The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have released the government response to the NHS Pension Scheme: member contributions phase 2 and miscellaneous amendments consultation. The consultation received a total of 160 responses. The DHSC intends to take the next step and implement phase 2 from 1 April 2024. Relevant contribution tier thresholds will be uplifted and the DHSC will then apply a ‘better of’ test and further increase the thresholds in line with the Agenda for Change (England) pay award as necessary. It will also proceed to remove abatement of pension for special class members who return to work. It further confirmed that the first contribution tier will not be removed at this time.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published statutory guidance on the DHSC’s position on the determination of ordinary residence disputes in light of the outcome of the case, R (on the application of Worcestershire County Council) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care [2023] UKSC 31. DHSC has noted that it does not intend to amend paragraphs 19.62 to 19.68 of the Care Act 2024: Care and support statutory guidance in light of the Supreme Court’s decision, nor does it intend to amend the guidance to address paragraph 58 of the judgment at this time. Regarding the rules concerning integrated care board (ICB) responsibilities for aftercare under section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in the National Health Service (Integrated Care Boards: Responsibilities) Regulations 2022, SI 2022/635, DHSC has clarified that the position in SI 2022/635 is not affected by the judgment, and therefore remains the same.

The Department of Health and Social Care, alongside Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting MP, has unveiled the government’s 10 Year Health Plan to overhaul the UK’s clinical trial system. The plan will enable millions of people to access and enrol in clinical trials through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Be Part of Research service via the NHS App, which will eventually include automated matching based on personal health data. The initiative includes a nationwide recruitment campaign, prioritisation of funding for high-performing NHS trusts, and public reporting to enhance transparency and accountability.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched England’s first Men’s Health Strategy, aimed at addressing the physical and mental health challenges faced by men and boys and reducing inequalities. The Strategy supports the government’s ambition to halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between the most affluent and least affluent regions. Key commitments under the Strategy include: (1) investing £3m in community-based men’s health programmes designed to reach those most at risk and least likely to engage with traditional services; (2) introducing men’s health training for healthcare professionals through new e-learning modules and resources; (3) delivering workplace health pilots with EDF Energy under the Keep Britain Working Vanguard Programme, focused on supporting men in male-dominated industries; (4) funding research to improve the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of major causes of mortality and ill-health among men and (5) launching a £200,000 trial of new brief interventions to address rising cocaine and alcohol-related cardiovascular disease deaths, particularly among older men.

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced that the government has launched a £170m HIV Action Plan aimed at ending new HIV transmissions in England by 2030. Central to the plan is a pioneering national programme to re-engage individuals who have fallen out of life-saving HIV care, addressing barriers such as stigma, poverty and mental health challenges. The initiative includes opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments, a £5m digital trial for home testing via the NHS App, and targeted prevention programmes for high-risk communities. These measures seek to ensure early diagnosis, improve access to treatment, and eliminate discrimination within healthcare settings.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced the launch of a new NHS programme aimed at reducing brain injury in childbirth. The initiative, which has been received £7.8m in government funding, will provide the necessary training to maternity staff, specifically in England, for the pilot programme. They will be trained to help reduce avoidable brain injury in childbirth and better identify signs that the baby is showing distress during labour so that they can act quickly. The programme will enable staff to deal with important obstetric emergencies.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a call for evidence to inform development of a 10 Year Workforce Plan. The consultation seeks views from healthcare organisations, trade unions, royal colleges, employers, charities and those with relevant expertise. The workforce plan aims to support the 10 Year Health Plan for England by creating a new workforce model aligned with healthcare transformation from hospital to community care, analogue to digital systems and sickness to prevention approaches. The consultation closes on 7 November 2025.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a call for evidence to inform a new cross-government Mental Health Strategy for England. The strategy is intended to shift mental health care from a reactive, crisis-led system towards earlier intervention and prevention, with a focus on improving access to support, reducing regional inequalities and helping people remain active in education, employment and community life. DHSC said demand for mental health services has risen significantly, particularly among children and young people, despite record NHS mental health spending of £16.1 billion this year, the recruitment of 8,500 additional mental health workers ahead of target and £473 million in planned investment for mental health facilities and community support projects over the next four years. The strategy will adopt a whole-system approach involving schools, workplaces, local authorities and voluntary organisations, and will also consider the needs of autistic people and people with ADHD alongside recommendations from the independent review chaired by Professor Peter Fonagy. Mental health organisations including Rethink Mental Illness, the Mental Health Foundation, Head On, Future Minds and Mental Health UK welcomed the initiative, while highlighting the need for timely treatment, safer inpatient care, stronger support for children and young people, and better coordination across health, housing, education and employment services. The call for evidence will run until 10 July 2026.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a call for evidence to shape new regulations on the sale and composition of tobacco, vape and nicotine products as part of the government’s Plan for Change and the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which aims to create a smoke-free generation and protect children from nicotine addiction. The proposals would require all retailers to obtain a licence to sell such products, closing a gap in the law that currently allows unregulated sales and enabling stronger action against rogue traders. Retailers selling without a licence could face unlimited fines or fixed penalties of £2,500 in England and Wales, and up to £5,000 in Northern Ireland. Views are also sought on vape flavours and ingredients, nicotine strength limits, product design, and a national registration system to improve market oversight and consumer safety. The evidence gathered will inform secondary legislation supporting measures such as restrictions on advertising, sponsorship and product displays. The call for evidence closes on 3 December 2025.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a consultation seeking views on proposed amendments to the Dentists Act 1984. The proposed amendment gives the General Dental Council (GDC) powers and duties to provisionally register dentists who have qualified overseas but have not yet satisfied the GDC's requirements for full registration. The provisional registration of overseas-qualified dentists would allow them to practise in any dental setting under the supervision of a dentist with full registration on the GDC's dentists' register. The draft Dentists Act 1984 (Provisional Registration of Dentists) (Amendment) Order 2024, outlining the framework for the introduction of a system of provisional registration of overseas-qualified dentists, has been prepared. The consultation and proposed amendment is part of the commitment to increase workforce capacity under the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan. The consultation closes on 16 May 2024.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced a 12-week public consultation, commencing on 26 November 2024, on proposals to regulate NHS managers and enhance whistleblower protection. The consultation will explore options including a voluntary accreditation register, statutory barring mechanisms and full statutory registration for managers. Key proposals include the potential barring of managers who silence whistleblowers or endanger patients and the introduction of a new professional duty of candour. The regulatory framework would, at minimum, apply to board-level directors in NHS organisations, arm's length body board level directors and integrated care board members. Additionally, the DHSC is developing a single code of practice, standards and competencies for NHS leaders and managers to support the proposed regulatory changes.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a consultation on applying the updated Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) to existing restrictions on the advertising and promotion of less healthy food and drink products. The consultation seeks views on how the revised model should be applied to the Advertising (Less Healthy Food Definitions and Exemptions) Regulations 2024, SI 2024/1266 and the Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021, SI 2021/1368, as well as on implementation timelines.