PM Keir Starmer to abolish NHS England and bring health service back under “democratic control”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced NHS England will be abolished to “cut bureaucracy” and bring management of the health service “back into democratic control”.
The Prime Minister commented: “I don’t see why decisions about £200 billion of taxpayer money on something as fundamental to our security as the NHS, should be taken by an arms length body,” he said in a speech in East Yorkshire.
“I’m bringing management of the NHS back into democratic control by abolishing the arms length body NHS England,” the PM revealed.
NHS England is the body that operates separately to the Department for Health and Social Care, and is responsible for delivering healthcare in England. It was formed in 2012 under the coalition government.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting, said: “This is the final nail in the coffin of the disastrous 2012 reorganisation, which led to the longest waiting times, lowest patient satisfaction, and most expensive NHS in history.
“When money is so tight, we can’t justify such a complex bureaucracy with two organisations doing the same jobs. We need more doers, and fewer checkers, which is why I’m devolving resources and responsibilities to the NHS frontline.”
The news comes after Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, recently confirmed Dr Penny Dash would be the new chair of NHS England.
Last month former NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard stepped down from the role. She had come under criticism from MPs in recent months, and came under scrutiny in January from the Health and Social Care Committee, who said they were disappointed by the answers she gave during questioning.
Keir Starmer made the announcement about NHS England during a speech on plans to reform the health service.
