This briefing explores what announcements the government could make in the King’s Speech on 13 May 2026 about health.
Research briefing: 'King's Speech 2026: Health' (292KB PDF)
Approximate read time: 10 minutes
Legislation is required for the government’s plans to abolish NHS England. The government has also announced further structural changes to the health system, including to the membership and functions of integrated care boards.
The government’s 10 year health plan set out its intention to simplify the patient safety landscape by:
The government has also said it intends to legislate for a single patient record: all of a patient’s medical records in one place, accessible to the patient.
In the 2024 King’s Speech, the government announced it would produce a draft bill to ban conversion therapy: a range of practices which seek to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The draft bill was not published during the 2024–26 session.
This briefing has been prepared to assist members of the House of Lords in the debates on the King’s Speech. It draws upon material from the public domain and does not constitute official information about the government’s intentions or provide a complete list of bills to be announced.
Research briefing: 'King's Speech 2026: Health' (292KB PDF)
In January 2026, the government announced a new scheme to support urgent repairs and essential improvements to listed places of worship. Called the ‘Places of worship renewal fund for England’, it replaced the ‘Listed places of worship grant scheme’ which had run since 2001. This briefing provides an overview of both schemes, the government’s reasoning for the change and the reaction of stakeholders.
There have been big differences in expenditure across different forms of healthcare for a number of years. In 2024/25, spending on acute care was £74.7bn, compared to £14.5bn on primary care and £13.8bn on community services. Both the 2024 Labour Party manifesto and the subsequent 10 year health plan for England contained an emphasis on shifting towards more care being delivered in local communities rather than in acute settings, dubbed a ‘neighbourhood health service’.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as ME or chronic fatigue syndrome, is a long-term health condition that is estimated to affect over 400,000 people in the UK. It is a fluctuating condition with symptoms including fatigue, sleep problems and brain fog. In 2025 the government published its final delivery plan on ME, which aimed to improve care and support for those with the condition.
