Health and Social Care Legislation

Regulations governing the NHS, healthcare provision, social care services, public health measures, and medical standards.

The Tribunal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2025, effective May 30th, 2025, amend several sets of tribunal procedure rules.

Key changes include clarifying that tribunals can set aside decisions on their own initiative or applications by parties, and mandating written notification to all parties when a decision is set aside. Additionally, a specific amendment restores community patient rights regarding hearings in health-related cases.

These amendments improve procedural fairness and address issues identified in past legislation and case law.

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The Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

The Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective May 20, 2025 (with some exceptions), extend several transitional periods related to post-Brexit official controls on food, feed, animal health, plant health, and plant protection products.

The amendments postpone deadlines in Annex 6 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, the Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods) Regulations 2021, and the Official Controls (Plant Health) (Frequency of Checks) Regulations 2022, delaying stricter checks on certain imported goods until January 31, 2027.

These changes aim to ease the transition to the new regulatory framework.

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The Victim Support (Specified Roles) Regulations 2025

The Victim Support (Specified Roles) Regulations 2025, enacted under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, specify the roles of independent domestic violence advisors, independent sexual violence advisors, and independent stalking advocates.

These regulations mandate the Secretary of State to provide guidance on these roles, aiming to enhance support services for victims of crime. The regulations have a staggered implementation, with most provisions coming into force on May 9th, 2025, and one specific regulation effective February 2nd, 2026.

The legislation clarifies the responsibilities of these support roles, drawing existing legal definitions from the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

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The Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) Regulations 2025

The Cosmetic Products (Restriction of Chemical Substances) Regulations 2025, effective September 30, 2025, amend Annex 3 of (EC) No 1223/2009 to restrict methyl salicylate in cosmetics.

The regulation sets varying maximum concentrations based on product type, ensuring safe levels according to Scientific Advisory Group advice. A transitional period until March 31, 2026, allows existing stock to be sold.

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The East and North Hertfordshire National Health Service Trust (Establishment) (Amendment) Order 2025

This order amends the 2000 Establishment Order for the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust.

It changes the trust's name to include "Teaching," updates its functions to focus on providing health services, modifies the director structure by adding non-executive directors (one from the University of Hertfordshire), and removes outdated provisions relating to its operational date.

The changes aim to modernize the trust's governance and legal framework.

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The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective April 1st, 2025, amend the 2008 regulations to increase lump sum payments for individuals with diffuse mesothelioma and their dependents by 1.7%.

The adjustments only apply to claims made on or after this date, and individuals first diagnosed on or after this date.

The increase is applied across various age brackets as outlined in the updated tables within the amendment.

The regulations extend to England, Wales, and Scotland.

A full impact assessment was deemed unnecessary due to the insignificant effect on the public, private, or voluntary sectors.

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The Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

The 2025 Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations increase lump sum payments under the 1988 Regulations.

These amendments, effective April 1st, 2025, raise the amounts payable to individuals disabled by pneumoconiosis, mesothelioma, or related diseases, or their dependents.

The increases are approximately 1.7%, rounded to the nearest pound, applying only to cases where entitlement is established on or after the effective date.

The regulations were approved by both Houses of Parliament.

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The Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2025

This Order amends the 2011 Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme.

It increases the weekly armed forces independence payment to £187.45 and the Motability payment to £77.05.

Additionally, it adds a new descriptor to Schedule 3, covering overuse injuries of the larynx requiring operative treatment, making a temporary award permanent.

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