The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published the consultation outcome, and joint government response from DHSC and NHS England, following the consultation on the draft National Health Service (Procurement, Slavery and Human Trafficking) Regulations 2024 and accompanying guidance. The proposed regulations require public bodies procuring goods and services for the NHS to assess modern slavery and human trafficking risk in their supply chains, and to take reasonable steps to mitigate that risk. The regulations are drafted to align with the rules in the Procurement Act 2023 and Provider Selection Regime and build on existing government policy as set out in Procurement Policy Note 009: Tackling modern slavery in government supply chains (PPN 009). The response confirms broad support for the proposed regulations and promises continued engagement on the development of further guidance before publishing the final regulations. The response also acknowledges support for wider reform, and efforts to strengthen and harmonise the government’s approach to modern slavery in government supply chains. Wider recommendations are being shared with the Home Office, Cabinet Office and Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. Implementation timeframes will be subject to the parliamentary process, but the regulations and guidance are anticipated to come into force in 2026. They will apply to new procurements only and will not be applied retrospectively. In the meantime, in-scope organisations are advised to refer to the current requirements under PPN 009 and to use the Modern Slavery Assessment Tool (MSAT).

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published its 2025 annual review of the Health Service Products (Provision and Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2018 and the Health Service Medicines (Price Control Penalties and Price Control Appeals Amendment) Regulations 2018, and is consulting on proposed amendments to strengthen medicines reimbursement, supply oversight and compliance across the UK. Published on 10 February 2026 and covering the period July 2022 to June 2025, the review concludes that the objectives of the regulations remain appropriate but that changes are needed to improve the effectiveness of NHS reimbursement arrangements, enhance management of medicines shortages and ensure better value for money for taxpayers.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) launched a consultation on 14 March 2025 proposing changes to the statutory scheme for branded medicines pricing. The consultation seeks to increase payment rates from 15.5% to 23.8% in 2025, rising to 26.4% by 2027, to align with the voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth (VPAG). The proposals include maintaining 2% annual growth allowance and introducing new data assurance requirements. The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has opposed the changes, noting the effective rate would reach 32.2% in the second half of 2025. This consultation closes on 25 April 2025.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a consultation, seeking views on proposed amendments to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) (Constitution and Functions) and the Health and Social Care Information Centre (Functions) Regulations 2013, SI 2013/259. The changes would give ministers limited powers to direct NICE in setting the standard cost-effectiveness threshold used in the development of guidance, including technology appraisals and highly specialised technology evaluation recommendations. The proposals also include removing the requirement for NICE to consult on procedural changes that arise directly from a ministerial direction. The consultation closes on 13 January 2026.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a consultation seeking views on proposals to extend smoke-free laws to certain outdoor public places and to introduce heated tobacco-free and vape-free restrictions in England. The consultation proposes: (1) extending smoke-free laws to certain outdoor public places, including children’s playgrounds and areas outside specified health, social care and education settings; (2) introducing designated heated tobacco-free places; (3) creating exemptions, including designated smoking, heated tobacco and vaping areas within restricted zones and (4) defining boundaries and signage requirements for these areas. These measures are intended to protect children and medically vulnerable people from prolonged exposure to secondhand smoke, heated tobacco emissions and vape vapour. The consultation closes on 8 May 2026. Implementation of the proposals will depend on powers to be granted under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill currently progressing through Parliament. The Bill will provide the government with new regulatory powers in relation to tobacco and vape.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a UK-wide consultation seeking views on proposed regulations under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 covering tobacco packaging, vaping and nicotine products, the appearance of heated tobacco devices and vaping devices, and the retail display of tobacco, vaping and nicotine products. The proposals aim to reduce the appeal of vapes to young children and include new packaging requirements for tobacco products, cigarette papers, herbal smoking products, heated tobacco devices and vaping and nicotine products, restrictions on flavour descriptors for vaping and other nicotine products, new restrictions on the appearance of heated tobacco devices and vapes, and restrictions on where specified tobacco, vaping and nicotine products can be displayed in shops. The consultation also seeks views on which products should be covered by the display restrictions, what those restrictions should include and the potential impacts on people, businesses and groups with protected characteristics. The consultation closes on 2 October 2026.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published its response to the consultation on proposals to amend the statutory scheme to control the cost of branded health service medicines, alongside an impact assessment. The consultation received 30 responses, which the government took into consideration and has decided to implement changes to maintain broad commercial equivalence with the voluntary scheme.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) dispute resolution panel has ruled that B. Braun Medical Ltd's off-contract sales of a branded sedative medicine during 2021-2022 do not qualify for exceptional central procurement exemption under the voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access (VPAS). The panel's 27 March 2025 decision found that since the National Health Service England handled the procurement rather than a central government body, the sales did not meet VPAS exemption criteria, making B. Braun liable for scheme rebate payments.

The Department of Health and Social Care's (DHSC) dispute resolution panel has ruled that Haleon UK Ltd must remain in the voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth (VPAG) for 2024, despite claiming it submitted its joining form in error. The decision, published 7 August 2025, addresses Haleon's May 2024 request to exit VPAG after discovering its January 2024 application was submitted without proper internal scrutiny. The panel upheld DHSC's position that scheme rules only permit exit at year-end with three months' notice, rejecting Haleon's arguments about lack of effective consent and potential breach of European Convention on Human Rights property rights. The ruling establishes that companies cannot exit VPAG mid-year even if membership resulted from administrative error.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has established and confirmed the membership of a 17-member Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce to drive improvements in NHS maternity care in England, with the Secretary of State acting as chair and the group beginning work immediately to prepare for and implement recommendations from Baroness Amos’ independent national investigation due in June. The taskforce comprises families, NHS leaders, professional bodies, academics and third sector representatives, selected to reflect clinical expertise and lived experience, and will meet regularly to agree its terms of reference, consider interim findings and address related recommendations from other reviews. Alongside this, the government has announced £25m in additional funding for NHS Trusts, including £5m to support rollout of the Maternal Care Bundle targeting leading causes of maternal death, £9m to improve bereavement facilities, and £11m to enhance maternity triage services, with the overall aim of tackling inequalities and improving the safety, quality and experience of care, building on wider reforms and investment in maternity services since July 2024.

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced that it has awarded £12m to 11 innovative projects across the UK aimed at reducing drug deaths and supporting people with addictions. These projects will explore the use of wearable technology, virtual reality, and AI to improve treatment outcomes. For instance, project PneumoWave ALERT involves a chest-worn sensor that monitors breathing and alerts emergency services if an overdose is detected. Other initiatives include the use of virtual reality to help overcome addiction triggers and wristbands to monitor vital signs and alert contacts in the event of an overdose. If successful, these technologies could be rolled out nationwide.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued guidance on the delivery of the healthy child programme, setting out the programme’s core principles and the standards expected of public health nursing teams delivering services in England. The programme serves as the national framework for public health visiting and school nursing services, covering children and young people from pre-conception to age 19 and up to age 25 for care leavers and those with special educational needs and disabilities. The guidance details workforce requirements, the roles of health visiting and school nursing systems, safeguarding responsibilities, supervision expectations and cross-agency collaboration, among other aspects. It is intended to support practitioners, commissioners and providers in delivering the programme effectively. This guidance should be read alongside relevant publications on commissioning public health nursing services and the high-impact area framework.