Prime Minister Keir Starmer today startled the nation after announcing he will scrap NHS England — which ministers have labelled the ‘world’s largest quango’.
The body’s functions will be taken over by the Government’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) over the next two years.
The move is expected to see headcount cut by 9,000, resulting in ‘hundreds of millions of pounds in savings’.
But what exactly is NHS England, and what will its dissolution mean for you?
Here, MailOnline reveals all the vital details about the upcoming shift.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer today startled the nation after announcing he planned to scrap NHS England — which ministers have labelled the ‘world’s largest quango’
Q: What is NHS England?
A: NHS England is a quango – Quasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organisation – a body which has a role in the processes of national government, but is not a government department or part of one.
It oversees NHS hospitals, as well as primary care services like GPs, and controls more than £190billion a year of funding for health.
The body also makes crucial decisions on what services, drugs and other treatments are available to patients across the country.
NHS England was established in 2013 by the then-Conservative government, in an effort to allow the health service to operate independently from politics, with objective leaders in charge of deciding how money is spent.
Its launch followed a series of health scandals that were blamed on improper oversight of the NHS by the government department.
It was thought that creating a separate, overarching body to govern the health service would put services under greater scrutiny, improving patient services.
Both Sir Keir and health secretary Wes Streeting argued the move would benefit NHS staff and patients. Pictured Mr Streeting with outgoing NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard
Q: Why does the Prime Minister want to get rid of it?
A: The Prime Minister said abolishing NHS England would bring management of the health service ‘back into democratic control’.
He also argued the move would free up cash that’s tied up in the salaries of workers performing similar roles, which would be re-invested directly into Britain’s health services.
It is thought that cutting the red tape will also speed up processes within the health service, giving greater responsibility to frontline NHS workers.
But No10 has been forced to deny that the initiative has been nicknamed ‘Project Chainsaw’ internally.
Speaking at the Hull HQ of Reckitt Benckiser Health Care UK today, the Prime Minister said: ‘We need more doers, and fewer checkers, which is why I’m devolving resources and responsibilities to the NHS frontline.
‘NHS staff are working flat out but the current system sets them up to fail.
‘These changes will support the huge number of capable, innovative and committed people across the NHS to deliver for patients and taxpayers.’
Answering a question from a cancer patient on how the decision would improve the situation, the Sir Keir said: ‘Amongst the reasons we are abolishing it is because of the duplication.
‘So, if you can believe it, we’ve got a communications team in NHS England, we’ve got a communications team in the health department of government, we’ve got a strategy team in NHS England, a strategy team in the government department.
‘We are duplicating things that could be done once.
‘If we strip that out, which is what we are doing today, that then allows us to free up that money to put it where it needs to be, which is the front line.’
As health is a devolved matter, the equivalent bodies for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland cannot be abolished by the Prime Minister.
Q: Is it a sensible plan — and are patients at risk?
A: NHS bosses today voiced caution over the plan, saying there will be ‘disruption’ and patient care must be ‘prioritised’.
However, both Sir Keir and health secretary Wes Streeting argued the move would benefit NHS staff and patients.
In the House of Commons Mr Streeting told MPs: ‘Just because reform is difficult doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done.
‘This government will never duck the hard work of reform. We will take on vested interests and change the status quo, so the NHS can once again be there for you when you need it.’
Both the Prime Minister and health secretary have previously spoken about their plans to enact bold reform of the NHS in England.
Sir Keir had promised that his government would execute the most radical reform of the service since its creation in 1948.
But neither had given any clue that the abolition of NHS England, and its merger with the DHSC, was on the cards.
The announcement will see significant job cuts.
In the House of Commons Mr Streeting told MPs: ‘Just because reform is difficult doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done’
Asked about the redundancies today, Mr Streeting said: ‘She asks about the reduction of officials — the size of NHS England: there are 15,300 staff.
‘In the DHSC: 3,300 — and across both we’re looking to reduce the overall headcount by 50 per cent.
‘That will deliver hundreds of millions of pounds worth of savings, and the exact figures will be determined by the precise configuration of staff, and obviously we’ll keep the House updated on that.’
Speaking to LBC’s Tonight with Andrew Marr, Mr Streeting also conceded that doctors and nurses may see their roles changed.
‘I’ve got to trust frontline leaders to do the right thing. Of course, they’re going to prioritise frontline services,’ he said.
‘That does mean more doctors, it means more nurses, and it means better care and services available to people at the right time in the right place.
‘But the reason why I was being careful about my words is because inevitably, there’ll be some service changes where a doctor or a nurse might be employed in one place, and that may change, but they should find jobs elsewhere.’
The move, however, has already drawn some criticism from unions who urged the government not to ‘create chaos and confusion’.
Both the Prime Minister and health secretary have previously spoken about their plans to enact bold reform of the NHS in England
Professor Phil Banfield, chair of the BMA council, said: ‘Doctors’ experiences of reorganisations of the NHS have not been positive.
‘This must not become a distraction from the crucial task that lies ahead: dealing with a historic workforce crisis, bringing down waiting lists and restoring the family doctor.
‘If removing a layer from the NHS brings the immediate priority of staff retention closer to ministers’ noses, then all the better.
‘If it merely creates chaos and confusion, then far less so.
‘The reality is that the future of the NHS has always been in the hands of ministers and governments.
‘Doctors and patients now expect them to deliver on their promises.’
Q: Now what?
A: Mr Streeting told the Commons he wanted the transition to be completed in two years.
A new leadership team has also been brought in to help oversee the transition.
Sir James Mackey, chief executive of Newcastle Hospitals, will take over as transition chief executive of NHS England.
Dr Penny Dash, chair of the NHS North West London Integrated Care Board, will become NHS chair.
It comes days after NHS England said leading board members would be stepping down at the end of the month.
These include current NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard, chief financial officer Julian Kelly, chief operating officer Emily Lawson and national medical director Sir Stephen Powis.
