The new NHS Direct Payments regulations came into force on the 1st April 2026. More more details about these regulations, please see the update below:
Dear Colleagues,
Following on from my email below, I am pleased to inform you that the NHS (Direct Payments) (Wales) Regulations 2026 were passed by Senedd Cymru, this week. The Minister for Children and Social Care has also issued a Cabinet statement to mark both this milestone and the coming into force of the Regulations on 1 April 2026.
The statement also references statutory guidance that has been prepared to support understanding and implementation of the Regulations, helping to explain how they should operate in practice.
The initial implementation of this legislation focuses on adults eligible for Continuing NHS Healthcare (CHC) who, from 1 April, will be able to request direct payments to arrange elements of their own care, instead of receiving NHS‑provided services.
This mirrors direct payment arrangements within social care and responds to long‑standing calls from people with lived experience of long‑term care.
This reform will enhance autonomy and flexibility, allowing individuals – many of whom are transitioning from social care – to retain trusted Personal Assistants and tailor support to their needs and individual circumstances.
To further assist, we have also published an Interim Policy Statement that includes updates to the ‘Continuing NHS Healthcare – the National Framework for Implementation in Wales’ (2021) to reflect the legislative changes made through the Health and Social Care (Wales) Act 2025, and the Regulations made thereunder. These updates to the 2021 Framework should be considered and applied alongside the existing CHC Framework, in advance of a full review.
If you have any queries, please contact directpayments@gov.wales in the first instance.
Kind Regards
Albert Heaney CBE
Chief Social Care Officer for Wales
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