Health and Social Care Legislation
Regulations governing the NHS, healthcare provision, social care services, public health measures, and medical standards.
The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Temporary Class Drug) Order 2026
The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Temporary Class Drug) Order 2026 exercises powers under the 1971 Act to designate a list of identified synthetic opioid substances, their isomers, salts, and preparations, as drugs subject to temporary control across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, effective from June 11, 2026, while ensuring existing safe custody and misuse regulations immediately apply to them.
The National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
These Regulations amend the 2015 rules governing National Health Service charges for overseas visitors in England by introducing and clarifying exemptions related to specific diseases and the circumstances under which visitors seek treatment.
Specifically, the amendment clarifies that charges must generally be applied if an overseas visitor came to the UK explicitly for the diagnosis or treatment of a condition listed in Schedule 1, unless the travel was state-approved or funded.
Furthermore, the Regulations add Hantavirus disease, including its severe forms, to the list of conditions exempt from visitor charges, ensuring treatment is free for overseas visitors, and mandates that charges made since May 1st, 2026, for this specific disease must not be recovered or must be repaid.
The Health Protection (Notification) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010 to include hantavirus disease in the list of notifiable diseases in England.
This addition requires registered medical practitioners to notify the relevant local authority if they suspect a patient is suffering from hantavirus disease, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome or haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.
The duty also extends to operators of diagnostic laboratories who identify evidence of the causative agent in human samples.
The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts and Personal Medical Services Agreements) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
These Regulations amend the standard contracts for General Medical Services and Personal Medical Services in England to modify how patients interact with GP practices and pharmacies.
The instrument directs GP contractors to stop limiting online consultation requests during core hours, requires them to provide next-day responses for non-urgent matters, and mandates cooperation with the national Lung Cancer Screening Programme.
It applies to all NHS GP contractors and NHS England, establishing new duties for data sharing, staff survey participation, and the use of digital registration tools.
The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State, amend the 2014 Health and Social Care Act (Regulated Activities) Regulations by removing two specific exemptions from the definition of 'regulated activities' concerning the temporary treatment of disease, disorder, or injury provided at sporting grounds, gymnasiums, or during cultural events; consequently, such treatments will become subject to regulation by the Care Quality Commission, while an exception for incidental transport services during these events is retained, with amendments coming into force in phases starting September 2026 and fully by December 2027 across England and Wales.
The Charges for Residues Surveillance (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026
These Regulations increase the statutory fees charged to food producers and processors for the surveillance of veterinary medicine residues and other substances in animal products.
The rules apply to bovine, goat, sheep, soliped, and swine carcasses, as well as poultry, eggs, milk, fish, and game.
The charges are collected in England and are implemented in two stages: an initial change taking effect on 1 June 2026, followed by a second increase on 1 April 2027.
The Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
The Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, made on April 20, 2026, and coming into force on August 12, 2026, amend Schedule 2 of the 2019 EU Exit Regulations to incorporate 'magnesium L-threonate monohydrate' into the list of approved mineral substances for manufacturing food supplements.
These regulations were enacted by the Secretary of State under powers related to exiting the European Union, apply to England for substance use, and extend to England and Wales for procedural purposes, following consultation compliant with EU food law principles.
The Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Relevant Public Authorities) Regulations 2026
These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, amend Schedule 4 of that Act to remove specific ambulance service trusts in England and Northern Ireland from the list of relevant public authorities permitted to obtain communications data, thereby revoking their statutory power to access such data as of May 11, 2026.