Tag: Department of Health and Social Care

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 28 August 2025.

Government to create ground-breaking new genomics population health service, with nurses in leading roles.

• Patients get improved access to life-saving DNA testing closer to home, as Plan for Change shifts healthcare out of hospitals and into community
• Enhanced government funding and tailored career development will empower nurses to lead and deliver innovative health and care research into range of conditions

Nurses across England will be trained as genomics champions in local communities to help patients get faster diagnoses and access life-saving treatment closer to home, as the government’s 10 Year Health Plan ramps up innovation in the NHS.

The government is creating a new genomic population health service, building on the existing NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS), to enhance the identification, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of various conditions such as cancer, heart diseases, and rare genetic disorders – including kidney and neurological conditions – that can go undetected for years.

These specially trained nurses – along with other NHS staff – will help guide patients and family members through genetic testing that can identify the inherited causes of major conditions like heart disease, cancer and rare genetic disorders.

These nurses will identify patients suitable for genomic testing, supporting them to access genomic counselling if needed.

This means genetic testing closer to home, reducing travel barriers and offering more convenient options for patients – as the Plan for Change shifts care out of hospitals and into the community.

This approach is already starting to deliver benefits for patients. Dr Teofila Bueser, based at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust – who is Director of Nursing and Midwifery for the NHS South East Genomic Medicine Service Alliance and a researcher funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)— is already using ground-breaking genomics research to protect her patients from hidden heart conditions that could strike without warning.

She facilitates genetic testing to spot inherited heart problems in her patients. Her research helps more people get heart health checks and genetic tests for conditions like irregular heartbeats and enlarged hearts that  run in families.

Thanks to her research, the days of anxious waiting are ending for worried families. Her work means patients and their families can get tested faster and receive continued specialist support even when they are seen at their local hospital.

Health Minister, Stephen Kinnock, said:

Nurses are the backbone of our NHS and this government is committed to giving them more opportunities and unleashing their full potential.

By creating new opportunities in genomic healthcare and research, we’re not only improving patient care but also creating fulfilling careers that recognise and use nurses’ invaluable expertise.

Our 10 Year Health Plan is transforming our NHS into a service that’s truly fit for the future and puts nurses at the forefront of this revolution.

Professor Dame Sue Hill, Chief Scientific Officer for England and the Senior Responsible Officer for Genomics in the NHS said:

The establishment of a genomics population health service is an exciting and important development which builds on our world-leading NHS Genomic Medicine Service. It will enable more people to access genomic testing, not only for risk prediction and prevention, but also to help tackle the unmet needs of patients with undiagnosed conditions.

Duncan Burton, Chief Nursing Officer for England, said:

Nurses are at the heart of our NHS, and these advances will help ensure patients and communities benefit from nursing leadership in genomic medicine and research-led improvements.

Our nursing workforce already includes well-established leaders in genomics and research and this represents an opportunity to strengthen and enhance the excellent work of our profession in these fields, recognising their expertise in healthcare innovation.

Dr Teofila Bueser, Director of Nursing and Midwifery for the NHS South East GMS Alliance and an NIHR researcher said:

Researching genomics has boosted my nursing career and given me the opportunity to tackle genetic heart conditions to help the thousands of people who suffer from them.

I hope more nurses and midwives take up the opportunities for education, research and clinical academic careers in the field of genomics. By being leaders on genomics in the NHS, we can help give patients and families the genetic information they need to access better care and live longer,  more fulfilling lives.

The government is also building on the Chief Nursing Officer for England’s strategic plan for research and enhancing the strong foundation of nursing in delivering and leading research through investments in the sector and partnership with national, regional and local nursing leaders.

In 2024/25, over £10 million has been invested through NIHR to support nurses to develop their research and leadership skills and build their research careers.

Examples of where this investment has led to improvements in research include:

• Clinical Nurse Specialist Nancy Burridge, based in Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, led groundbreaking research using virtual reality headsets to help palliative care patients, showing significant reductions in pain and anxiety.
• Nurse Consultant and suicide prevention lead Katherine McGleenan, based in Cumbria Northumberland Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust, led a study to save lives by developing personalised care plans for adults who might be thinking about suicide.
• Clinical academic nurse Dr Takawira Marufu, based in Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust, whose research helps detect pressure injuries – such as ulcers, bedsores, blisters – among children from ethnic minorities.

Support for nurses interested in developing research careers has been significantly expanded by NIHR through career development awards, attracting nurses from all settings into research and providing the training, mentorship and resources they need to become tomorrow’s research leaders.

Nurses play a key role in clinical research trials, and these advancements will ensure that the NHS can harness their expertise to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes.

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Chief Executive Officer of the NIHR said:

Nurses are key to the country’s research workforce. In recent years, the NIHR has significantly increased research opportunities to enable more health and care professionals, including nurses, to build research into their careers.

Through the 10 Year Health Plan, we have committed to go further, supporting nurses from all specialisms and in all settings to become research active, utilising their expertise to improve patient outcomes through research.

Laura Rooney, Lead Research Nurse at Alzheimer’s Society, said:

We welcome the Government’s initiative to invest in a dedicated research nurse workforce, to help drive healthcare innovation and expand the NHS’s ability to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care.

One in three people born today in the UK will develop dementia in their lifetime – and only research will advance the breakthroughs urgently needed in dementia diagnosis and treatment.

Adding further nurses to the frontline of research, Alzheimer’s Society will soon launch its own network of dementia research nurses, in collaboration with the UK Dementia Trials Network – which is funded by the Government – to embed research into everyday NHS dementia care.

Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said:

If undetected and untreated, inherited heart conditions can be deadly and devastating for affected families. BHF research has discovered some of the faulty genes responsible for these frightening conditions and is evaluating novel approaches to correct them but there’s more to do to prevent future tragedies. That’s why we’ve worked for years with NHS England, the Chief Coroner and other partners to make it easier for families to access genetic testing, and it is encouraging to see the Government’s ambition to expand genetic testing at a population level. When fully established, the genomic population health service will bring cutting-edge science into routine clinical care to help reduce the number of preventable premature deaths.

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

100 community diagnostic centres across the country now offer out-of-hours services, 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Milestone means tens of thousands of patients can access vital tests, scans and checks around busy working lives
• Delivering more convenient care out of hours as part of government’s Plan for Change, transforming healthcare and making the NHS fit for the future

Tens of thousands of patients across England can now access vital diagnostic tests and scans out of hours and in their community, with 100 community diagnostic centres (CDCs) opening in the evenings and on weekends.

With the government already delivering 7.2 million CDC tests and scans since July 2024, patients no longer have to choose between their job and vital health appointments as more centres open 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Based in convenient settings closer to people’s homes like shopping centres, community hospitals and university campuses, many of these centres also offer free parking to make care as easy as possible, with many NHS services already feeling the positive impact of being open out of hours.

Latest NHS England data shows that the NHS delivered over 1.6 million more tests and scans from July 2024 to June 2025 compared to the same time the previous year.  For cancer, the NHS hit the Faster Diagnosis Standard with 76.8% – or 218,463 people – having cancer ruled out or diagnosed within 28 days, the highest June since the standard was introduced. Improved performance on the Faster Diagnosis Standard means that nearly 100,000 (97,000) more people have had cancer diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days between July 2024 and June 2025, compared to the same period last year.

Extending opening hours for CDCs is opening up access and speeding up diagnosis for patients all around the country.

For example, Oldham CDC has slashed lung cancer diagnosis times from 42 days to just 18.8 days, meeting the Faster Diagnosis Standard for the first time. Queen Victoria Hospital CDC in East Grinstead now delivers five times more respiratory patient interactions per session, with 92% avoiding hospital outpatient appointments entirely. These centres are helping to speed up care, making it easier for patients nationwide.

Community diagnostic centres are a pivotal part of the government’s Plan for Change to transform care, moving it out of hospital and into the community.

By speeding up diagnosis and treatment, government is reducing pressure on overwhelmed hospitals and putting patients at ease faster.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:

This government is determined to offer healthcare that fits around working people’s lives and not the other way around.

From early morning MRI scans to late evening blood tests, we’re meeting patients where they need it most by extending the operating hours for community diagnostic centres and putting patients first.

Our 10 Year Health Plan is revolutionising how healthcare works, and this achievement is a vital step in bringing care closer to community. Delivering on our Plan for Change, we’re building an NHS that’s fit for the future.

Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS England National Medical Director, said:

We know people are living incredibly busy lives and it’s vital NHS care reflects that.

The services provided by community diagnostic centres enable people to receive the all-clear or a diagnosis at a time and location that suits them – whether before a school drop-off or after a work shift – and extending their opening hours means more people are being seen more quickly.

So, if anyone has any health concerns, we urge them to seek NHS advice so they can get the care they need.

Wayne Rowlands who visited the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) CDC for an emergency CT scan, said:

I came here for the scan and everything went very smoothly. It was such a pleasant experience. Absolutely brilliant. It’s very bright and not at all like a hospital.

The staff have all been absolutely brilliant as well. This is something really quite special that we have here.

The Plan for Change sets out how government is doing things differently to transform the NHS. By moving care out of hospitals into communities, embracing cutting-edge technology, and redesigning services around patients’ needs the government reforms are creating a more accessible, efficient NHS that works for working people.

The plan is backed by £6 billion of additional capital investment to improve capacity for elective, diagnostic and urgent care services over 5 years – with over £600 million capital funding committed for 2025 to 2026 to transform diagnostic services amidst growing demands. This includes funding up to 5 additional CDCs in 2025/26, as committed to in our elective reform plan, alongside extending opening hours for all CDCs at evenings and on weekends.

Patients can be referred to CDCs via their GP or hospital based clinical teams. The NHS is also making it easier for GPs to refer directly to CDCs via schemes like GP Direct Access, and developing more activity involving CDCs, so patients can have their diagnostic test ahead of meeting their consultant, reducing the number of outpatient appointments they need to attend.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 15 August 2025.

Patients who use social media to plan cosmetic procedures will now access more reliable information thanks to a landmark new initiative.

• New online campaign to give people clear, reliable advice before travelling overseas for cosmetic or medical treatments
• It aims to raise awareness of the risks, protect patients and reduce costs for the NHS of fixing botched procedures
• Part of wider government initiative to improve safety of cosmetic treatments

Patients who use social media to help plan cosmetic procedures will now be able to access more reliable trustworthy information thanks to a landmark new initiative between the government and TikTok.

More people are using social media apps like TikTok to research potentially risky operations – like hair transplants and dental work – abroad as they are often cheaper or more readily available than in the UK but are often presented with slick marketing campaigns that do not highlight the dangers of the surgery.

To help keep these patients informed, TikTok and the government have partnered with medical influencers, like Midwife Marley and Doc Tally, to create content to show the risks, help carry out thorough research and provide advice on how to make trips as safe as possible.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will also provide more detailed travel advice for those seeking to travel abroad for ‘tweakments’.

Health Minister Karin Smyth said:

Too many people are being left with life-altering injuries after going abroad for medical procedures, without access to proper advice or safeguards, often drawn in by deals too good to be true and promoted by influencers – some of whom have never been to the practice in question.

By partnering with TikTok, we’re helping people make safer, more informed choices before they go under the knife – wherever that may be.

Through our Plan for Change, we’re determined to protect patients, ease pressure on the NHS and make sure taxpayers are not left paying the price when things go wrong.

The campaign warns that when it comes to cosmetic surgery abroad, the lowest price can come at the highest cost.

It urges people to think beyond the slick brochures and marketing, and to consider clinical standards, complication risks and language barriers.

It will urge potential patients to speak to a UK doctor, take out travel insurance and steer clear of package holidays that bundle in procedures. The medics will provide a checklist to go through before considering booking a procedure abroad:

• research thoroughly
• check the clinic’s regulation and the surgeon’s credentials
• know the full cost
• understand the aftercare
• ask the vital question – if it goes wrong, who will fix it?

The online campaign is part of wider government efforts to curb medical tourism. Work is underway to stop events in the UK that promote procedures abroad and the government is working with other countries to improve patient care from initial consultations to post-surgery recovery.

The government is looking at additional ways of protecting patients who go abroad for these types of procedures, while ensuring the NHS is not left to pick up the tab for botched or harmful work.

The move follows the announcement last week to crack down on dodgy cosmetic practitioners in England. The new regulations will mean the highest-risk procedures, such as non-surgical Brazilian butt lifts, can only be carried out by qualified, specialised healthcare professionals, registered with the Care Quality Commission.  The measures also include developing a licensing scheme for lower-risk procedures like Botox and fillers, alongside introducing minimum age restrictions.

Minister Doughty, Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories, said:

Our aim is to explain the risks and help British people understand the actions they can take to keep themselves safe when abroad.

If you choose to travel abroad for medical treatment, it is vital you do your research and are fully aware of the risks involved.

We urge anyone considering a medical procedure abroad to review our travel advice, relevant guidance from the NHS and other professional bodies, and research foreign providers thoroughly to ensure they meet the highest standard of care.

Informed choices today can help avoid serious complications tomorrow.

Ali Law, Director of Public Policy, Northern Europe, said:

At TikTok we are committed to providing our community with information from trusted sources when searching for topics related to physical and mental health.

We’re pleased to work with the government on this new initiative to improve the safety of people going abroad for treatment and we will continue to promote credible content through our Clinician Creator Council made of NHS practitioners.

The FCDO has also updated its online travel advice advising people on how to stay safe when travelling abroad for medical or cosmetic reasons.

This work will help improve patient safety and reduce costs for the NHS by reducing the number of people needing medical support when things go wrong, providing greater value for the taxpayer and reducing pressure on staff.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 14 August 2025.

Baroness Amos has been selected to lead the independent investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal care to drive urgent improvements to care and safety.

• Baroness Valerie Amos has been appointed by the Health and Social Care Secretary to lead the national maternity and neonatal investigation
• The review will identify ways to urgently improve care and safety
• Bereaved and harmed families will be central to the investigation, including working with the Chair to shape her team of expert advisers and the terms of reference

Baroness Amos was selected by Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting by direct ministerial appointment after feedback from bereaved families who expressed a preference for someone with distance from the NHS who is able to bring a fresh pair of eyes to the role.

The Secretary of State has been meeting regularly with bereaved and harmed families, let down by maternity and neonatal services across the country, including in some of the worst affected trusts. From hearing their stories, he ordered a rapid national investigation, to drive urgent improvements which will address systemic problems dating back over 15 years.

Baroness Amos is currently Master of University College Oxford, and brings a wealth of experience as a previous UK government minister and senior official at the United Nations.

She will be supported by a team of esteemed expert advisers, who will be selected following further engagement with families.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

I have been appalled by the many harrowing stories I’ve heard from mothers and fathers let down by the NHS.

Families asked for fresh eyes, independence and compassion – and that’s why I’ve appointed Baroness Amos. Valerie has an outstanding record of leadership and driving change – nationally and internationally. She will work closely with families to uncover the truth, confront problems and drive the improvements needed so every woman and baby receives safe, high-quality care.

Through our Plan for Change, we will rebuild the NHS to ensure no family suffers like this again.

Baroness Valerie Amos said:

I will carry the weight of the loss suffered by families with me throughout this investigation. I hope that we will be able to provide the answers that families are seeking and support the NHS in identifying areas of care requiring urgent reform.

The investigation was announced by the Secretary of State in June 2025 and will look at up to 10 services in the country. It will also review the maternity and neonatal system, bringing together the findings of past reviews into one clear national set of actions to ensure every woman and baby receives safe, high-quality and compassionate care.

It will begin its work this summer and produce an initial set of national recommendations by December 2025.

The 10 maternity and neonatal units will be decided by Baroness Amos and her team, alongside the terms of reference of the investigation, which are being developed with the families who have experiences of maternity and neonatal care, including those in Leeds, Sussex, Nottingham and more.

The investigation is separate from the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, which will be made up of a panel of esteemed experts and families, and chaired by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to keep up momentum and deliver change.

While the majority of mothers and families do have positive experiences of maternity and neonatal care, tragically there have been profound cases of failure, avoidable harm and loss that should never have happened. This investigation will explore why – and help drive lasting change to ensure every family receives the safe, compassionate care they deserve.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 11 August 2025.

Thousands of new jobs will be unlocked across the healthcare sector to make sure there are enough jobs for every newly qualified nurse and midwife in England.

• Qualified nurses and midwives given better job opportunities upon graduation with new Graduate Guarantee
• New support for both graduates and trusts to improve recruitment processes and ensure a seamless transition from training to employment
• Better staffing of the NHS, part of Plan for Change to build an NHS fit for the future and improve care for patients

Thousands of new jobs will be unlocked across the healthcare sector thanks to government action to make sure there are enough jobs for every newly qualified nurse and midwife in England.

The government’s Graduate Guarantee will ensure thousands of new posts are easier to access by removing barriers for trusts, creating a wealth of opportunities for graduates and ensuring a seamless transition from training to employment.

These new measures aim to tackle graduates’ concerns about job availability, after record numbers of people chose to study nursing during the pandemic, while fewer nurses and midwives leave the profession.

While this demonstrates real progress in health professionals choosing to stay and thrive in their NHS careers, it has created barriers in the workforce – with up to 3 times as many graduates as there are vacancies in some areas.

To address this, the government has committed to a comprehensive package of reform and support, which will see more healthcare professionals deployed across a wide variety of sectors, improving access for patients as part of our Plan for Change.

This package comes as a result of collegiate and good faith working between government, the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Nursing, demonstrating that by working together, the NHS, patients and staff all benefit.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, said:

It is absurd that we are training thousands of nurses and midwives every year, only to leave them without a job before their career has started.

No one who dedicates themselves to a nursing or midwifery career should be left in limbo, when their skills are so urgently needed in the effort to rebuild our NHS.

I am sending a clear message to every newly qualified nurse and midwife: we’re here to support you from day one so you can provide the best care for patients and cut waiting lists. This new guarantee will benefit nurses, midwives and patients, helping to build an NHS fit for the future as part of our Plan for Change.

NHS providers will begin recruiting newly qualified nurses and midwives before vacancies formally arise, with trusts supported to employ staff based on projected need rather than headcount, ensuring the NHS has the right number of staff to provide the best possible care to patients everywhere.

Additionally, every newly qualified nurse and midwife will receive the backing they need to succeed in their first role, which includes an online hub with important information and advice for those applying for roles.

Vacant maternity support worker posts will be temporarily converted to Band 5 midwifery roles, backed by £8 million to create new opportunities specifically for newly qualified midwives and further ease the recruitment strain.

Chief Nursing Officer for England, Duncan Burton, said:

Having been a student nurse, I know how important it is to feel supported, valued, and able to get on with the job you have trained so hard to do.

Every nurse and midwife deserves the guarantee of a job to apply for when they graduate, so we’re unlocking more opportunities right across health and care and providing refreshed online advice and support with applications to help ensure a smooth transition into employment.

We have more nurses and midwives than ever before choosing to stay working in the NHS, which is fantastic for patients, but we must ensure our newest graduates get the same opportunity to put their skills and passion to use without frustrating delays.

Royal College of Nursing General Secretary and Chief Executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said:

Our student members have led the way in calling for ministers and healthcare leaders to provide certainty and clarity on jobs. Today’s announcement is welcome news that should provide hope to students as they come towards the end of their education and training.

When the health service urgently needs nursing staff, it was absurd to leave people in limbo. The test of this will be if students can find jobs, vacant posts are filled, and patients receive the care they deserve.

Ministers have to continue listening to nursing staff who are crying out to have their critical work valued – today’s action takes us all a little closer.

Gill Walton, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said:

We’re pleased that the government has listened to the voices of student midwives who are desperate to start their career, only to find those opportunities blocked. I know today’s announcement will come as a relief to so many of the RCM’s student midwife members.

These are people, mainly women, who have worked incredibly hard to complete their degree and are trained and ready to support our current midwifery workforce at a time when so many maternity services are under pressure. Ensuring we have the right midwifery staff, in the right places, at the right time, with the right education and training has never been so crucial as services are striving to improve safety.

Today’s new package of support is centred on patient care and the nursing and midwifery workforce, signalling a fundamental shift towards valuing and nurturing newly qualified professionals from day one of their careers, backed by investing in training and guaranteeing employment opportunities.

For newly qualified nurses and midwives, these changes mean greater certainty and access to a wide and diverse range of roles.

For the health service, they mean better workforce planning, improved retention and enhanced capacity to deliver patient care. For patients, they mean shorter waiting times and access to a well-supported, confident workforce.

Our Plan for Change is already delivering on making the NHS fit for the future, by working with staff to improve working conditions and ultimately patients’ experience.

Paul Rees MBE, Chief Executive and Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), said:

A guaranteed opportunity for a role after years of hard work in education is excellent news for future nursing and midwifery graduates. It means highly trained professionals can move into roles more quickly, utilising their skills and knowledge for the benefit of patients and communities.

This is critically important at a time of rising demand for health and social care. We will continue working to place all new graduates on our register quickly and safely, so they can begin their roles at the earliest opportunity.

Steph Lawrence MBE, Chief Executive at the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing (QICN), said:

The QICN welcomes this news which will ensure we retain our newly registered nurses and also give them a good start to their journey as a registered nurse. It will be essential to ensure this occurs across all sectors of the NHS and in particular in community, given the shift from hospital to community.

Vivienne Stern MBE, Chief Executive at Universities UK, said:

Our healthcare graduates power the NHS and this guarantee of additional support into employment is good news for students, the NHS and the country. This commitment comes at the perfect time as thousands of healthcare students prepare to start their university experience.

Our NHS is the envy of the world, and our universities stand ready to strengthen their partnerships with the NHS to deliver the workforce pipeline on which the future health sector depends.

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

Under a joint information sharing agreement, pharmaceutical companies will be invited to register early with the MHRA and NICE to allow parallel decision making over licencing and value.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) today (Wednesday, 6 August) described how the 10-Year Health Plan will lead to faster medicines access for patients in the NHS in England.

Under a joint information sharing agreement, pharmaceutical companies will be invited to register early with both agencies to allow parallel decision making over licencing and value. It will mean more medicines receive approval for use on the NHS in England at the same time as they are licensed for use in the UK. It’s anticipated that patients in England will receive the newest medicines 3-6 months earlier as a result.

Part of the 10-Year Health Plan and industrial strategy, the new joint service reflects the government’s commitment to smarter regulation, with a target to cut administrative costs for businesses by 25%.

The enhanced coordinated approach offers medicine developers an integrated advice service and an aligned pathway to help them streamline both regulatory and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) requirements and provides a clearer route to help get their treatments to patients.

To benefit from this service, companies should register their products on UK PharmaScan, the national horizon scanning database, at least three years before their expected marketing authorisation.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:

“This government is slashing red tape and turbocharging economic growth of the life sciences sector so patients can get the innovative treatments they need, faster.

“To save our NHS and make it fit for the future we have to do things differently. By having two of our most important regulators join forces we’ll rapidly remove barriers, get patients access to vital medicines, and grow the economy.

“With a technological and life sciences revolution taking place, Britain should be at the forefront of it. Our 10 Year Health Plan and Life Sciences Sector Plan will help us drive the breakthroughs we need to be best in class and boost growth across the country.”

Lawrence Tallon, Chief Executive of the MHRA, said:

“We are completely focused on making sure patients can benefit from safe, effective and affordable medicines and treatments as soon as possible.

“We are working in closer partnership with NICE to build a faster and more efficient regulatory system, designed to accelerate UK market entry and deliver innovative, life-changing treatments to NHS patients faster.

“This marks an important step in delivering smarter regulation – strengthening UK’s global life sciences offer and reinforcing our position as an attractive destination for innovation and international investment.”

Dr Sam Roberts, Chief Executive of NICE, said:

“Patients in England are already receiving medicines much earlier as NICE is evaluating treatments faster than ever before. In the year to March the time between licence and guidance was cut by 26% and when companies work with us to reduce timelines NICE guidance is published on average just 48 days after licence.

“This joint working with our partners at the MHRA will allow us to accelerate medicines into the NHS even further to help transform the health of the nation, alleviate pressure on the service where possible and support a thriving life sciences sector in this country.”

Mark Samuels, Chief Executive of Medicines UK, said:

“This new joint approach between NICE and the MHRA is very welcome, particularly in supporting the earlier launch of new biosimilar medicines, which means more patients can be treated sooner.

“Streamlining market entry will further enhance the UK’s attractiveness as a first-choice country for introducing new medicines.”

Richard Torbett, Chief Executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said:

“We welcome this initiative, which represents one of many necessary improvements in the UK health and life sciences ecosystem. Streamlining approval processes will allow both agencies to give patients earlier and equitable access to the innovative medicines needed to improve UK health outcomes.

“We look forward to continued progress in other areas to enable the life sciences sector to fulfil its growth potential for the benefit of patients, the NHS and the economy.”

Notes to editors

About MHRA

• The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe.  All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.
• The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.
• For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.

About NICE

NICE’s core purpose is to help practitioners and commissioners get the best care to people, fast, while ensuring value for the taxpayer.
We do this by:

• producing useful and usable guidance for health and care practitioners
• providing rigorous, independent assessment of complex evidence for new health technologies
• developing recommendations that focus on what matters most and drive innovation into the hands of health and care practitioners
• encouraging the uptake of best practice to improve outcomes for everyone.

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

New measures to crack down on cowboy cosmetic procedures will be introduced by the government.

• Only suitably qualified healthcare professionals will be able to deliver high-risk procedures such as Brazilian butt lifts
• Clinics administering fillers and Botox will need to meet strict standards to obtain a licence
• Kids to be protected from dangerous beauty trends on social media through plans for new age restrictions on treatments
• Robust measures will protect people and save the NHS time and money fixing botched procedures

Tough new measures to crack down on cowboy cosmetic procedures that have left people maimed, injured and in need of urgent NHS care will be introduced by the government.

Only qualified healthcare professionals will be able to perform the highest-risk procedures – such as non-surgical Brazilian butt lifts.

These must be done by specialised healthcare workers working in providers that are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The planned crackdown follows a series of incidents where people have had high-risk treatments from people with little or no medical training, leading to dangerous complications, permanent scarring and even death. These new rules will protect people from unqualified, rogue operators and reduce the cost to the NHS of fixing botched procedures.

The new measures follow growing alarm over unqualified individuals performing invasive treatments in unsafe environments – including homes, hotels and pop-up clinics. Many of these procedures are marketed as non-surgical but, in reality, are invasive and carry serious risks.

Minister of State for Health, Karin Smyth, said:

The cosmetics industry has been plagued by a Wild West of dodgy practitioners and procedures. There are countless horror stories of cosmetic cowboys causing serious, catastrophic damage.

This government is taking action to protect those seeking treatments, support honest and competent practitioners, and root out the cowboys as part of our Plan for Change.

This isn’t about stopping anyone from getting treatments – it’s about preventing rogue operators from exploiting people at the expense of their safety and keeping people safe. We’re giving them peace of mind and reducing the cost to the NHS of fixing botched procedures.

Other lower-risk cosmetic treatments – including Botox, lip fillers and facial dermal fillers – will also come under stricter oversight through a new local authority licensing system. Practitioners will be required to meet rigorous safety, training, and insurance standards before they can legally operate. Once regulations are introduced, practitioners who break the rules on the highest-risk procedures will be subject to CQC enforcement and financial penalties.

The government also plans to bring in restrictions for under 18s on high-risk cosmetic procedures, unless authorised by a healthcare professional.

Through our Plan for Change the government is determined to bolster patient safety. These changes will ensure consumers can be confident the treatment they receive is safe and of a high standard. It will also provide business with better protections, enabling reputable and safe providers to be easily identifiable to patients.

Priority will be given to introducing regulations to restrict the highest-risk procedures first – such as fillers injected into breasts and genitals. A public consultation will be published early next year. This will seek views on the range of procedures which should be covered in the new restrictions.

While the measures are being developed, the government urges anyone considering a cosmetic procedure to check their provider’s qualifications and insurance, and to avoid treatments that appear suspiciously cheap.

Millie Kendall OBE, Chief Executive Officer at the British Beauty Council, said:

The British Beauty Council has worked tirelessly in pushing for increased regulation of the aesthetics sector since its inception. I therefore fully welcome the government’s announcement that it is pushing forward with legislation.

Any measures that increase protection for the general public and professionalise the industry will help instil confidence as well as helping to prevent the normalisation of horror stories that have become synonymous with our sector.

We will work closely with relevant government stakeholders to ensure these measures are implemented in a way that ensures the sustained, and safe, growth of our sector. This is the first step forward in raising the reputation of our £30.4 billion industry.

Background information

The new regulations will be subject to public consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny before they are introduced.

The government will also work closely with stakeholders to develop further proposals for consultation on introducing the licensing regime for lower-risk procedures to seek views on education, training standards, qualifications, infection control and insurance.

The government’s commitment follows a consultation on the licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures launched in September 2023, which received almost 12,000 responses. This was the first consultation on proposals for strengthening regulation in this space. The government will run further consultations, as there are many issues to consider in designing the regulation which were not within the remit of this initial consultation. Read the full response to the licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures consultation.

The new measures will also be instrumental in saving the NHS money by reducing the work following failed procedures, helping deliver value for the taxpayer.

The measures come as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), local authorities and the NHS continue to investigate after a number of people had adverse reactions following cosmetic procedures involving botulinum toxin. This is another reminder for the public to ensure they are receiving products licensed for use in England and only administered by practitioners sufficiently trained. The NHS website has information about choosing who will do your cosmetic procedure.

Additional quotes

Ashton Collins, Director, Save Face, said:

I am delighted that the government has recognised the significant and potentially fatal risks posed by highly dangerous procedures like liquid Brazilian butt lifts, and has made it a priority to implement restrictions to protect public safety.

We have been campaigning tirelessly for nearly 2 years for this critical change and have supported over 750 women who have endured traumatic experiences. I have seen first hand the devastating impact these procedures can have on the lives of victims and their families – none more so than the family of Alice Webb.

We look forward to continuing to work closely with the government and key stakeholders throughout the next stages of this process, to build a safer landscape for the public and promote high standards across the industry.

Professor David Sines CBE PhD, Executive Chair and Registrar at the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP), said:

The Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners warmly welcomes the UK government’s decision to introduce legislation to regulate and license cosmetic procedures according to the risks they present. Their ‘Plan for Change’ signals a commitment in the strongest terms and it accords with JCCP’s widely publicised call for statutory regulation.

The introduction of standards to ensure that patients are safeguarded and protected from harm, ensuring that all cosmetic practitioners are regulated and licensed to a new national education and training standard, that they are appropriately insured and that they work from safe premises at all times has become imperative. These proposals have our full support and we welcome the opportunity to engage in further consultation.

Diane Hey, Chief Executive Officer of Armonia Health and Beauty, Beauty Professional Trailblazer Apprenticeship steering group chair and Beauty Industry Group Licensing Task and Finish group chair, said:

This long-awaited action is a critical step in protecting the public from the dangers of unregulated and unsafe non-surgical cosmetic procedures. For too long, poorly trained individuals completing short courses have been able to carry out high-risk procedures with little accountability. These new measures will help safeguard the public, uphold professional standards, and reinforce the importance of regulated, high-quality education and training within the sector.

They will provide protection and recognition for reputable, safe practitioners who have spent years developing their knowledge and skills, while also clearly signposting those wishing to enter the sector towards trusted, regulated education pathways.

We look forward to supporting the development of the licensing regime and shaping the wider scope of procedures included, based on proportionate risk. This is crucial for restoring public trust and ensuring only competent, qualified practitioners deliver these procedures, in recognised premises.

Mark Elliott, President of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said:

We welcome the introduction of improved regulation and a new scheme of licensing. We look forward to continuing to work with the government in order to achieve a licensing scheme that includes the full range of procedures that were to be covered by the scheme in the original consultation.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 2 August 2025.

Thousands of mothers and babies will benefit from extended support to breastfeeding services this year.

• Government extends National Breastfeeding Helpline to provide round-the-clock support for families
• £18.5 million investment this year in infant feeding support through Family Hubs and Start for Life programme
• Support forms part of mission to give children the best start in life under government’s Plan for Change

Thousands of mothers and babies will benefit from extended support to breastfeeding services this year, thanks to government assistance.

The government has extended the National Breastfeeding Helpline – helping to ensure more mothers across the UK can access dedicated breastfeeding support 24 hours a day.

It means all parents can access free, non-judgemental, evidence-based information and support on breastfeeding whenever they need it – recognising that feeding challenges can arise at any time of the day or night.

The government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever and giving every child the best start in life. That includes helping families to access support to feed their baby. It’s important that all parents and caregivers are supported to make the choice that’s right for them and can access the help they need to achieve their infant feeding goals.

The service is just one of the ways the government is helping families through the Plan for Change. The announcement comes as the government undertakes a complete reform of family services, including the roll-out of up to 1,000 new Best Start Family Hubs across every local authority, ensuring parents can easily access joined-up early help on everything from breastfeeding to mental health and housing.

The government is providing £126 million in funding in 2025 to 2026 to support its Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, which helps families with advice and support services including infant feeding, parenting classes and perinatal mental health support, among other areas.

Public Health and Prevention Minister Ashley Dalton said:

Supporting women and families is a top priority for this government, which is why I am so pleased to announce the extension of the National Breastfeeding Helpline.

Many parents will know the struggle of being up in the middle of the night, desperately trying anything to get your baby to feed. It can be incredibly overwhelming and deeply lonely.

We are determined to make sure more women get the support they need through this vital 24/7 helpline.

And through our Plan for Change, we’re going further to ensure every child gets the best start in life. We’ve provided extra funding for local infant feeding services through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, where parents can access drop-in sessions for practical and emotional support.

Minister for Children and Families, Janet Daby, said:

Ensuring families have the support they need from day one is central to delivering our Plan for Change and giving every child the best start in life.

We know those first days and weeks can be overwhelming, and services like the National Breastfeeding Helpline are there to give parents reassurance and expert help whenever they need it most.

And this is just one part of a much bigger effort to transform how families are supported – with new Best Start Family Hubs opening in every local area across the country over the coming years, taking the best of family hubs and honouring the proud legacy of Sure Start to give parents the support they deserve in the earliest years of their children’s lives.

Catherine Hine, Chief Executive of the Breastfeeding Network said:

The National Breastfeeding Helpline is a vital source of infant feeding support, run by the Breastfeeding Network and the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, and trusted by tens of thousands of families every year.

While some callers seek help for a wider range of infant feeding challenges, we know that almost 9 in 10 (89%) callers are more confident to continue breastfeeding after contacting the helpline. Many women also call to talk about combination feeding, introducing solids, stopping breastfeeding and formula feeding.

We’re really excited that shifting to a 24-hour service has been so popular and that our great team are being contacted by women and families throughout the UK and with a wide variety of backgrounds and infant feeding experiences.

The government has outlined a series of measures to improve care and support for women and families. Last month the Health Secretary announced a national investigation into maternity and neonatal services to drive urgent improvements to care and safety, addressing systemic problems dating back over 15 years.

Background information

The National Breastfeeding Helpline is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care and run by the Breastfeeding Network and the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers. Through the helpline, families across the UK have access to trained peer supporters who provide practical, non-judgemental information and support on breastfeeding and infant feeding to anyone who needs it. The service operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year by telephone and social media.

The helpline has been extended for the financial year 2025 to 2026 and more support is now available through the night.

Evidence shows breastfeeding provides significant benefits for both mothers and babies. It’s important that families are supported to make the choice that’s right for them and have easy access to quality advice and services to help them achieve their infant feeding goals. The helpline is supporting families to overcome challenges that might prevent mothers from successfully breastfeeding.

The government is taking further steps to improve infant feeding support, including investing £18.5 million through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme in 2025 to 2026 to improve infant feeding support across 75 local authorities in England. Local authorities are using this investment to strengthen existing support and introduce new offers to help families access breastfeeding support when they need it and in a location that suits them.

This funding for local infant feeding services forms part of the £126 million investment in the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme for 75 local authorities. Family hubs deliver integrated services including parenting support, health visiting and early childhood development programmes. These services work together to ensure families receive comprehensive support during the critical first 1,001 days of a child’s life.

Parents can also access support online on a range of topics from healthy pregnancy to feeding their baby at Start for Life on the NHS website.

This announcement demonstrates the government’s commitment to creating the healthiest generation of children ever. This investment supports the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, published in December 2024, which outlined the ambition to give children the best start in life by strengthening and joining up family services to improve support through pregnancy and early childhood. Alongside investment in the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, the government is taking action to improve maternity care, strengthen health visiting services, increase access to vaccinations, and reduce tooth decay in children.

You can contact the National Breastfeeding Helpline through their website or by calling 0300 100 0212.

Find out more information on the government’s Best Start in Life strategy .

Find out more information on Start for Life services funding.

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

Boost is part of Plan for Change to rebuild the NHS by shifting healthcare from hospitals into the community and ending the 8am scramble.

• More than 2,000 extra GPs have now been hired across the country after government action to slash red tape
• Independent survey shows progress on ending the 8am scramble, with patients finding it easier to contact GP practices
• Plan for Change is shifting care out of hospital and into the community as government brings back the family doctor

Millions more GP appointments are now being delivered across the country and an extra 2,000 GPs have been hired nationwide since last October, as the government’s Plan for Change brings back the family doctor.

The average GP is responsible for 2,300 patients, and the new tranche could deliver over 4 million additional appointments per year.

It comes as encouraging new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the number of patients who found it difficult to contact their practice has fallen significantly from 18.7% in July and August 2024 to 10.6% in May and June this year.

A total of 96.3% of patients who tried to contact their practice in the past 28 days were successful, while the number of patients who had a poor experience of their GP practice fell from 15% to 10.9% in the same period.

In May 2025, an extra 12,000 GP appointments were delivered every working day compared to May 2024.

The recruitment boost – which has already delivered an extra 2,000 GPs – forms part of the government’s Plan for Change, which is rebuilding the NHS by shifting healthcare out of hospitals into the community and ending the 8am scramble.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

We said we’d deliver 1,000 more GPs this year – and we’ve busted that target, bringing 2,000 more GPs on board. With proper investment and reform we are turning the tide on our NHS, and patients are beginning to feel the benefit.

We still have a long road ahead, and this government is determined to keep our foot on the gas.

Our Plan for Change will deliver this progress, creating a Neighbourhood Health Service that puts GPs at its heart and makes sure the NHS is there for everyone, whenever they need it.

Last month the government set out its 10 Year Health Plan which outlines the reforms government is driving forwards to get the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future. The plan will train thousands more GPs and create a new Neighbourhood Health Service, so millions of patients can be treated and cared for closer to their homes by pioneering teams – some based entirely under one roof.

When the government came into office last year, unnecessary red tape was preventing practices from hiring newly qualified GPs, meaning more than 1,000 were due to graduate into unemployment.

At the same time, there were also 1,399 fewer fully qualified GPs than a decade prior, with years of underfunding and neglect eroding GP services.

The government took immediate action and invested an extra £82 million to allow networks of practices to hire GPs, with the funding continuing past this year.

This recruitment was made possible by the tough but fair decisions the Chancellor took at the budget to fix the foundations of the NHS, enabling the government to provide almost £26 billion to get the NHS back on its feet and make it fit for the future.

The Plan for Change is already transforming the NHS for patients and staff. Backed by the government’s major cash injection of over £102 million, more than 1,000 GP surgeries will receive over £102 million to create additional space to see more patients and deliver 8.3 million more appointments each year.

An extra 4.6 million elective appointments have been delivered since July 2024 – over double the government’s target. The upgraded NHS App will also act as a digital front door to the health service, overhauling how people get advice, manage appointments and interact with services to make their healthcare more convenient and more personalised.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 22 July 2025.

Better care for patients living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, with plans to invest in research and offer care closer to home.

• Better care closer to home for patients living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
• Plan outlines clear steps to improve care for patients, by investing in research and offering access to care in the community
• Actions build on government’s wider 10 Year Health Plan to rebuild the NHS and put patients’ needs at the heart of care

Patients living with debilitating conditions are set to receive improved care closer to home, thanks to government plans published today (22 July 2025).

The government has committed to changing attitudes and transforming care for patients with ME/CFS.

The condition affects approximately 390,000 people in the UK, causing debilitating fatigue, sleep problems and difficulties with thinking, concentration and memory. The impact of this condition varies between cases, but severe ME/CFS, which is thought to affect a quarter of those diagnosed, leaves patients housebound or unable to work.

The plan published today provides the foundations for significant improvements in all key areas that affect people living with ME/CFS in England, many of whom currently struggle to access appropriate care tailored to their complex condition.

As a priority, the plan will introduce new training for NHS healthcare professionals, featuring up-to-date learning resources to increase understanding and ensure signs are not missed. This will help combat the stigma faced by people living with ME/CFS, which stems from a lack of awareness about the condition.

The rollout of neighbourhood health services as set out in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan will also see ME/CFS patients able to access care closer to home, with specially trained staff able to support those with complex needs.

Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Ashley Dalton, said:

ME/CFS is a debilitating illness that can severely limit patients’ ability to participate in everyday activities, maintain employment, or enjoy family and social life.

Today’s plan will help tackle the stigma and lack of awareness of this condition through improved training for NHS staff.

And through our neighbourhood health services, we will ensure patients suffering from the effects of ME/CFS can access quality care, closer to home, as pledged in our 10 Year Health Plan.

Our Plan for Change is transforming how patients experience care and this plan represents a comprehensive approach to addressing the long-standing gaps in care and support for people with these conditions, with patient access to appropriate care at its heart.

Sonya Chowdhury, Chief Executive, Action for ME, said:

This is an important step for the ME community, long overlooked and under-served. The plan must not be a token gesture – it requires a sustained, strategic commitment to care, funding, and research. Without it, meaningful outcomes for people with ME will not be achieved.

The plan includes increased funding for research, awarded through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, into how existing medicines can be used for ME/CFS. This initiative aims to give patients access to a wider range of potential treatments.

It will also address the specific needs of children and young people, ensuring they receive appropriate and timely support in education settings.

Recognising that ME/CFS affects people’s ability to work, the plan includes wider government initiatives to address issues with benefit assessment processes and provide support to help patients with long-term conditions and disabilities find and maintain meaningful employment where possible.

Offering care closer to home forms part of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan to rebuild the NHS, putting patients’ needs first and delivering effective, accessible treatment.

The government will continue to work with stakeholders and build on the foundations of actions in the final delivery plan well beyond its publication, reaffirming our commitment to ongoing development and improvement. This all forms part of the government’s Plan for Change to build an NHS fit for the future and one which offers the highest-quality, personalised care.