Health and Social Care Legislation
Regulations governing the NHS, healthcare provision, social care services, public health measures, and medical standards.
The National Health Service (Help with Health Costs) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care enacts these Regulations under the National Health Service Act 2006 to amend existing NHS charging and remission rules, specifically granting eligibility for full NHS charge remission and travel expense reimbursement to individuals medically evacuated from conflict zones.
Furthermore, the Regulations introduce free prescription charges for drugs supplying treatment for tuberculosis and its effects, correct previous amendments concerning automatic prepayment certificate cancellations for cancer patients gaining exemptions, and update the monetary values for prescription prepayment certificate refunds to align with current pricing structures.
The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement No. 8) Regulations 2025
These Regulations exercise powers under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 to specify dates for bringing certain provisions of that Act into force, representing the eighth commencement instrument.
Specifically, Regulation 2 brings into force part of Section 20 concerning child victims of domestic abuse, requiring notification to schools starting November 7, 2025, while Regulation 3 brings into force Sections 28, 29, and 30 on January 12, 2026, relating to information requests for victims, service police information protocols, and the review of counselling information requests.
The Official Controls (Import of High-Risk Food and Feed of Non-Animal Origin) (Amendment of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793) (England) Regulations 2025
These Regulations, titled the Official Controls (Import of High-Risk Food and Feed of Non-Animal Origin) (Amendment of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793) (England) Regulations 2025, were enacted by the Secretary of State to amend the existing framework governing enhanced official controls on specific high-risk food and feed of non-animal origin entering England.
The key changes involve replacing the former Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes and TARIC sub-divisions with a single 'commodity code' structure to align with the UK's Integrated Tariff system, and substituting the previous Annexes I and II of EUR 2019/1793 with updated lists detailing required controls, hazards, and inspection frequencies for products originating from various third countries.
The Regulations extend to England and Wales but apply only to England, coming into force on January 1, 2026.
The Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025
These Regulations, enacted by the Secretary of State for England and the Welsh Ministers for Wales under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999, amend the primary Bathing Water Regulations 2013.
The changes involve updating definitions, establishing new criteria to restrict the identification of bathing waters based on feasibility, cost, or safety risks, granting flexibility in setting the official bathing season duration, modifying procedures for waters classified as 'poor' for five consecutive years by introducing a reconsideration period, and updating requirements for monitoring and reporting short-term pollution and annual data.
The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2025
These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State under powers in the Road Traffic Act 1988, amend the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999 to update the medical standards for Group 2 driving licences (bus and lorry drivers) concerning diabetes management, specifically by replacing the requirement for 'blood glucose monitoring' with 'appropriate monitoring to assess glucose levels and any risk of hypoglycaemia' and modifying requirements for monitoring devices.
The Veterinary Surgeons (Recognition of University Degree) (Harper and Keele) Order of Council 2025
This Order in Council officially recognizes the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVetMS) degree jointly conferred by Harper Adams University and the University of Keele, thereby establishing that holders of this degree meet the necessary standards to become registered members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, provided they meet the prescribed procedural and fee requirements.
The Kent and Medway National Health Service and Social Care Partnership Trust (Establishment) and the West Kent National Health Service and Social Care Trust and the East Kent National Health Service and Social Care Partnership Trust (Dissolution) (Amendment) Order 2025
The Kent and Medway National Health Service and Social Care Partnership Trust (Establishment) and the West Kent National Health Service and Social Care Trust and the East Kent National Health Service and Social Care Partnership Trust (Dissolution) (Amendment) Order 2025 amends the 2006 Order establishing the Kent and Medway National Health Service and Social Care Partnership Trust.
The amendment changes the Trust's name to 'Kent and Medway Mental Health National Health Service Trust', updates its defined functions to 'provide goods and services for the purposes of the health service,' and removes outdated provisions such as the 'operational date' and unnecessary definitions.
The changes take effect on October 13, 2025, and extend to England and Wales.
The Advertising (Less Healthy Food and Drink) (Brand Advertising Exemption) Regulations 2025
The Advertising (Less Healthy Food and Drink) (Brand Advertising Exemption) Regulations 2025 establish an exemption from advertising restrictions for brand advertisements of less healthy food and drink products, as defined within the regulations, under the Communications Act 2003.
The regulations clarify this exemption by detailing specific criteria for what constitutes a brand advertisement and what types of brand advertisements remain subject to restriction.
The regulations came into force on October 31, 2025, and apply to all four nations within the United Kingdom.