Health and care sector latest developments
New NHS Employers chief executive announced
Ben Morrin has been appointed as the new chief executive of NHS Employers, starting in July, where he will focus on strengthening workforce leadership and supporting NHS organisations.
He brings experience from senior NHS roles, including leading organisational integration and improving staff conditions and employment practices.
His appointment comes during the wider NHS Confederation and NHS Providers restructure, with leadership changes and the creation of the new unified membership body, The NHS Alliance.
Ben Morrin said:
“I am really looking forward to becoming the chief executive of NHS Employers and helping shape The NHS Alliance.
“NHS Employers has a fundamental role to inspire people leadership that will make the greatest difference for patients and communities.
“At a time of growing pressure on colleagues across the NHS, it is vital that NHS Employers influences on the issues that matter and in partnership with trade unions.”
Sir Ciarán Devane, who will be chief executive of The NHS Alliance in April, said:
“Ben brings a wealth of experience of workforce leadership, large-scale integration and partnership working across the system. His practical track record of improving employment practice and championing staff rights is exactly what NHS Employers needs as it supports employers and workforce leaders through a very challenging period.
“…I would also like to thank Dean Royles for his steady leadership as interim chief executive and for ensuring continuity ahead of Ben taking up post in July.”
Health Committee calls for improvements to children's palliative care
The Health and Social Care Committee has urged the government to ensure that forthcoming plans for palliative and end-of-life care lead to improvement in services for children and young people.
In a new report published today, the Committee calls for the forthcoming Modern Service Framework (MSF) to include specific standards for the provision of children's, babies', and young people's palliative care.
Recommendations are also made for 24/7 services and the strengthening of the workforce of specialist doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Committee chair Layla Moran expressed scepticism of "how much store has been set on the MSF, in particular when there has been no indication that additional resources are coming".
GMC reform plans announced
The government has today launched a consultation on reforms to the General Medical Council (GMC), aiming to modernise the ‘outdated’ regulatory system and strengthen patient safety.
The reforms would replace much of the existing framework, enabling the GMC to regulate medical practitioners, physician associates and anaesthesia associates more efficiently.
The proposals focus on improving flexibility across education, registration and fitness to practise processes, allowing regulators to respond more quickly to emerging risks and workforce changes.
The consultation also incorporates key findings from the Leng Review, which highlighted patient confusion around professional roles and recommended renaming certain titles, and the Mann Review, which calls for stronger action to tackle racism and improve transparency in regulatory decisions. Lord John Mann stressed that “racism, including anti-Jewish racism, has no place in the health sector or our NHS”, and that “these reforms will help deliver change”.
In addition, elements of the Williams Review are reflected in proposals to support a more open learning culture in healthcare.
Commons approves Lords changes to the tobacco and vapes bill
The House of Commons considered the Lords' amendments to the tobacco and vapes bill yesterday (23rd March 2026), ultimately approving all 123 changes in a move to tighten regulation.
Health minister Sharon Hodgson confirmed the government’s acceptance of the full package, highlighting key measures including stronger parliamentary scrutiny for age verification rules, the introduction of a licensing scheme, and provisions allowing local authorities to retain proceeds from enforcement penalties.
Amendments also clarify restrictions on advertising, enable future regulation of vape technologies and filters, and accelerate the implementation of updated tobacco definitions.
The Opposition welcomed several of the Lords’ changes, particularly those strengthening enforcement and addressing environmental concerns such as cigarette filters, but raised questions about the practical challenges ahead.
Shadow minister Dr Luke Evans pointed to the risk of growth in the illicit market and called for targeted restrictions based on clear public health risks.
In response, the government emphasised its enforcement strategy, including £10 million in annual funding for trading standards and a broader illicit tobacco plan, suggesting that while the legislative framework is now settled, its success will depend on effective delivery.
NHS App caused ‘confusion and anxiety’ over waiting times
Waiting time information in the NHS App has been overhauled after causing “confusion, anxiety and mistrust” among patients, HSJ has learned.
NHS England changed the app’s waiting information page, which initially showed a mean average time, after it led to many patients calling hospitals to ask why they were waiting longer.
Alongside the mean average referral-to-treatment time for their trust, a new metric has now been added to the page, which shows ‘eight in 10 patients are seen within X weeks’.
A design history document, published by NHS England this month, admitted the previous version, introduced more than two years ago, was causing patients to believe they were seeing a personalised wait time, updated in real time.
Hospital closes beds due to Iran war
A children’s hospital is closing beds and theatres because the Iran war is stopping private patients travelling from the Middle East.
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children Foundation Trust (GOSH) has already closed one ward and plans to “further reduce bed and theatre capacity from April”, it has said.
The move comes after a number of Middle East countries paused sending patients overseas amid the ongoing conflict.
GOSH chief executive Matthew Shaw warned: “This has already begun to affect referral volumes into the trust. As with previous international disruptions, it may take several months for referral patterns to return to normal, even once the situation resolves.”
Russell Group to train 26,000 healthcare professionals by 2030
The Russell Group has committed to training an additional 26,000 graduates in key health and care subjects, including medicine, nursing, dentistry and science.
The pledge represents a 15 per cent increase in the number of healthcare professionals trained across its universities by the end of the decade. According to the group, the expansion will be delivered through partnerships with the NHS, national and local government, industry and local communities.
Commenting on the announcement, UK science minister Lord Vallance said: "This landmark commitment will help us go further in training the next generation of clinicians and scientists, lead to more cutting‑edge companies being formed, and turn research excellence into better outcomes for patients up and down the country."
