British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to abolish NHS England and bring it back under government control. The move aims to reduce bureaucracy and redirect funds toward frontline healthcare.
Speaking on Thursday, Starmer said, “That money could and should be spent on nurses, doctors, operations, and GP appointments—not on an arms-length body.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting told Parliament that NHS England had grown significantly, calling it “the biggest quango in the world.” He pointed out that the combined staff numbers in NHS England and the Department of Health had doubled since 2010, a time when the NHS had shorter waiting times and higher patient satisfaction.
“Despite this expansion, the NHS is delivering worse care at a higher cost,” Streeting said, adding that the budget for NHS England staff had risen to £2 billion.
The government argues that integrating NHS England into the Department of Health will streamline decision-making and ensure funding is focused on patient services rather than administrative costs.
