Tag: Department of Health and Social Care

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the Care Quality Commission, Mencap and Mind for the implementation of new Liberty Protection Safeguards to replace the outdated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.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.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 9 October 2025.

Review of GP funding formula expected to deliver fairer distribution of funding and address health inequalities.

• Major changes planned to boost support for communities across the country and tackle health inequalities
• Communities – including more deprived and coastal areas – expected to benefit from a fairer distribution of GP funding
• Comes as online GP appointment booking requests are now available, in move to end the 8am scramble

Communities across the country, including those in more deprived areas and coastal towns, are expected to benefit from a fairer distribution of GP funding as the government launches a review to tackle healthcare inequalities across the NHS today (9 October 2025).

The current formula for distributing GP funding, known as the Carr-Hill formula, is based on data that is around 25 years old in some cases. The formula uses expected workload of GP practices to determine distribution of funding for GP practices across England.

People in more deprived areas and coastal towns often have the highest needs for the NHS, but the fewest GPs, the worst-performing services and the longest waits.

Data shows that, on average, the GP practices that close for good are in areas with areas of higher deprivation (PDF, 1MB). The impact is inequality of access, with the GP patient survey showing that people living in the most deprived areas of the country find it the hardest to contact their GP over the phone, website or app. Nearly two-thirds of people in the most deprived areas reported a good experience when contacting their GP, compared with nearly three-quarters of those living in the least deprived.

For example, in London, there are 2,501 patients per GP compared to the south-west, where there are 1,967 patients per GP – meaning there are over 500 more patients per GP in the country’s capital – with the poorest areas of the city facing the widest disparities. This worsens health inequalities, with more people in these areas spending more of their lives in ill health and with a lower life expectancy as a result.

Analysis by the Nuffield Trust shows that practices in poorer areas employ fewer GPs, with a worse average patient experience and poorer Care Quality Commission Ratings.

Evidence from the Health Foundation also suggests that GP practices which serve more deprived areas of the country are receiving nearly 10% less funding per patient than practices in more affluent areas.

For example, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (ICB) calculated their funding requirements based on the needs of the local population – as opposed to workload – and found there was a vast disparity in the distribution in funding, with 1 in 5 practices receiving 10% too little or too much funding, and 1 in 15 practices facing an even bigger gap of 15%. The practices that had a shortfall were in the most deprived areas. Shortfalls in funding can lead to reduced services and inequality of access to primary care services. The ICB supported those areas with a shortfall by providing additional funding.

The Chief Medical Officer’s 2021 annual report on coastal communities noted that in Morecambe, over the last 20 years, it has been challenging to recruit and retain GPs and experienced practice nurses to tackle the significant health challenges and concluded that changes to the funding formulas could support deprived coastal areas, like Morecambe, with longstanding workforce recruitment difficulties.

The government has put general practice at the heart of the 10 Year Health Plan, as part of the major shift from hospital to community.

To deliver this shift the government has:

• invested an additional £1.1 billion in general practice
• funded 2 above-inflation pay increases
• recruited over 2,000 more GPs
• made online booking available to patients across the country

Ahead of his attendance at the Royal College of General Practitioners conference in Newport today, Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock said:

The way GP funding is allocated is outdated and no longer fit for purpose – with more deprived areas and coastal communities across the country experiencing the highest levels of inequality.

With GPs at the heart of our 10 Year Health Plan, it is vital that we don’t leave any community behind and that we end the postcode lottery of care.

As we invest in primary care, we must prioritise the areas and communities which have the most need to drive health improvements and close the gap on these health disparities.

Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS England National Director for Primary Care, said:

It is essential that GP practices serving our most deprived communities, where health challenges are often greatest, receive a fair share of resources that reflects their need.

By overhauling GP funding for the first time in 2 decades, the NHS can better help people to get the support they need as GPs and their teams deliver record numbers of appointments for their communities.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said:

A review of the funding formula for general practice is long overdue and something the college has called for, alongside an uplift in funding for general practice overall.

A patient’s postcode and where they live should not determine the level of NHS care they receive. It can’t be right that people in deprived communities – who often have more complex health needs and would therefore potentially benefit from health interventions most – are less likely to receive it, because GPs in deprived areas are responsible for hundreds more patients per head on average than those practising in more affluent areas.

We look forward to feeding into this review and working alongside the government to ensure that a new funding model works for practices, recognises and addresses health inequalities, and ensures that funding is directed towards the areas of greatest need.

Dr Duncan Gooch, GP and chair of the NHS Confederation’s Primary Care Network, said:

We welcome the government’s announcement to start the review of the Carr-Hill formula. It’s an important opportunity to ensure that funding for general practice truly reflects the needs of today’s patients and communities. The formula must take proper account of factors such as deprivation, population growth and the rising complexity of health needs – as well as the increasing workload facing practices.

If we want to tackle health inequalities and strengthen primary care at the heart of a neighbourhood health service, this review needs to deliver a fairer, more future-focused funding model.

Jacob Lant, CEO of National Voices, said:

Reviewing the Carr-Hill formula was one of our core asks of the 10 Year Health Plan, as it’s fundamental to the government realising its commitment to reduce health inequalities. It has long been hard to square that the most deprived communities receive the least GP funding and changing this formula is an important step to ensuring better and fairer access, a founding principle of the NHS.

The 6-month review will launch today and will be conducted by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

The review will:

• identify a new allocation formula
• assess the impact and feasibility of implementing it while ensuring it aligns to the government’s 10 Year Health Plan
• make an overall recommendation to replace the outdated Carr-Hill formula

GP practices in England are now required to keep online consultation tools open from 8am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday – freeing up phone lines and helping to end the 8am scramble.

The move will tackle health inequalities by supporting patients – no matter where they are – in being seen and treated quicker.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 8 October 2025.

The government has published a call for evidence to seek expert views on introducing new rules for retailers selling tobacco, vapes and nicotine products.

• Only shops with licences will be able to sell vapes, tobacco and nicotine products to protect children and clean up high streets as part of Plan for Change
• Call for evidence also seeks expert views on flavours, ingredients and appearance to tackle youth vaping
• Proposals will strengthen enforcement, support legitimate businesses and crack down on rogue retailers

Children will be better protected from the risks of vaping as part of government proposals to introduce new rules for retailers selling tobacco, vapes and nicotine products.

For the first time, shops would need a licence to sell these products – closing a major gap in the law. Currently, any business can sell tobacco or vapes without one. This has allowed rogue traders to sell illicit products on the high street, often targeted at children with cheap, colourful vapes in shops that sell sweets and toys.

The proposed new licensing scheme will root out rogue operators, give enforcement officers stronger powers to shut them down and protect legitimate retailers. 

It is part of a call for evidence published today that will help shape regulations as part of the landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will create a smoke-free generation and protect children and young people from a lifetime of addiction.

The government is also seeking views from experts on the flavours, nicotine strength, and appearance of vapes as part of a series of measures to tackle youth vaping. 

Health Minister, Stephen Kinnock, said: 

We aim to close a major gap in the law – making it necessary for shops to hold a licence to sell tobacco, vapes and nicotine products. 

Our new proposals will better protect children by rooting out the rogue retailers blighting our high streets and help adults know which shops are selling legitimate products. 

We want expert views on how we can develop the strongest possible regulations to protect our children as part of our Plan for Change, while ensuring adult smokers can still use vapes to quit smoking.

Only responsible businesses will be allowed to sell tobacco, vapes and nicotine products under the proposals. Those caught breaking the rules face unlimited fines or on-the-spot penalties of £2,500. 

In addition to licensing, the government’s call for evidence is seeking views from retailers, manufacturers, public health experts, charities, academics and health professionals, as well as members of the public on:

• flavours and ingredients – to better understand the ingredients, which substances should be allowed in vapes and nicotine products, and what risks their emissions may pose as well as understanding where efforts to control flavours have been successful 
• nicotine strength – to better understand safe levels for vapes and nicotine pouches so products do not deliver dangerously high doses
• design and appearance – the size, shape and features of vapes and tobacco-related devices, including whether devices with digital screens should be restricted
• industry compliance – introducing a new registration system for every tobacco, vape or nicotine product sold in the country. This would help to stop unsafe or misleading products onto the market and give both consumers and retailers greater confidence in what is being sold

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament, will also ban the advertising and sponsorship of vaping and nicotine products, and provide powers for regulating flavours, packaging, and how and where vapes and nicotine products are displayed in shops. 

A separate consultation on introducing smoke-free and vape-free places, restrictions on vape packaging and changing how and where they are displayed in shops, will follow next year. 

Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said:

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is a world leading piece of legislation with the potential to dramatically change how tobacco and vapes are sold – bringing in a smoke-free generation, taking us closer to a smoke-free country and protecting children from vaping.

Ensuring the regulations are shaped by the best available evidence is vital to ensure the bill has its intended impact.

Research from King’s College London and University College London strongly suggests that selling vapes in plain packaging could reduce the number of children taking up vaping while still providing a useful tool for adults to quit smoking. 

It found 53% of children aged 11 to 18 surveyed felt their peers would be interested in trying vapes when shown branded packaging and flavours but this dropped to 38% with plain packaging and descriptions of flavours. Among adults the interest remained similar. 

While vaping is less harmful than smoking and can be an effective quit aid for adult smokers, children and adult non-smokers should never vape.

Background information 

This call for evidence will inform secondary legislation supporting the landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will create a smoke-free generation by preventing anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 from being sold tobacco products. The bill is at committee stage in the House of Lords. 

Under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill proposals, retailers selling without a licence in England and Wales could face unlimited fines in court or fixed penalties of £2,500, while in Northern Ireland, courts will be able to impose fines of up to £5,000. 

Retail licensing of tobacco is a popular intervention with retailers and the public. A 2023 ASH report on public support for government action on tobacco showed that 83% of the public support tobacco retail licensing. 

The detail of the topics captured in the call for evidence, including the licensing scheme, will be subject to a future consultation. 

Many of the ingredients in e-liquids and nicotine products were originally developed for ingestion, not inhalation after heating or absorption. Furthermore, the law currently allows for a wide variety of shapes, sizes and features among vapes. For example, some vapes can have digital screens, or can look like stationery. We are seeking evidence on where regulation and further restrictions may be necessary.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 7 October 2025.

The time it takes to approve clinical trials in the UK has been cut by more than half – from an average of 91 days to just 41 days – following major reforms backed by new digital platforms at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), new research confirms.

This means patients can safely access promising new treatments – from cancer therapies to rare disease studies – several weeks sooner than before.

The progress helps support the Prime Minster’s ambition to turbocharge clinical research, to fast-track clinical trials and reduce set-up time to less than 150 days by March 2026.

Findings published this week (6 October) in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (BJCP), show the reforms are delivering consistently strong results, with 99 per cent of applications reviewed within statutory timelines, and most completed well ahead of target.

The study is the first comprehensive review of the MHRA’s new way of reviewing trials based on their level of risk, introduced in 2023, showing how it speeds up review timelines while protecting patient safety.

A fast-track route allows some lower-risk studies to be approved in just 14 days. For example, under the 14-day notification scheme, a haemophilia A trial was able to begin several weeks earlier than expected, giving patients with this serious bleeding disorder faster access to potentially life-changing therapy.

Building on this, artificial intelligence (AI) is now being introduced to further support assessors – helping review complex data and improve consistency – while final decisions continue to rest with experienced assessors to ensure patient safety.

The reforms also support wider Government efforts to modernise the UK’s research landscape through the 10 Year Health Plan – streamlining trial setup by slashing red tape, simplifying paperwork and introducing a national standardised contract to remove months of delay.

Millions of people will also be able to search for and sign up to lifechanging clinical trials, via the NIHR Be Part of Research service on the NHS App, allowing patients to browse and find the trials best suited to their interests and needs.

Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said:

“We are halving approval times and streamlining processes, so NHS patients are at the front of the queue and receiving life-changing treatments faster than ever before.

“As we shift from analogue to digital, we are harnessing AI alongside cutting red tape and reforming bureaucratic processes so patients can receive medicines in just 41 days instead of 91.

“We are getting on with modernising our NHS for patients and making it fit for the future – because when someone is fighting for their health, every day matters.”

MHRA Chief Executive Lawrence Tallon said:

“These reforms put patients first, helping them access innovative treatments sooner while maintaining the highest safety standards. They also give researchers and global companies the certainty they need to plan and invest here in the UK. By more than halving approval times through digital tools with proportionate oversight that prioritises patient safety, we are increasing the efficiency and attractiveness of the UK’s clinical trial ecosystem and reinforcing our global reputation as a leading destination for cutting-edge research.”

How digital reforms are transforming clinical trial approvals

AI is helping support clinical trial assessors, scanning thousands of pages of data to flag potential issues for human review. Two new bespoke MHRA AI tools are taking this further. The Knowledge Hub helps assessors spot common issues seen in past applications, so they can give trial sponsors clearer, higher-quality advice from the start – helping well-designed trials get underway sooner. The Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Compliance Checker verifies manufacturing documents in seconds instead of hours, freeing up experts to focus on complex safety assessments.

Meanwhile, digital dashboards provide real-time visibility of all active applications in the UK’s trial portfolio, helping the MHRA track performance and deliver more predictable timelines.

The MHRA’s Combined Review process with the Health Research Authority runs ethical and regulatory assessments in parallel, cutting duplication for researchers and industry, offering a single, streamlined route into the UK system.

Together, these tools mean the UK can maintain rigorous safety standards and handle increasingly complex studies, such as advanced cell and gene therapies or personalised treatments, without slowing down.

Proven results of a risk-proportionate approach

The BJCP analysis conducted by the MHRA in collaboration with the University of Liverpool, reviewed more than 4,600 clinical trials initial applications and amendments in the first year of the MHRA’s risk-proportionate approach, launched with patient input in August 2023. Almost all initial applications (99 per cent) were completed within the statutory 30-day timeframe, and 99.9% of amendments within 35 days – with many decisions delivered well ahead of target.

Professor Andrea Manfrin, MHRA Deputy Director, Clinical Investigations and Trials, and lead author of the study, said:

“The data confirms that our new approach is delivering for both patients and researchers, to create a system that is safe, faster, fairer and more predictable. Digital innovation and risk-proportionate oversight mean lower-risk studies can move ahead without unnecessary delay, while higher-risk trials still receive the detailed expert review they require. Researchers can know they’re in good hands, with a regulator ready to support complex, next-generation therapies – and patients can be confident that safety always comes first.”

Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, co-author of the study at the University of Liverpool, said:

“The data on the risk proportionate approach are impressive showing that 99% of clinical trial applications are being completed within the statutory timelines. This is excellent news for trialists and for patients getting access to innovative medicines. It is always going to be important to continually review how well the system is working, ensuring that patient safety is the foremost priority in the assessment of the clinical trial applications.”

Building on success

The reforms deliver on government commitments in the 10 Year Health Plan for England and Life Sciences Sector Plan, and support the Prime Minister’s pledge to turbocharge clinical research and cut clinical trial set-up times to just 150 days.

The MHRA is now building on this progress. Its first nationwide study of the UK clinical trial landscape also highlighted opportunities to improve diversity in research, address under-represented conditions, and attract greater international investment.

New legislation coming into force in April 2026 will embed these reforms further. All UK clinical trials will be required to publicly register and publish their results, including easy-to-read summaries for participants. This means for the first time patients will be able to see, in plain language, what a study found – a move that could help strengthen trust in science and encourage more people to take part in research.

The legislation will also give sponsors more flexibility, by extending the deadline to respond to regulator feedback from 14 to 60 days – helping align with international trial timelines.

Together, these changes position the UK as a global leader in clinical research – offering speed, certainty and innovation while maintaining rigorous standards that protect patients and build public confidence in medical research.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 6 October 2025.

• Matthew Hood OBE has accepted a direct ministerial appointment to the Department of Health and Social Care
• Matthew will work closely with Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, and be focused on delivery of the government’s priorities and the work of the department’s delivery unit during this period of reform

The Secretary of State has made clear his plan for delivery during a period of reform and transformation of the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England. Matt will work with the department’s delivery unit to help ensure that the government and department deliver on their commitments, co-ordinate across the health and care system and provide advice on emerging challenges.

Matthew is the former chief executive and co-founder of Oak National Academy. He has held senior roles in public service delivery and brings direct experience of leading organisations during periods of significant change.

The appointment is a paid role, which began on 17 September 2025.

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

From today, patients will be able to request appointments online throughout the day rather than calling their surgery or visiting in person.

• Phone lines unclogged as all GP practices in England now required to keep online consultation tools open from 8am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday
• Move takes best of the NHS to rest of the NHS – with one surgery already cutting waits from 14 to 3 days and most patients seen within one week
• Comes alongside an extra £1.1 billion funding for general practice and over 2,000 more GPs hired

GP phone lines across the country will be freed up as practices are now required to keep their online consultation tools running throughout the day, in a major step towards the government’s ambition of ending the 8am scramble.

From today (1 October 2025), patients will be able to request appointments, ask questions and describe symptoms online throughout the day rather than calling their surgery or visiting in person. This will help free up practice phone lines for those who need them most, and make it more convenient to access appointments.

Online access is not consistent across the country and is especially difficult in overlooked areas. Some GP practices turn online requests off when they reach a certain number, while others only have the online function available for a few hours a day. When patients can’t get through on the phone, 6.6% end up in A&E, which is worse for them and more expensive for the taxpayer. By fixing the front door of the NHS, these reforms will help to ease pressures on other parts of the health service.

Care Minister Stephen Kinnock said:

We promised to tackle the 8am scramble and make it easier for patients to access their GP practice – and through our Plan for Change, that’s exactly what we’re delivering.

We are bringing our analogue health service into the digital era, giving patients greater choice and convenience. We’ve learned from GPs who are already offering this service and reaping the rewards.

We’ve invested an extra £1.1 billion in general practice – the biggest increase in over a decade – and hired an extra 2,000 GPs across England. There’s more to do, but this government is fixing the front door to the NHS.

This change was agreed with the BMA back in April, as part of the reforms the government made to the GP contract.

To ensure all GPs provide this service and meet demand, the government is providing unprecedented support for general practice and shifting care and vital resources to the community. This includes investing an additional £1.1 billion in general practice – the biggest increase in over a decade – and hiring an extra 2,000 GPs since July 2024. This has led to 5 million more appointments being delivered this year compared to last, with latest ONS data showing 3 in 4 patients now find it easy to contact their practice.

The new requirement for online access represents best practice that some GP practices across England have already adopted successfully. Evidence shows that where practices have moved to this ‘modern general practice’ approach, both staff and patients report improved service quality.

One London GP surgery that adopted this approach to online requests reduced waits from 14 days to just 3, with 95% of patients seen within a week.

Online patient submissions have grown significantly, with almost 6 million submissions in July 2025 compared to 3.4 million in July 2024, demonstrating growing patient preference for digital access options that fit around their daily lives.

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

Improving access to general practice is a top priority for the NHS and while latest data shows a record 3 in 4 people found it easy to contact their GP, there is much more to do – which is why requiring all practices to keep their online consultation tools open during core hours is so vital.  

This step will help modernise general practice by making online access as easy as calling or walking in to your practice, ensuring the phone lines are available for those who need them most and making it easier for practices to triage patients based on clinical need.

NHS England has provided extensive support to help practices implement the changes, including a peer support programme and case studies from practices already offering online access throughout core hours.

Practices are now also required to publish a new patient charter dubbed ‘You and Your GP’ on their websites – informing patients what they can expect from their practice and how to give feedback or raise concerns. Practices are now required to have clear processes in place to receive patient feedback or concerns so they can be swiftly addressed.

Jacob Lant, Chief Executive of National Voices, said:

Online booking systems are a fundamental building block of a 21st century NHS, but until now implementation has been frustratingly patchy.

The best GP practices have shown what’s possible. Through this announcement the government, in keeping with the founding principles of the NHS, is rightly making this offer universal.

It is true that primary care is under immense pressure, but the answer to managing demand has to be in using these digital systems more effectively.

Dr Duncan Gooch, GP and chair of the Primary Care Network at the NHS Confederation said:

We know that access to GP services has consistently topped the public’s priorities. The ‘8am GP scramble’ is one of the most frustrating issues for the public when trying to book an appointment, and for practices – resulting in a strain on primary care. Providing patients with a range of routes to access their practice – such as by telephone, online or walk-in – can help ensure fair access to advice and treatment.

We also recognise that GPs may fear that this will lead to uncontrolled demand which impacts on patient safety. However, many of our members are operating in this way already and have been positive about the impact – not only on patients, but on the workforce too. Managing demand and providing better access has reduced stress on staff, conflict with patients and created a positive environment where job satisfaction is high.

This is not to take away from the fact that we still need more investment into general practice and GPs to help stem the increasing turnover and provide patients with the service they need.

Louise Ansari, Chief Executive of Healthwatch England, said: 

Patients often tell us how frustrating they find the early-morning scramble for on-the-day GP appointments. Many people are stuck in long phone queues, only to be told all the appointment slots have gone. People also tell us that online booking systems can be unpredictable – switched on and off at different times during the day with little notice.

Giving people the ability to contact their GP using the booking method that most suits them, at any time during their surgery’s core hours, is a welcome shift. This move will help improve consistency, give patients greater choice, and mean they can fit appointment booking around work or caring responsibilities.  

It’s now up to NHS commissioners to ensure this change is felt nationwide so patients no longer face a postcode lottery when booking a GP appointment.

To make sure those most in need are prioritised, GPs are now also being incentivised to identify patients who would benefit most from seeing the same GP at every appointment, so more patients see their regular doctor each appointment.  

Patients will also benefit from over 8.3 million more appointments each year as over 1,000 doctors surgeries receive a bricks and mortar upgrade to modernise practices under the government’s Plan for Change.