The King’s speech, which King Charles III gave on 17th July, sets out the new laws our government plans to pass in the UK.
There were several bills (proposed laws) related directly to health.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill
- will introduce a progressive smoking ban to gradually end the sale of tobacco products
- stop vapes and other nicotine products from being branded and advertised to appeal to children
- strengthen enforcement against underage sales of tobacco and vaping products
The Mental Health Bill
- modernize the Mental Health Act 1983 to give patients greater choice, autonomy, rights and support
- revise detention criteria to ensure people are only detained when necessary
- limit detention of people with learning disabilities and autism
- Strengthen patients’ rights to be involved in care planning
- Remove police stations and prisons as places of safety for mental health crises
Other health-related points
- the government aims to improve healthy life expectancy and reduce lives lost to major killers like cancer and cardiovascular diseases
- there are plans to tackle the mental health crisis and reverse rising suicide rates
- there will be ban on conversion practices
- the Infected Blood Inquiry report highlighted issues with transparency in the health sector that need to be addressed
Full details of the speech can be found on the Gov.UK website.