on hospitals
• Expected to save NHS more than £20million a year by reducing medication errors, adverse drug reactions and duplicate prescribing

Up to 20,000 fewer patients will have to go to A&E and 6,000 fewer will be admitted to hospital each year thanks to reforms made possible by new legislation marking the next step in the government’s plan to make the NHS in England fit for the future.

The NHS Modernisation Bill, which will be debated in Parliament today (Monday 1 June), will introduce the single patient record, allowing fragmented health information to be joined up around the country for the first time ever.

The single patient record will mean all NHS providers – including hospitals and GPs – have to share data so the right doctors, nurses and specialists across England can securely see a patient’s medical history, no matter where they are treated.

For patients, this means they will not have to keep repeating their story unnecessarily. It will result in safer, more co-ordinated care, with clinicians having the full picture when and where it’s needed.

The record will support better care closer to home – joining up community services and helping people manage their conditions. It will reduce A&E attendances by allowing better community care for frailty patients and reducing misdiagnoses.

It will give clinicians across the country a complete view of patients’ medicines, allergies and prescribing history, allowing them to deliver safer treatment and saving the taxpayer more than £20 million per year in unnecessary medicines expenditure. It will also save doctors around 500,000 hours a year by having patient data available on the spot and reducing the amount of time spent searching for information and inputting data which they will be able to spend on treating patients instead of admin.

Patients will also have more control over their care, with clear safeguards, audit trails and choice over how their data is used.

James Murray, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said: 

When I was in my 20s I was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition. I am now symptom-free and I get fantastic support from the NHS. But I know how much effort it can be to keep different parts of the health service joined up, and how distressing it is for some patients to repeat their medical history over and over.

That’s why our Single Patient Record is so important. It sits at the heart of our NHS Modernisation Bill will end this once and for all – making care safer while saving clinicians’ time.

My priority as Health Secretary is to modernise the NHS and make it work better for patients. This is our 10 Year Health Plan in action — making the NHS fit for the future by building it around patients’ lives, not the other way round.

Dr Alec Price-Forbes, National Chief Clinical Information Officer at NHS England, said:

For too long, patient information has been held in silos, leading to patients having to repeat their stories, and creating workarounds, potential duplication or gaps in understanding for clinicians.

The Single Patient Record will give us an invaluable single point of truth for both the clinician and the patient and means higher quality, safer, more joined-up and more personalised care for patients.

Clinicians will get improved access to records as early as 2027 for specialties including maternity and frailty care.

At present, pregnant women are required to go through their entire medical history in a first appointment with a midwife, relying on memory. There can subsequently be gaps in information as women move through their pregnancy, and can be distressing for those who have suffered baby loss. The single patient record will stop this issue at source.

Dr Michael Cocker, consultant obstetrician at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said it will “set a new benchmark” for maternity care while Dr Maurice Cohen, consultant geriatrician at North Middlesex Hospital and clinical director at the London Frailty Network, said the single patient record would mean the NHS is “wrapping ourselves around the patient rather than the patient wrapping themselves around us”.

The Bill will also cut layers of bureaucracy so more time and money can be spent on frontline services by formally transferring NHS England’s functions into the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the wider system.

Local leaders have complained of ‘2 centres’, creating confusion and inertia, and – most importantly – diluting democratic accountability for the NHS.

Abolishing NHS England will reduce duplication and free up resources to be reinvested in the frontline, with less time spent on administration and more time focused on delivering care while putting patients’ voices at the heart of decision making.

The NHS Modernisation Bill second reading comes on the day the chair of NHS’s groundbreaking new online hospital trust has been named. NHS Online, which will provide virtual specialist care for patients through the NHS App and video consultations, has now been formally established as the Online NHS Trust with John Browett as the Chairman. 

Launching in 2027, NHS Online will be a new, optional online service allowing patients to digitally connect with clinicians across England. Doctors will be able to log in and help cut backlogs much more quickly and efficiently. It will deliver the equivalent of up to 8.5 million appointments and assessments in its first three years – four times more than an average trust – cutting waiting times for patients and improving lives by speeding up access to expert care. 

This is further evidence of the government’s efforts to digitise the health service and bring it into the 21st century.

These developments follow the government hitting its interim target to cut the huge backlogs it inherited. The overall waiting list is at its lowest level in three and a half years, and that in March this year the waiting list fell by 110,000 – the largest improvement in performance for a single month in 17 years. 

More care is now available on people’s high streets, with over 100 community diagnostic centres now open at evenings and weekends. The government has recruited an extra 2,000 GPs and almost 8,700 additional mental health workers. GP satisfaction rates are up from 60% in July 2024 to 75% in March 2026, and online booking requests are now available for GP appointments to help end the 8am scramble. Ambulance response times for conditions like strokes and heart attacks are three minutes faster than last year, and NHS productivity is up 2.8%.

Dr Deb Gompertz, Honorary Secretary and Vice President for Policy at the British Geriatrics Society, said:

Older people are among the highest users of NHS services, often receiving care from multiple teams across hospitals, community services and primary care. Better sharing of information has the potential to improve continuity of care and reduce the burden on patients and carers having to repeat their history.

It supports safer, more joined-up, person-centred care for older people who often live with multiple long-term conditions, including frailty and dementia. 

The British Geriatrics Society welcomes steps to improve access to timely clinical information across the NHS, particularly where this helps clinicians make informed decisions and supports older people to remain independent for longer.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 29 May 2026.

Patients to benefit from more services and treatments from their community pharmacy, as part of new deal.

• Patients will see quicker access to treatments at their local pharmacy, avoiding GP referrals under new agreement 
• Government to roll out NHS-funded Independent Prescribing, bringing more care closer to home, as part of £340 million deal 
• Qualified pharmacists will deliver more NHS care on the high street, expanding successful Pharmacy

Patients across England will benefit from more services, treatments and better access to medicines from their local pharmacy under a new £340 million government-funded deal.

Under the new contractual framework, pharmacists who hold an Independent Prescribing qualification will be able to assess patients and prescribe medicines directly, building on the success of the Pharmacy First service. This delivers on-the-spot care for common conditions and gives patients access to a wider range of medicines.

The changes, which will be rolled out from Autumn 2026, will reduce the number of referrals back to GPs, boosting efficiency and improving both patient experience and outcomes. It will also lessen the burden on hospitals, as patients will be able to receive further treatment for common conditions from a qualified pharmacist in their community – avoiding the need to go to an urgent treatment centre or A&E.

Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock said: 

Through our landmark 10 Year Health Plan, we are making the most of our highly skilled pharmacists, while boosting access to services and giving patients more care right on their doorstep.

Independent Prescribing will play a major part in delivering this shift – easing pressures on GPs, cutting unnecessary red tape and helping patients get the right care closer to home.

Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England said:

Community pharmacies already play a vital role in delivering NHS care closer to home, and this agreement will make it easier for patients to get advice, treatment, and medicines through their local pharmacy.

Expanding independent prescribing will help make better use of the clinical expertise within our community pharmacy teams, helping patients get the right care in the right place while helping reducing pressure on other NHS services.

Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England, David Webb said: 

This is great news for patients that community pharmacists will for the first time be able to prescribe NHS medicines across a range of health conditions as a nationally commissioned service.

I want to thank everyone involved in making possible this huge step towards a more effective use of our highly trained workforce in community pharmacy. Community pharmacies will be enabled to play a more integrated role in neighbourhood health teams, digitally connected and helping people access the medicines they need when they need them.

Over 3.3 million Pharmacy First consultations were delivered between March 2025 to February 2026, an increase of 43% on the previous 12 months. Almost nine in ten (86%) people using the service reported a positive experience of visiting their pharmacy for support for one of the seven common conditions covered by the service.

The £340 million funding package and rollout of Independent Prescribing has been agreed with Community Pharmacy England. 

Today’s announcement follows record investment over the past 2 years and a raft of measures to deliver more services to patients, including: 

• making the ‘morning-after pill’ available free of charge at pharmacies on the NHS for the first time ever, ending the postcode lottery women face in accessing the medicine and reducing inequalities 
• offering patients suffering depression convenient support at pharmacies when they are prescribed antidepressants, to boost mental health support in the community 
• cutting red tape and bureaucracy to give patients easier access to consultations, with more of the pharmacy team able to deliver a wider number of services such as medicines and prescriptions advice, Pharmacy First consultations for minor conditions, and carrying out blood pressure checks 
• boosting financial incentives for pharmacists to identify patients with undiagnosed high blood pressure. 
• boosting funding for medicine supply so patients have better access to the medicines prescribed for them.  

Janet Morrison OBE, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy England, said:  

We welcome the agreement reached for community pharmacies in 2026/27, which includes an important commitment to a programme of reform for the sector.  It also opens the door to pharmacist prescribing – a first step towards making fuller use of their clinical expertise.

We hope these changes, accompanied by appropriate future investment, will help pharmacies to play an even greater role in supporting patients, improving access to care, and helping people get the advice and treatment they need in their communities.

Malcolm Harrison, Chief Executive, Company Chemists’ Association (CCA), said:

Today’s announcement recognises the longstanding and significant economic challenges facing the sector.

We welcome continued efforts to close the widely-acknowledged pharmacy funding gap.

Independent prescribing is a generational opportunity to expand the care that pharmacies can provide to patients. This announcement is the first step in realising this opportunity.

Under Pharmacy First, patients already have access to advice, over-the-counter treatments, and prescription only medicines under Patient Group Directions, which are the instructions for supplying or administering medicines. 

This includes a range of minor health conditions affecting the ears, nose, throat, eyes and skin, among others. It provides rapid access for patients on their high street whilst taking pressure off GPs. 

Community Pharmacies are crucial to the 10 Year Health Plan and shifting care out of hospital and into the community, as part of Neighbourhood Health Services. 

Independent Prescribing will be rolled out nationally from Autumn 2026.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 28 May 2026.

Thousands of patients with painful joint and muscle conditions will receive employment support and treatment to tackle health-related economic inactivity.

• £3.2 million government investment to expand NHS programme that cut musculoskeletal (MSK) waiting lists by 20%
• England-wide rollout to drive improvements across the country and increase access to care
• Funding to ensure patients are offered employment support alongside treatment, tackling one of the UK’s leading causes of health-related economic inactivity

Thousands of people living with conditions like arthritis and back pain will receive faster care and help to get back to work thanks to the national rollout of a government pilot scheme.

Backed by more than £3 million of government funding, the expansion of NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) MSK Community Delivery Programme builds on a successful pilot, which cut 18-week waiting lists by 20% across 17 areas between December 2024 and March 2025.

The new funding will support MSK community appointment days – innovative one-day clinics that bring health specialists and mental health support and physical activity services together, allowing people to engage with multiple services in one visit. 

It will also support ‘super clinics’, which rapidly increase clinical capacity and provide one-to-one, in-depth clinical diagnostics and targeted treatments.

Funding will also be directed at areas with the greatest need to remove the current postcode lottery and improve local services where the need is greatest.

Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Sharon Hodgson, said:

I’m delighted to announce the national rollout of such a successful scheme, which will help address the unacceptably long waits for painful MSK conditions.

Patients are suffering, and so is the economy, which is why this government is taking a new approach to cutting waiting lists while supporting patients back into employment.

The NHS should drive economic growth, and by getting people with painful MSK conditions the care they need faster, they stand a better chance of getting a job and back to normal life.

The rollout will address the long waiting lists for community MSK care that this government inherited.

The scheme brings together health specialists, employment advisers and wider support services so patients can access everything they need in a single visit, rather than being forced to get support in different settings – often while dealing with excruciating pain.

MSK conditions affect nearly 18 million people in England and are among the leading causes of health-related economic inactivity in the UK, accounting for 100,000 people currently signed off work. More than half a million people who are currently economically inactive for health reasons report an MSK condition.

Crucially, the programme places a strong emphasis on helping people get back to work. The expansion will ensure that access to work and health support is woven into community MSK care as standard – not treated as an afterthought.

This supports the government’s efforts to boost economic activity.

Minister for Employment, Dame Diana Johnson MP, said:

No one should feel locked out of work because of a painful joint or muscle condition, and this investment will make a real difference to hundreds of thousands of people across England.

By ensuring MSK services direct people to employment support, we are making it easier for people to get well and get back to work, and the pilot results show this approach works.

Giving people the support they need to get into good, secure jobs is better for people who want to work, for business, and our economy – so that’s what this government is delivering.

The pilot, which began supporting 17 NHS areas in December 2024, demonstrated that faster, smarter, more effective community MSK care is achievable.

By working with health system leaders to use data, benchmark performance and trial new ways of working, participating areas saw long waits fall rapidly and significantly.

Innovative approaches tested during the pilot included digital tools to help patients manage their conditions remotely.

The new investment will now bring this approach to every corner of England.

Clinical leads will be appointed across all health systems to drive best practice, standardise the quality of care, and ensure patients are routinely connected to employment support alongside their treatment.

Professor Tim Briggs, National Director for Clinical Improvement and Elective Recovery at NHS England and Chair of the GIRFT programme, said:

It’s hugely encouraging to see this transformative initiative now being expanded across every health system in England after seeing waiting lists fall by 20% across 17 pilot areas in just a few months.

MSK conditions are one of the biggest drivers of sickness absence and economic inactivity, affecting around 17 million people nationwide. This rollout will help many more patients get faster access to high-quality care closer to home.

By bringing together clinical care, employment support and wider community services under one roof, the GIRFT programme is transforming how the NHS supports people – helping patients not only recover more quickly, but return to work, independence and everyday life.

Sue Hayward-Giles, Assistant Director of Practice and Development at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, said: 

We welcome this much-needed focus on MSK issues, which have often been overlooked in the past. 

Faster access to the expert assessment, diagnosis and treatment that physiotherapists and other key professionals provide will reduce waiting lists and help keep people in work – or help them return quickly – while reducing the impact on other parts of the system. 

If successful, this initiative is good news for patients and the NHS, and represents a long overdue recognition of the critical importance of addressing MSK health.

The rollout is part of the government’s broader mission to:

• shift more NHS care out of hospitals and into communities
• reduce waiting lists
• help more people live healthier, more productive lives

It sits alongside a wider package of employment support for people with health conditions as the government works to tackle economic inactivity and get Britain working.

Fergal Monsell, President, British Orthopaedic Association, said:  

Improving access to high-quality care for patients with MSK health issues is key to enabling people to return to work, caring responsibilities and regaining their independence.

Patients must be seen by the right clinician in the right place with pathways facilitating care by orthopaedic surgeons, first contact practitioners and other MSK specialists in the most appropriate settings.

Deborah Alsina MBE, Chief Executive of Arthritis UK, said: 

Community MSK waiting lists are among the longest in the NHS, with people waiting far too long in pain for treatment. An injection of funding focused on reducing community waiting times is a welcome step forward for people living with arthritis and MSK conditions across England.

Access to timely, holistic treatment and care remains a barrier for many, negatively impacting their mental and physical health, their ability to work and to live their lives. Much of this care can and is being delivered in a community setting but we must do more to ensure equitable access.

We hope the announcement of clinical leadership in every local area will start to tackle the existing postcode lottery, but it is essential this is underpinned by a well-trained workforce and an ongoing commitment from government to meet the needs of people living with arthritis and MSK conditions.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 19 May 2026.

Michelle Welsh MP appointed as the government’s first Maternity Advisor.

Women and families failed by maternity services will be better heard and their experiences will drive lasting improvements to care, as Michelle Welsh MP has been appointed as the government’s first Maternity Advisor.

Welsh will work directly with families, the government, the NHS and key maternity organisations to push for better, safer care for mothers, babies and families.

She will meet regularly with ministers to share evidence and advice, and work with families and communities to bring a wide range of voices into the heart of the government’s action to improve maternity services. There will be a special focus on those from communities that face the greatest health inequalities.

Health and Social Care Secretary James Murray said:

Far too many women and families have been let down by maternity services, and that must change.

Michelle Welsh brings exactly the commitment and expertise this role demands, and I know she will be a powerful champion for the women and families.

Today marks a significant step forward in our determination to make maternity care safer for every mother and baby in England.

Michelle Welsh, MP and Maternity Advisor said:

I am honoured to have been appointed as the National Maternity Advisor to the Government.

This role is deeply personal to me. Like far too many women across this country, I know what it feels like to come through childbirth carrying both physical and emotional scars. That experience has strengthened my determination to fight for safer, more compassionate maternity care for every family.

As National Maternity Advisor, I will work tirelessly to drive forward meaningful reform focused on safer staffing, stronger accountability, listening to women, tackling inequalities and ensuring lessons are learned when failures happen.

This is about rebuilding trust and creating a maternity system that is not only safer, but kinder too.

Kate Brintworth, Chief Midwifery Officer for England, said:

I warmly welcome Michelle Welsh to this new role of Maternity Advisor and look forward to working together to improve maternity care across the country.

Michelle will be a fantastic advocate to ensure women’s experiences and voices are heard and help us continue to shine a light on and address the inequalities faced by mothers and babies from ethnic minorities.

Her appointment and the work of the taskforce will be vital to our drive to ensure that all women experience the best maternity care before, during and after their pregnancy.

Welsh brings both personal and professional experience to the role. As a harmed mother from Nottinghamshire, she has lived through the failures she is now fighting to fix.

As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Maternity, Welsh has also spoken to thousands of other women and families across the country about their experiences and has been a tireless advocate for making maternity services safer, particularly for Black, Asian and minority women who face the greatest inequalities in care.

Welsh was also the first elected member in Nottinghamshire to call for an independent review into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, in 2020.

Welsh will also sit as a member on the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce – set up to drive change in response to Baroness Amos’ independent investigation into maternity and neonatal care. Welsh will work closely with the Taskforce on the response and implementation of the actions from the investigation, expected in June.

Separately, the Taskforce has today published its Terms of Reference.

The Taskforce has two core jobs: developing a national action plan covering the full maternity journey, from pre-pregnancy through to postnatal and bereavement support, and holding the NHS to account for delivering real improvements for women, babies and families. A key focus will be closing the stark inequalities that mean Black and Asian women are significantly more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth than white women.

Families and those with lived experience remain at the heart of the Taskforce’s work. This includes membership of the Expert Reference Groups announced today, which bring together families, clinicians, charities and academics to directly inform its decisions.

This builds on significant action the government has already taken since July 2024, including investing £149 million in maternity and neonatal facilities, and expanding mental health services and baby loss support for families.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 15 May 2026.

Safer and faster care for patients as NHS set to introduce Single Patient Record and cut bureaucracy

• NHS Modernisation Bill will introduce two big changes – joining up health information and abolishing NHS England
• Single Patient Record will mean NHS staff can see a patient’s full medical history and patients won’t have to repeat their story unnecessarily
• Legislation will enable power and resources to be put in the hands of frontline NHS organisations by scrapping world’s largest quango

Patients will receive safer, quicker and more accurate healthcare thanks to new legislation marking the next step in the government’s modernisation agenda.

The NHS Modernisation Bill brought forward today [Thursday 14 May] will introduce the Single Patient Record, allowing fragmented health information to be joined up around the country, and will cut layers of bureaucracy so more time and money can be spent on frontline services.

The Single Patient Record will mean all NHS providers – including hospitals and GPs – will have to share data so the right doctors, nurses and specialists across England can securely see a patient’s full medical history – no matter where they are treated. Clinicians will benefit from improved access to records as early as 2027 for specialities including maternity and frailty care.

For patients, this means they won’t have to repeat their story unnecessarily. It will result in safer, more coordinated care, with clinicians having the full picture when and where it’s needed. It will support better care closer to home – joining up community services and helping people manage their conditions.

Patients will also have more control over their care and transparency, with clear safeguards, audit trails, and choice over how their data is used.

For clinicians it means no more working with missing information or having to check in multiple places to find the same data, while it will mean greater efficiency and fewer costly mistakes for the NHS as a whole.

The Bill will also formally transfer NHS England’s functions into DHSC and the wider system, ensuring the NHS is there for patients when they need it, a better place for staff to work and better value for taxpayers.

Health Minister, Karin Smyth said: 

The NHS Modernisation Bill paves the way for the Single Patient Record, enabling patients to have real control over their care through a single, secure and authoritative account of their data for the first time ever.

It will be a gamechanger that means NHS staff can see patients’ medical records, allowing them to deliver better care faster and more conveniently, and even saving lives.

We will also strip back bureaucracy by abolishing NHS England, empowering frontline staff as part of our 10 Year Health Plan.

Patient groups and organisations across the country have been calling for the kind of change the Single Patient Record will deliver for more than a decade with Dr Michael Cocker, consultant obstetrician at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, saying it will “set a new benchmark” for maternity care in the NHS. 

Currently women are required to go through their entire medical history in a first appointment with a midwife, which is reliant on memory and can create gaps in information as they move through their pregnancy. The Single Patient Record will stop this issue at source, meaning clinicians can “provide safe care and personalised care”, he said.

Dr Maurice Cohen, consultant geriatrician at North Middlesex Hospital and Clinical Director at the London Frailty Network, said the Single Patient Record would mean the NHS is “wrapping ourselves around the patient rather than the patient wrapping themselves around us”.

The Bill will enable information related to a patient’s health and care to be processed for the purposes of establishing and operating the Single Patient Record but will be robust to the threat of data breaches with public and healthcare professionals consulted throughout its design.

Dr Alec Price-Forbes, National Chief Clinical Information Officer at NHS England, said:

The Single Patient Record will revolutionise patient care – giving all health and care professionals across the country a detailed record of a patient’s care in one place.

For too long, patient information has been held in silos, leading to patients having to repeat their story multiple times in different care settings, creating the potential for duplication or gaps in understanding by those treating them – and understandable frustrations and a poor experience for patients.

The Single Patient Record will be available to all health and care staff in real time, meaning patients get higher quality, safer, joined-up and more personalised care.

Robust protections will be built in, including different levels of access to reflect different needs and clear audit trails – ensuring the public can trust that their data is always secure.

Alongside enabling the Single Patient Record, the Bill (formally called the Health Bill) will reduce bureaucracy by simplifying the NHS structure, including formally transferring NHS England’s functions into DHSC and out to the wider system. 

Local leaders have complained of “two centres”, creating confusion and inertia, and – most importantly – diluting democratic accountability for the NHS.

Abolishing NHS England will reduce duplication and free up resources to be reinvested in the frontline, with less time spent on administration, and more time focused on delivering care.

Alongside this, changes will be made to streamline and strengthen the patient safety landscape, embed patient voices at the heart of national and local decision making and empower Integrated Care Boards and Foundation Trusts to deliver for patients. 

These changes put patients back at the heart of our health system, with clarified roles for local leaders, and decision making devolved to a local level, so those who truly understand the needs of their communities are trusted to shape and integrate services more effectively. 

Jacob Lant, Chief Executive at National Voices, said: 

Creating a single patient record across the NHS could be a game changer for patient safety and experience. Done well, it should reduce the burden on people having to repeat their story, help clinicians access the information they need, and support patients to feel that the NHS knows who they are and what matters to them. 

This is a significant opportunity to make better use of existing patient data to support high-quality clinical research and improved service design. But any use of data beyond direct care must have clear safeguards, transparent rules on who can access information and why, and meaningful ways for people to exercise their rights.

It is therefore absolutely right that the creation of the single patient record is set out in the NHS Modernisation Bill, which means — unlike previous NHS data sharing plans — this move can be properly scrutinised by Parliament, providing the transparency and accountability needed to build public confidence and trust.

Dr Jeanette Dickson, Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges said:  

The Bill finally delivers the possibility of a joined-up, comprehensive single patient record which will not only improve patient safety but also patient experience by enabling clinicians to access patients’ records, wherever the patient is. No more repeating the same story every time you go to a hospital or GP and no need to repeat tests because the doctor ‘can’t see’ the result.  

An added bonus is the positive impact on doctors working lives, as well as more rapid patient flow through the system. The Bill rightly tries to make new technologies work for patients, but we must be sure this does not increase health inequalities by further excluding those who are digitally impoverished.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 15 May 2026.

New Mental Health strategy will transform care in England and drive shift from crisis intervention to preventative care.

• Call for Evidence launched during Mental Health Awareness Week to seek evidence of best practice in communities
• Part of 10 Year Health Plan commitment to give mental health the attention it deserves

Frontline workers, clinicians and mental health experts are today [Friday 15 May] being invited to share their views on how to transform mental health care for children and adults in England, as the government launches a Call for Evidence to shape its once-in-a-generation cross-government Mental Health Strategy.

The strategy will drive a fundamental shift towards prevention – treating people earlier and faster, and supporting those with mental health conditions to live a full life and stay active in education, work, family life and their communities.

Demand for mental health services has risen rapidly, particularly among children and young people, who often face long waiting times for the care they need. Around one in five people are now affected by a common mental health condition.

Improving mental health care is a priority in the government’s manifesto and 10 Year Health Plan and the government has hit its target to hire 8,500 extra mental health workers three years ahead of schedule. This year, NHS mental health spending is forecast to reach a record £16.1 billion – a real-terms increase of around £140 million on last year.

On top of this, we are making £473 million available over the next four years for Mental Health Emergency Departments, Community-based Mental Health Centres and wider capital projects, accelerating the rollout of Mental Health Support Teams in schools and colleges and expanding community‑based support via Early Support and Young Futures Hubs.

 But despite record investment and significant workforce growth, the current system remains reactive, fragmented and inconsistent. Support varies based on postcode, and too often people only get help when they reach crisis point. The Mental Health strategy will address this by setting new direction for the mental health system so that it responds earlier and more proportionately.

Baroness Merron, Minister for Mental Health, said:

This government believes that mental health should be treated with the same seriousness as physical health, yet too many people across the country are struggling to get the support they need, when they need it.

Alongside record investment in mental health services and more mental health workers than ever in the NHS, this strategy will give mental health the attention it deserves and set us on a new direction -one that focuses on earlier help, faster access and a whole-system approach.

We want to hear from everyone with a stake in getting this right, including frontline clinicians, service providers, and people with lived experience of mental health conditions, so that we can build a system that truly works for everyone.

Mark Winstanley, Chief Executive, Rethink Mental Illness UK, said:

We welcome this announcement as a significant step forward, particularly for people severely affected by mental illness who too often face the greatest barriers to support. Long waits for treatment, unsafe inpatient care and fragmented services remain a daily reality for many, and a long-term strategy creates the opportunity to change that.

What matters now is delivery. We need rapid improvements in access to timely, appropriate treatment, urgent action to ensure inpatient settings are safe and therapeutic, and support that is properly joined up across health, housing and community services. The social security system must also provide a fair and reliable foundation for people who are too unwell to work.

We stand ready to work with government to ensure this strategy delivers meaningful, measurable change for those who need it most.

Mark Rowland, Chief Executive at the Mental Health Foundation said:

This is a big moment for England’s mental health. For many years, we’ve been calling for a radical shift towards a cross-government approach with a focus on prevention, and we look forward to contributing to the plan’s success. 

Our nation’s mental health has gone downhill over recent decades due to things like the Covid-19 pandemic and the legacy of austerity. But change is possible, and we are pleased that the government is taking action.  

We will be advocating for the plan to be ambitious, evidence-led and with a real focus on those communities most at risk of poor mental health; and to address the social and economic factors that shape all our mental health.

The strategy will also look beyond clinical settings to consider the role of schools, workplaces, the voluntary sector and local government in promoting positive mental health, moving from a system that first and foremost seeks to diagnose patients, to one that asks what support people need to live better.

It will also respond to forthcoming recommendations from the independent review into mental health, ADHD and autism, chaired by eminent psychoanalyst and clinical psychologist Professor Peter Fonagy. The review is examining the drivers of increasing demand and how government, the health system and wider public services can meet that demand more fairly and effectively.

Autistic people and people with ADHD face a much higher risk of developing a mental health condition. The Strategy will reflect the mental health needs of these groups, while a dedicated cross-government autism strategy will also be developed and published in due course, and the government will engage with stakeholders to consider extending it to cover ADHD.

The Call for Evidence opens today and will remain open for eight weeks, closing on 10 July 2026.

Brian Dow, Chair, Head On, and Haroon Chowdry, Campaign Partner, Future Minds, two coalitions representing over 20 leading mental health organisations said:

This is a hugely important moment. Mental ill health affects millions of people and families across the UK, with as many as one in five young people facing poor mental health. A 10-year, cross-government strategy signals a shift that the mental health sector has been calling for, and rightly recognises that prevention, early intervention and crisis care must be part of a coherent whole.

75% of mental health problems are established by age 24. This strategy provides an opportunity to establish children and young people’s mental health as a national policy priority, reducing the treatment gap facing children and young people and ultimately bringing down mental health need by supporting children and young people earlier and better.   Our campaigns exist to raise mental health up the policy agenda, prioritise children’s mental health, and tackle the crisis head on. Together, we welcome this renewed focus from government and the opportunity to shape what that action looks like. To succeed, this must reach beyond the health system, addressing the social and economic conditions that shape mental health and delivering a genuinely joined-up plan across government.

James Harris, Director of Communications of Mental Health UK, said:

We strongly welcome the government’s commitment to a cross-government mental health strategy. Mental health is shaped at home, in schools, in workplaces and our communities, and policy must reflect this if we are to see lasting improvement.

The opportunity now is to ensure people have the tools, support and environments they need to maintain good mental health and get help early. That requires action across education, employment and public services, alongside sustained investment in evidence-based support. In particular, the strategy must help more people experiencing mental health problems to get into and stay in work, with employers properly supported to play their part.   A genuinely joined-up approach can make a real difference to people’s everyday lives.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 30 April 2026.

The Government has confirmed it will provide a grant for new electric ambulances to replace those destroyed in arson attack.

• Grant will enable Hatzola charity to buy four new electric ambulances
• Ambulance fleet will be permanent replacements for those destroyed in attack on 23 March and following the horrific antisemitic attack in Golders Green yesterday
• They will replace on-loan vehicles provided by the London Ambulance Service 

The government will provide a cash grant so that the Hatzola charity can buy top-of-the range electric ambulances replacing their fleet destroyed in an antisemitic arson attack.

New high-tech ambulances will be able to serve the local community which has been a victim of repeated appalling hate attacks in recent months and follows the latest utterly appalling stabbings in Golders Green yesterday.

Hatzola will be given a cash grant as soon as possible to permanently replace the four loaned to the Jewish charity by the London Ambulance Service.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

We have seen deplorable acts of evil against Golders Green’s Jewish Community which are part of a pattern of rising antisemitic attacks.

Jewish people should not have to live in fear of attack in Britain today or suffer any further than the appalling harm that has already been caused as a result. But simple words are not enough and we need to take action.

The provision of these ambulances will not stem the anguish Jewish people are feeling, but it is one way that this government can stand with its Jewish communities today.

Hatzola and its volunteers again showed they were the very best of us in the face of such hatred in their swift response to yesterday’s attacks. The new high tech fleet will allow Hatzola’s paramedics to continue their lifesaving work, as they continue to care for and support the wider community.

Every one of us must work to root out the hatred and antisemitism that is poisoning Britain. Only then will all of our Jewish community will be safe.

The direct grant from the Department for Health and Social care to cover the full costs of the four new electric ambulances – or whichever ambulances the charity decides would best meet their needs – will be processed as soon as possible.

The vehicles are lighter and include more accessible features for crews to care patients. This includes a powered trolley bed system, a powered carry chair and an integrated scanning system that scans the vehicle and informs the crews whether the ambulance is fully stocked after each patient they’ve treated.

The London Ambulance Service will continue its loan of replacement ambulances until the new ones are ready.

Jason Killens KAM, Chief Executive of London Ambulance Service, said:

We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community and with our ambulance colleagues at Hatzola during this difficult time.

We remain committed to supporting Hatzola through the loan of ambulances for as long as they are needed to help deliver emergency care and save lives.

We are proud to work alongside them in serving all of London’s communities.

The new ambulances add to the further £25 million being invested into increased police patrols and protective security to keep our Jewish communities safe.

It brings the total investment to £59 million this year – the largest investment a government has made in protecting Jewish communities in history.

The combined funding will help provide:

• Dedicated ambulances with the government, charities and communities working together
• Increasing police presence and patrols in Jewish communities;
• Protective security in synagogues, schools and community centres;

The government has also announced it will fast track legislation in the coming weeks to provide the powers to go after individuals and groups acting on behalf of state-sponsored organisations.

That means anyone acting as a proxy of a state-sponsored group can be investigated and prosecuted under the National Security Act – just as we would deal with foreign intelligence services.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 April 2026.

Government to back firefighters with tailor-made, research-backed health support during and after service.

• Government announces a Firefighters Concordat, focused on health and wellbeing and built in partnership with the profession – to drive improvements in prevention, early diagnosis and support
• Firefighters will receive consistent, regular health checks for every single firefighter in the country, recognising the unique risks they’re exposed to
• Government will back and fund research into the hazards they face to improve our physical and mental health support offer to all firefighters

Recognising the extraordinary bravery of firefighters, this government is backing them with tailor‑made, research‑backed health monitoring to better support their health and wellbeing during and after service.

The potential dangers associated with tackling burning buildings, mounting rescues and attending road traffic incidents are well documented, but there is little research in the UK into the long-term effects of working within the service.

Speaking at the Fire Brigades Union, Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting announced today (16 April 2026) that this government will establish a Firefighters Concordat on Health and Wellbeing – an agreement among key organisations to work together to improve firefighters’ health and wellbeing.

Rather than waiting until firefighters become ill, the government is committing to prevention first – this agreement aims to keep firefighters healthier for longer, reduce NHS costs and ensure the fire and rescue service can retain experienced, fit and skilled workers.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:

Firefighters run towards danger knowing full well the risks they face during an emergency, but we know very little about how the speed and courage of their work impacts their health.

That is because for too long their concerns have been ignored – but this new agreement promises to change things: to boost funding for research that is well overdue, and work in partnership with firefighters and their unions, alongside employers and fire chiefs, to better protect and support them in the long term.

We cannot continue to ask people to give everything in service of others and then fail them when they need help themselves.

Despite the unique hazards of their profession, the evidence base on firefighter health and wellbeing remains limited. That is why the government is directing new funding for research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to build the evidence base and better support understanding of how best to tackle firefighters’ health risks – from mental health to musculoskeletal health, and from cancer to cardiovascular disease.

There will be a specific focus on underrepresented groups in the profession, including women, who have too often had to do their jobs in kit and protective equipment that was not designed for them.

This agreement – a Firefighters Concordat on Health and Wellbeing – builds on commitments made in the 10 Year Health Plan, which will also raise awareness of the NHS services that could most benefit and support firefighters as well as better information on how they can access them at times that work best for them.

The agreement is part of our work with the Ministerial Advisory Group on Fire and Rescue Reform.

National Fire Chiefs Council Chair, Phil Garrigan, said:

Firefighter health and wellbeing is a long‑standing priority for the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), and we welcome continued recognition of the unique risks firefighters face through their work.

Firefighters’ work sees them encounter hazardous environments and harmful contaminants, often with long‑term consequences that may only become apparent years down the line. A shared, co-ordinated approach across employers, representative bodies, health services and partners is essential if those risks are to be understood, reduced and properly monitored.

We have been clear that prevention, early intervention and consistent standards are key. Work to strengthen contamination controls, improve facilities and enhance health monitoring must be informed by the best available evidence and applied consistently across all fire and rescue services.

Supporting further research and building a stronger evidence base will be vital to improving understanding of occupational risk and ensuring firefighters receive appropriate, timely support throughout their careers. NFCC will continue to work constructively with partners across the sector, including through the ministerial advisory group, to advance firefighter health and wellbeing.

Those who protect our communities deserve the highest possible standards of care and protection in return.

Significant progress has already been made to reduce risks on the job, including improvements to health and safety practices, protective equipment, breathing apparatus and decontamination standards.

But prevention must go further – supporting firefighters’ long-term health and wellbeing, including:

• cardiovascular health
• musculoskeletal conditions
• mental wellbeing
• awareness of cancer risks

The concordat will send a clear message that firefighter health matters, both during service and beyond. By setting out shared expectations, building on best practice and evidence, it will provide a mechanism for working in partnership to improve health and wellbeing outcomes.

Building on commitments in our 10 Year Health Plan, the agreement will raise awareness of the NHS services that could most benefit and support firefighters – like mental health support, cancer screening and musculoskeletal care – and how they can access them at times that work best for them. Firefighter occupation will be recorded in NHS records so doctors can make better-informed decisions.

Building Safety Minister, Samantha Dixon, said:

Behind every emergency response is a person who puts themselves in harm’s way to protect the lives of others time and time again. This partnership is our commitment to them.

It’s a serious, long-term promise to understand the risks they take and make sure every firefighter gets the health support they deserve – during their career and beyond.

I’ll be working closely with firefighters, unions, employers, chief fire officers and health partners to make that a reality.

Steve Wright, General Secretary, Fire Brigades Union, said:

The commitment from the Health Secretary to increase health monitoring for firefighters is a very welcome and important step forward.

It reflects the constructive work that has taken place between the union and government, and shows what can be achieved when firefighters’ voices are properly represented.

Our members put themselves in harm’s way to protect the public, often in extremely challenging and dangerous conditions. It is right that their health and safety is recognised and taken seriously.

Today’s commitment is an important milestone, and we are pleased to see this progress being made.

The Firefighters Concordat on Health and Wellbeing will be delivered through a working group established under the Ministerial Advisory Group on Fire and Rescue Reform, bringing together the government, fire and rescue services, employers and representative bodies to deliver a comprehensive programme of improvements, including working to establish monitoring to better assess firefighter health and better spot risks.