Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed plans to abolish NHS England, bringing its responsibilities back under direct government control. As reported by Sky News, the move aims to reduce bureaucracy, cut costs, and improve efficiency, but has sparked concerns over potential disruption to the health service.
NHS England, established in 2013, was designed to operate independently, overseeing NHS services, budgets, and policy implementation. However, the government argues that wasteful duplication of roles between NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is slowing down reforms and diverting funds away from patient care.
Why Is NHS England Being Scrapped?
The government claims that merging NHS England into the Department of Health and Social Care will make the NHS more accountable, efficient, and responsive to patient needs. Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated that cutting bureaucracy will allow more resources to be redirected to frontline care, estimating that the reform could save £100 million, with additional plans to invest in AI and digitalisation to unlock £45 billion in savings.
Starmer explained that removing unnecessary duplication is a key reason behind the decision. He pointed out that NHS England and the government’s health department currently have separate teams performing the same functions, stating:
“Amongst the reasons we are abolishing it is because of the duplication. So, if you can believe it, we’ve got a communications team in NHS England, we’ve got a communications team in the health department of government; we’ve got a strategy team in NHS England, a strategy team in the government department. We are duplicating things that could be done once.”
By eliminating this overlap, the government hopes to refocus spending on frontline services. Starmer emphasised:
“Stripping out duplication allows the government to free up that money to put it where it needs to be, which is the front line.”
What Happens Next?
The process of fully merging NHS England into the DHSC is expected to take two years. The transition will be overseen by a new leadership team, following the resignations of NHS England’s chief executive Amanda Pritchard and three senior board members.
Some healthcare experts have raised concerns about the impact on NHS staff and services. Thea Stein, head of the Nuffield Trust, acknowledged the logic behind cutting bureaucracy but warned:
“We must remain mindful of the human cost of this decision.”
Similarly, The Health Foundation called it a “watershed moment,” stating that while reforming NHS governance is logical, there is a risk that restructuring efforts could divert attention away from patient care at a critical time.
Will This Improve the NHS?
The government insists that the reforms will help cut NHS waiting times, making services more efficient and patient-focused. Starmer reinforced this commitment, stating:
“The NHS will refocus on cutting waiting times at your hospital.”
However, critics argue that past NHS restructures have led to instability, with the 2012 Health and Social Care Act later blamed for increasing bureaucracy rather than improving patient outcomes.
With the NHS already under pressure, the success of these reforms will depend on how effectively resources are managed and whether the government can prevent disruption to patient care.
