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Doubts raised over NHS reform despite record £29bn funding boost
Health chiefs have expressed concerns that the government’s record £29 billion increase for the NHS may still fall short of delivering the reforms promised. Though the funding rise represents a 3% annual increase, Matthew Taylor, the chief executive of NHS Confederation, warns it may be absorbed by rising costs and staff pay pressures, rather than improving services or cutting waiting times.
Sarah Woolnough of The King’s Fund noted that although the commitment to increase health spending is welcome, the allocation may not be sufficient to meet the government’s wide-ranging promises – from enhancing mental health care to reducing ambulance delays.
Source: The Telegraph, 11 June 2025
See also: The King’s Fund - The King's Fund responds to the Comprehensive Spending Review | The Health Foundation - A good settlement for the NHS but the government’s health mission is missing in action | Nuffield Trust - Nuffield Trust response to the Spending Review
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South London council to ban adverts for vapes, junk food and gambling
Kingston Council plans to ban adverts for vaping, junk food, alcohol, and gambling on all council-owned sites and services.
A 2023 health review found tobacco, alcohol, and obesity were key drivers of poor health in the borough. The council says the ad ban aims to improve resident’s health and will help reduce exposure to harmful products.
Source: MyLondon, 11 June 2025
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NHS Confederation and Providers move towards merger amid cost pressures
The NHS Confederation and NHS Providers are exploring ways to work more closely, including a possible merger in response to growing financial constraints. NHS Confederation CEO Matthew Taylor and NHS Providers’ new chief executive Daniel Elkeles highlight the need to focus on service demands and minimise duplication of work across the organisations. The discussions come amid wider NHS reforms aimed at cutting management costs and restructuring bodies including ICBs. Any formal decision on a merger is expected to be framed as creating a new entity rather than one absorbing the other.
Source: Health Service Journal, 12 June 2025
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Shops in Yorkshire selling disposable vapes following UK ban
Despite the nationwide ban on single-use vapes from 1 June, nearly half of shops visited by a BBC undercover reporter in Yorkshire were still openly selling the now-illegal products.
While certain shops complied with the new rules, others continued selling at discounted rates, with some retailers admitting knowingly breaking the law to offload remaining stock. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs warns that uncompliant trader’s risk serious penalties, including possible criminal prosecution.
Source: BBC News, 12 June 2025
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Illegal tobacco and vapes confiscated in Stoke-on-Trent raids
Authorities in Stoke-on-Trent have confiscated illicit tobacco and vaping products valued at £25,000 during coordinated raids on four premises in Tunstall. The operation resulted in the seizure of thousands of cigarettes, 6.5 kilograms of hand-rolling tobacco, hundreds of vapes, and multiple tubs of shisha. The crackdown forms part of Operation Cece, a nationwide effort to curb the illegal tobacco trade.
Source: BBC News, 12 June 2025
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Philip Morris report claims sharp rise in illicit cigarette use across the EU
A report commissioned by tobacco company Philip Morris International and published by the consultancy firm KPMG claims that there has been a sharp rise in illicit cigarette consumption across the EU in 2024, with France and the Netherlands seeing the highest rates. The study claims nearly 39 billion illegal cigarettes were consumed EU-wide, with high-tax nations particularly affected. The findings come amid pressure from several member states for stronger EU-wide tobacco tax laws.
The French Alliance Against Tobacco have strongly criticised the report’s credibility, citing its industry backing and questionable methodology, noting that previous versions of the report drew widespread criticism from academic experts. They state that the only purpose of the report is to discredit public health efforts and that rising tobacco prices have not changed the way smokers purchase cigarettes.
Source: Euractiv, 11 June 2025
Editorial note: Lowering levels of tax are not known to reduce the size of the illicit tobacco market. The most effective way to reduce the illicit market is enforcement. The World Bank has provided a summary of the global evidence here:
https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/680311548773329872/executive-summary
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EU under pressure to strengthen tobacco tax laws and curb illicit trade
A group of 15 European finance ministers have called for an urgent review of the 2011 Tobacco Taxation Directive to harmonise excise tax rates, strengthen public health and tackle illicit trade.
Tobacco companies are accused of exploiting uneven tax regimes and leveraging low-tax markets to flood neighbouring countries with cheap cigarettes, undermining national health policies and costing governments billions in lost revenue. The article also point to flaws in the EU’s tobacco tracking system, which relies on firms with industry ties, potentially compromising its integrity.
Source: Business Matters, 12 June 2025
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