The British leftist government has announced that NHS pharmacies will provide the morning‐after pill free of charge, subsidized by taxpayer funds. This policy aims to equalize women’s access to essential reproductive healthcare and reduce the financial burden on disadvantaged communities.

Following the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023, the NHS is set to reform its procurement practices over the next decade. The Act promises more flexibility and a greater emphasis on inclusive opportunities, particularly for SMEs and VCSEs, potentially modernizing and democratizing NHS contracting processes.

OpenSecrets report reveals NHS Management's significant political contributions, lobbying efforts, and revolving door practices in the 2024 cycle, raising concerns over potential conflicts of interest and regulatory capture.

Government proposals aim to bar NHS managers who silence whistleblowers, increasing accountability and transparency within the NHS management system to improve patient safety and promote fair labor practices.

The UK government consultation outlines proposed regulations that require NHS procurement processes to assess and mitigate modern slavery risks in supply chains. The measures emphasize ethical sourcing and labor practices to eliminate human rights abuses within the NHS supply chain.

The NHS is adopting new regulations as part of a UK government initiative to mitigate modern slavery risks in its procurement processes. These measures require rigorous modern slavery risk assessments and the implementation of reasonable steps in supply chains, thereby strengthening ethical procurement and labor rights practices.

The UK government has launched a consultation on proposed regulations and guidance that would require NHS bodies to conduct modern slavery risk assessments and take reasonable steps to mitigate identified risks in their procurement processes, thereby enforcing ethical supply chain practices.

The article reports on widespread industrial action across the NHS in England, detailing union votes and pay disputes due to inadequate funding and eroding wage scales. The disputes span various staff groups including AfC employees, general practitioners, and doctors, illustrating systemic challenges in ensuring fair labor practices in the NHS.

In December 2023, the NHS presented a comprehensive review to Parliament assessing modern slavery and human trafficking risks within its supply chain. The review, based on both the MSAT and a risk matrix, mapped high-risk product areas such as surgical instruments, gloves, gowns, uniforms, and face masks. It included detailed recommendations to embed modern slavery due diligence in procurement processes, improve supply chain transparency, and enhance supplier engagement to mitigate forced labour risks.

On December 14, 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care published a comprehensive review assessing modern slavery and human trafficking risks within NHS supply chains. The review found that most suppliers are at low risk, but highlighted areas where suppliers are required to submit Modern Slavery Statements. The report outlines recommendations for new regulations, improved supply chain mapping, and enhanced understanding of modern slavery risks by NHS staff, representing a proactive measure to bolster ethical supply chain practices.

A comprehensive review by NHS England assessing the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in its supply chain. The report details high-risk areas in products such as PPE and cotton-based items, revealing vulnerabilities linked to forced labor practices, and recommends urgent measures for enhanced due diligence and supplier oversight.

The NHS is reported to be actively lobbying the government to secure more effective and beneficial funding, criticizing a recent £1.8 billion cash injection that has largely failed to meet the service’s needs in London. This political engagement aims to strengthen public healthcare funding and ensure equitable resource allocation.

Workers affiliated with the NHS Confederation, the body representing organizations that commission and provide NHS services, are planning to strike over announced cuts to pay. This industrial action highlights the workers' push for fair wages and improved labor conditions.

An analysis of potential human trafficking and forced labor risks in the health care supply chain raises concerns over ethical procurement practices. This event scrutinizes how associations with forced labor in supply chains can indirectly implicate health care providers like the NHS in systemic human rights abuses.

An investigative blog report highlights how the outsourcing of certain NHS services has opened avenues for private lobbyists to exert influence on health policy, raising concerns over conflicts of interest, lack of transparency, and the risk of privatization undermining public trust.

The NHS published an equality, diversity, and inclusion improvement plan on June 8, 2023, aimed at addressing prejudice and discrimination within its workforce. The plan was co-produced with input from staff networks and senior leaders, outlining targeted actions to promote a more inclusive and equitable work environment.

NHS nurses and other healthcare workers in England initiated a strike across half of the hospitals, protesting inadequate pay and staffing alongside deteriorating patient safety. The action underscores longstanding issues with labor conditions within the NHS, reflecting broader neglect of workers' rights and contributing to a climate that undermines fair labor practices.

The Health Service Group Executive's 2022 consultation on UNISON’s policy for determining annual pay rises in the NHS highlights a decision-making process that emphasizes worker rights and collective bargaining within the public service.