Sir Keir Starmer has announced that NHS England will be abolished and placed under "democratic control," aiming to cut bureaucracy and duplication. This initiative seeks to streamline the organization, directing more funding towards frontline services.
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03-14, 2025Under the government's plan, NHS England, which oversees national healthcare, will be absorbed into the Department of Health. It is anticipated that approximately 50% of positions will be cut from NHS England (which had 14,400 employees as of December) and the Department of Health (which has 3,500 employees). This move is intended to give the government greater control and accountability over its key commitment to reduce NHS waiting times.
Speaking in Hull, Sir Keir stated that politicians have long "chosen to hide behind vast quangos." The government indicated that it will immediately begin transferring many of NHS England's existing functions back to the Department of Health and Social Care, with the goal of completing this process within two years.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said that these changes would "liberate" frontline staff from excessive and "competing instructions." He added that it would deliver better value for taxpayers and better outcomes for patients, as the millions of pounds saved could be redeployed to the front line to provide better care.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch welcomed the move to bring healthcare management back under ministerial control but warned Labour that they "won't be able to hide if things go wrong." Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also supported the plans, but he argued that this is not the main problem facing the NHS, and the government needs to focus on increasing the number of GPs, NHS dentists, community pharmacists, and ensuring social care actually works.
The Health Foundation think tank warned that the restructuring will distract senior leaders. Unite union head Sharon Graham stated: "Cutting these posts is an ill-thought-out strategy that may ultimately make it difficult for frontline healthcare staff to do their jobs effectively if they are not paid on time, do not have basic medical supplies, or are forced to do extra administrative work instead of treating patients."
Former head of the civil service Lord Gus O'Donnell told the BBC that the message the government is sending to civil servants is "simply disastrous." He cited Sir Keir Starmer's "warm bath" comments and the government's briefing to The Guardian that they want to do a "chainsaw project." Prospect union leader Mike Clancy also agreed that reform is needed, but he added: "The government must recognise that there is a fine line between cutting bureaucracy and undermining essential state functions."
