Regulation of Health and Social Care Bill pushed back to 2027

Consultation raised issues including beauty treatments, prescription-only medicines, and workforce skills

The Regulation of Health and Social Care Bill is now expected to be introduced into Tynwald in February 2027, more than a year later than originally planned.

The revised timeline was confirmed by the Health and Social Care Minister Claire Christian in response to a written question from Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper.

She says DHSC had previously indicated an intention to introduce the legislation in October 2025, but that target has now been revised.

The delay follows a public consultation held in August 2025, which raised a range of complex issues requiring further consideration.

These included concerns around prescription-only medicines, skills and expertise gaps, emerging beauty treatments, overlap with existing regulatory regimes, protected professional titles, dual registration and proportionality.

Questions were also raised about whether certain alternative and complementary therapies should fall within the Bill's remit.

Ms Christian says the consultation also revealed misunderstandings about the proposed fee structure and which service providers would be subject to regulation.

She confirmed that additional guidance has been published online, with further information in development, and adds the department will now review specific policy areas to ensure the legislation is clear, proportionate, legally robust, and capable of safeguarding vulnerable people while supporting the delivery of safe, high-quality care.