Health and Social Care Legislation
Regulations governing the NHS, healthcare provision, social care services, public health measures, and medical standards.
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.
The Legislative Reform (Disclosure of Adult Social Care Data) Order 2025
The Legislative Reform (Disclosure of Adult Social Care Data) Order 2025 amends the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 and the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004.
These amendments allow the sharing of matched adult social care data with local authorities in England and Wales to improve fraud detection and financial recovery.
The Order was enacted under the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006, following parliamentary approval and consultation.
The Dentists Act 1984 (Medical Authorities) Order 2025
The Dentists Act 1984 (Medical Authorities) Order 2025 designates the University of Portsmouth as a medical authority, empowering it to conduct dentistry examinations and grant licenses.
This order, effective September 3rd, 2025, applies across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, potentially increasing the capacity for dental professionals while leveraging existing legal frameworks.
No significant impact on the public, private or voluntary sectors is anticipated.
The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These regulations amend the 2004 National Health Service regulations concerning prescription drugs.
Specifically, they update the list of drugs for erectile dysfunction, removing Tadalafil and Vardenafil while adding Cialis and Levitra, and remove notification requirements for prescribing Oseltamivir and Zanamivir.
These changes aim to improve efficiency and access to necessary medications while streamlining administrative processes.