Skip to content
In a major restructuring of the UK’s healthcare system, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that NHS England will be abolished to cut bureaucracy and bring the service “back into democratic control.” Speaking on 13 March, Starmer stated that the move aims to focus resources on patient care rather than administrative overheads.
Under the plan, the functions of NHS England will be absorbed into the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), with oversight returning to elected politicians rather than an independent arm’s-length body. This follows recent changes led by Health Secretary Wes Streeting and the resignation of NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard.
Sir James Mackey will take on the role of Transition CEO in April to oversee the integration process. NHS England, originally established in 2013 to provide the NHS with greater independence, currently employs around 13,500 staff—three times more than the DHSC. The restructuring marks one of the most significant shifts in NHS governance in over a decade.
The government argues that these reforms will streamline decision-making and direct more funding towards frontline healthcare. However, the move is likely to spark debate over the balance between political oversight and operational autonomy within the NHS.
Read the full story here.
