Health Management and Policy Alert

Open call for evidence: Tuberculosis National Action Plan 2026 to 2031

UK Health Security Agency -
Since 2021, the tuberculosis (TB) landscape in England has changed and TB incidence is increasing in England. The aim of the next tuberculosis (TB) action plan for 2026 to 2031 is to improve the prevention, detection and control of TB in England. The plan will focus on the needs of those affected by TB, and TB services, while recognising the need to prioritise the interventions that are most effective in addressing the increase in people living in with TB. This call for evidence closes on 2 May 2025.

• Call for evidence response form
• UK Health Security Agency - publications

Proposed review of the 2025 scheme to control the cost of branded health service medicines

Department of Health and Social Care -
The statutory scheme is set out in legislation in the Branded Health Service Medicines (Costs) Regulations 2018. It is one of two schemes, alongside the 2024 voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth, that control the costs of branded medicines to the NHS. This consultation seeks views on proposals to update the statutory scheme to control the cost of branded health service medicines. The closing date for comments is 25 April 2025.

• Consultation
• Department of Health and Social Care - consultations

DHSC group accounting manual 2025 to 2026 consultation exercise

Department of Health and Social Care -
The DHSC and its bodies within the DHSC accounting boundary are required by law to produce an annual report and accounts. The group accounting manual is DHSC’s guidance to bodies on preparing and publishing an annual report and accounts. This consultation seeks views on the accounting manual that applies to DHSC bodies for their annual reports and accounts. The closing date for comments is 7 March 2025.

• Consultation
• Department of Health and Social Care - consultations

2025/26 NHS Payment Scheme consultation

NHS England -
The NHS Payment Scheme (NHSPS) sets rules for determining the amount payable by a commissioner for the provision of NHS health care services and some public health services. This consultation on the proposed 2025/26 NHSPS is open until midnight on 28 February 2025.

• Consultation
• NHS England - publications

NHS pension scheme: proposed amendments for April 2025

Department of Health and Social Care -
This consultation seeks views on proposed amendments to the NHS Pension Scheme for 1 April 2025. Among the proposed changes are to: retrospectively amend the definition of overtime in the 2015 Scheme to be pensionable up to whole-time equivalent hours; clarify the method for calculating member contributions where pay reduces during a period of absence; and amend the regulations regarding general practitioner (GP) and non-GP provider annual certificates of pensionable profit. The closing date for comments is 4 February 2025.

• Consultation
• Department of Health and Social Care - consultations

Health and social care statistical outputs: consultation outcome

Department of Health and Social Care -
The Department of Health and Social Care, NHS Business Services Authority, UK Health Security Agency, Office for National Statistics and NHS England are making changes to statistical products to with the aim of creating an improved, more coherent and efficient health and social care statistical landscape. This response sets out the changes, including: merging and rationalising products to reduce duplication and improve the user experience; changing the frequency of products; changing the scope and/or volume of products; reducing commentary where appropriate; and reviewing products, with the aim of improving the quality of these.

• Consultation response
• Department of Health and Social Care - consultations

Tackling modern slavery in NHS procurement: proposed regulations and guidance

Department of Health and Social Care - 
This consultation invites views on the draft National Health Service (Procurement, Slavery and Human Trafficking) Regulations 2024 and accompanying guidance. It is seeking opinions on: how the regulations will be implemented; the impact of the regulations on tackling modern slavery; how frameworks and dynamic markets should assess and manage modern slavery risks; and how public bodies want to be supported to implement these new duties. The closing date for comments is 13 February 2025.

• Consultation
• Department of Health and Social Care - consultations

Information standards for health and adult social care in England: consultation response

Department of Health and Social Care -
This is the Department of Health and Social Care’s response to the consultation about proposals for regulations to make provision about the procedure to be followed for the preparation and publication of information standards.

• Consultation response
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

Proposed update to the statutory scheme to control the cost of branded health service medicines: consultation response

Department of Health and Social Care -
There were 30 responses to this consultation. The majority (87 per cent) of these responses were from pharmaceutical companies or trade bodies. Following consideration of consultation responses, the department has decided to maintain broad commercial equivalence with the voluntary scheme by implementing various changes.

• Consultation response
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

Proposal for a ‘tie-in’ to NHS dentistry for graduate dentists

Department of Health and Social Care -
This consultation seeks the views of interested parties on the proposal for a ‘tie-in’ to NHS dentistry for newly qualified dentists. This would ensure that graduate dentists spend at least some of their time delivering NHS care in the years following the completion of training. It is aimed at those who have an interest in the policy proposal, whether professionals, organisations or members of the public. The closing date for comments is 18 July 2024.

• Consultation
• Department of Health and Social Care - consultations