Lewis Atkinson

Naloxone is a lifesaving medicine that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, including for highly potent synthetic opioids which are growing in prevalence in the United Kingdom. It is more important than ever to increase access to naloxone products, which will save lives.

The Department recently amended the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to further expand access to naloxone. The legislation will mean more services and professionals are able to supply this medication, which in turn means easier access to it for people at risk, and for their loved ones. This legislation came into force in early December 2024.

Route one of the legislation increased the number of services and professionals specified in regulations who can provide ‘take home naloxone’. However, not all services and professions have an agreed statutory definition across the four nations of the UK. As such, route two of the legislation set up the legal framework, which includes supply network coordinators, for the creation of a registration service for services and professions who fall outside of the definitions listed in route one to apply and to be able to provide take home naloxone. The Government is continuing to work with the devolved administrations and front-line services to explore the set-up and delivery of this registration service and to help deliver wider access to naloxone for all who need it.

The Department has also recently published the guidance, Supplying take home naloxone without a prescription, that sets out essential practical information such as who can supply naloxone, the products available, how to use naloxone and other basic lifesaving tools, and the training required. The guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supplying-take-home-naloxone-without-a-prescription

The Government and the National Health Service recognise that prevention will always be better and cheaper than a cure, and that supporting the country to be physically active is important in helping people live longer, healthier lives.

The Department of Health and Social Care co-funds the Primary School PE and Sport Premium with the Department for Education, and the School Games Organiser Network with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, both of which enable schools across the country to support children to have fun and move more through physical education, sport, play, and other forms of physical activity. Building healthy habits early on, in and out of school, is essential to helping children thrive, develop, and stay healthy.

The NHS Better Health Campaign promotes ways for adults, families, and children to move more, and signposts to digital support like Couch to 5k and the NHS Active 10 walking app, an accessible way of building movement into everyday life. The NHS, together with local authorities, also promotes and provides services to support people in building movement into their lives, for instance through exercise on referral and social prescribing.

As part of their place expansion approach, Sport England will be meeting with the Sunderland City Council later this summer to discuss working with them on tackling inactivity and participation inequalities through a whole system, place-based approach.

Juries are a vital part of our criminal justice system and undertake an important civic duty. The support provided to jurors includes measures to assist those who may suffer financial hardship. The Government will keep under review all support provided to jurors throughout their service.