Health and care sector latest developments

MPs vote to allow health staff to opt out of assisted dying process

No one would be forced to help with the process of assisted dying against their wishes, under changes approved by MPs.

BBC News Online has reported that a bill which would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales, expected to die within six months, to seek help to end their own life is currently being considered by parliament.

The legislation passed its first stage in the House of Commons last November – but since then the details have been pored over and dozens of amendments added by both sides.

On Friday MPs debated further potential changes, which also included preventing medical staff from raising the option of assisted dying with a patient first.

However, MPs ran out of time to vote on more changes, so further debate and voting will take place on 13 June.

Kibasi appointed NHS England director of strategy

NHS England has confirmed the appointment of a new strategy director, says the Health Service Journal.

Tom Kibasi joined NHS England from the Department of Health and Social Care yesterday as director of strategy, part of Sir Jim Mackey’s transition executive.

He will lead its strategy team and central policy team.

Mr Kibasi has been an adviser in DHSC since February, with a key role in writing the ten-year health plan.

Key NHS reforms face delay under ten-year health plan

The Financial Times has reported that reforms to improve the NHS in England are unlikely to take full effect until the fourth year of a ten-year plan intended to chart a bold, new direction for the healthcare system, according to people familiar with the process.

The blueprint, due by the summer, is being referred to internally as the 'three-seven' plan, four people with knowledge of the proposals said. The first three years are expected to prioritise clearing long waiting lists as well as building a foundation for wider changes.

This could include a bigger role for hospitals in running community services in their areas, one individual familiar with the thinking behind it suggested. The more limited ambition for the initial stages of the plan would in part be a recognition of the fiscal reality, they added.

Hundreds of thousands of pupils to be supported by mental health teams

The government has announced that close to one million pupils will have access to mental health support in school this year.

Support teams made up of specialists will offer a range of services while aiming to identify issues early. By March 2026, the Department for Education aims for 60 per cent of pupils to be covered by these teams, with full access pledged by 2029/30.

Health secretary Wes Streeting highlighted how "mental health problems when you're young can hold you back in school", which is why the government "is bringing in vital services to schools, so they can intervene early, support pupils, and prevent conditions from becoming severe."

Dentistry survey launched

The Department of Health and Social Care DHSC has launched a survey to inform its plans to improve NHS dentistry.

The survey is open to dentists across the country, with the government explaining that its findings will feed into reform of the dental contract.

Health minister Stephen Kinnock said the survey will lead to "a better understanding of the pressures faced by the sector so we can fix them and deliver better care for patients."

ICBs shouldn’t offload functions ‘overnight’, says NHS England director

The vast majority of trusts are “not ready” to take on primary care and neighbourhood functions, one of NHS England’s medical directors has said.

In a meeting with chief pharmacists last week, Claire Fuller warned “the job card” of integrated care boards should continue to include responsibility for primary care and neighbourhood working. She said “very few places around the country” are ready to pass these functions to provider trusts.

Her comments, seen by the Health Service Journal, came on the same day NHS England’s 'model ICB blueprint' named 18 functions and activities ICBs should give up 'over time', largely to providers. It said 'primary care operations and transformation' (including 'medicines management, estates and workforce support'), as well as 'neighbourhood and place-based partnerships', should be passed to 'neighbourhood health providers'.