BREAKING: NHS England to be formally abolished, Keir Starmer announces

In a speech delivered today by the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, about reforms to the civil service and the way the UK Government works, he announced that NHS England (NHSE) will be formally abolished.

“I’m bringing management of the NHS back into democratic control, by abolishing the arms-length body NHS England,” Keir Starmer stated.

The Prime Minister said the decision to abolish NHSE will avoid excessive duplication and inefficiencies between NHSE and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

It is a move designed to “cut bureaucracy across the state”, “focus government on the priorities of working people”, and “shift money to the frontline”, according to Keir Starmer.

“That will put the NHS back at the heart of government where it belongs”, the Prime Minister remarked.

NHSE leads the National Health Service (NHS) in England. NHSE is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the DHSC. The organisation was created in 2012 by the then Conservative Government to handle day-to-day running as part of a reorganisation of the NHS.

At the House of Commons, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said that NHSE will be brought into the DHSC entirely over the next two years.

“These reforms will deliver a much leaner top of the NHS, making significant savings of hundreds of millions of pounds a year,” Wes Streeting announced.

The news follows the recent announcement that NHSE Chief Executive, Amanda Pritchard, is resigning at the end of this financial year. Sir James Mackey will be taking over as Transition CEO of NHSE, working closely with Amanda this month before taking up post formally on 1 April 2025.

In another senior leadership shakeup at NHSE, Dr Penny Dash has been confirmed as the new chair of NHSE. As Chair, she will be drawing on her vast knowledge in these fields to focus on rebuilding the NHS as part of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan.