Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to abolish NHS England, bringing the management of the National Health Service back under direct political control.
Speaking on public sector reforms, Starmer confirmed that the "arms-length body" NHS England will be scrapped, as reported by the BBC.
“I’m taking action to bring the NHS back into democratic control by abolishing NHS England,” he stated. “This will put the NHS back at the heart of government where it belongs.”
The Labour leader argued that the move would eliminate unnecessary duplication between NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care, ensuring a more streamlined and efficient approach to healthcare management.
“I don’t believe decisions about £200 billion of taxpayer money—on something as crucial as our healthcare—should be made by an arms-length body,” Starmer said.
“And I can’t, in good conscience, justify spending public funds on two layers of bureaucracy. That money should go directly to frontline services—nurses, doctors, operations, and GP appointments.”
As part of a broader strategy to reduce government red tape, Starmer emphasized his commitment to cutting bureaucracy and refocusing government spending on public priorities.
“Today, I’m announcing a shift in approach—cutting excess bureaucracy across the state, focusing government on the needs of working people, and ensuring more funding goes where it matters most,” he said.
His announcement came as part of a wider speech on government reform, in which he outlined plans to modernize the civil service and integrate artificial intelligence into public administration.
Writing in The Telegraph, Starmer described the reforms as a response to what he called an “overcautious, flabby state,” emphasizing the need for efficiency and innovation in government operations.
With these changes, the Prime Minister aims to reshape the public sector, making it leaner, more effective, and more aligned with the priorities of British citizens. Photo by Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, Wikimedia commons.