Starmer announces abolition of NHS England
PM's move will ‘cause disruption and divert senior leaders' time and energy from improving care for patients,’ Health Foundation warns
Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a Q&A session after delivering a speech where he announced NHS England will be abolished to ‘cut bureaucracy’ and bring management of the health service ‘back into democratic control’ during a visit to Reckitt Benckiser Health Care UK Ltd in Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire, March 13, 2025
SLASHER PM Sir Keir Starmer stepped up his cuts programme today with the abolition of NHS England, part of what he billed a restructuring of the state.
The Prime Minister’s move was denounced as “shambolic and ill thought-out” as thousands of workers risked losing their jobs.
NHS England, a statutory authority managing the health service across most of the country, is to have its functions merged into the health ministry headed by Wes Streeting.
Similar stories
Behind Starmer’s headline-grabbing abolition of NHS England lies a ruthless drive to centralise control so that cuts of £6.6 billion can be made — even if it means reducing cancer services and clinical staff, writes JOHN LISTER
However, unions, professionals, and other parties say extra investment in the NHS is urgent
