Starmer to scrap NHS England and bring health service back under 'democratic control'

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that NHS England will be abolished to "cut bureaucracy" and bring management of the health service "back into democratic control".

Starmer says it will put the NHS "back at the heart of government, where it belongs, freeing it to focus on patients, less bureaucracy, with more money for nurses," adding that it would also help cut waiting times, which he said had been falling for five months in a row.

NHS England was established in 2013 to give the health service greater independence and autonomy; it employs around 13,500 staff - three times more than the Department of Health.

Outlining his decision to ditch NHS England, Starmer said the move would reduce "duplication" and save money for the frontline services.

Starmer stresses that employees of NHS England are hugely qualified and says the government will not be abandoning anybody as it moves to scrap the body.

But, the PM says, we can't look people who want quicker appointments in the eye and say that we're fearful of taking big decisions.

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Source: BBC News, 13 March 2025