Keir Starmer Dismantles NHS England to Refocus on Patient Care and Frontline Services

[Social Media]

 

In a major shake-up of the healthcare system, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that NHS England will be abolished in a move aimed at cutting bureaucracy, redirecting funds to frontline services, and restoring government oversight of the health service. NHS England, which was established over a decade ago by the Conservative government, has been criticized for inefficiencies and duplication, which Starmer says the country can no longer afford.  

'I'm bringing management of the NHS back into democratic control by abolishing NHS England'

Follow the latest from Keir Starmer's speech ⬇️https://t.co/5fBsxnU3ZM pic.twitter.com/F6nfRJPvaE

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 13, 2025

 

"We're going to cut bureaucracy across the state. Focus government on the priorities of working people, shift money to the front line," Starmer declared in his speech, emphasizing his commitment to reducing unnecessary administrative costs.  

 

Outlining his reasons for the decision, he stressed the importance of returning the NHS to direct government control, stating, "I'm bringing management of the NHS back into democratic control by abolishing the arms-length body – NHS England. That 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. An NHS refocused on cutting waiting times at your hospital."  

 

"There is no return to austerity. I said that to you before the election, and we're not going to austerity." Sky's Political Editor @BethRigby asks Sir Keir Starmer if the latest wave of announcements made is not austerity, what is? 

"There is no return to austerity. I said that to you before the election, and we're not going to austerity."

Sky's Political Editor @BethRigby asks Sir Keir Starmer if the latest wave of announcements made is not austerity, what is? https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3

📺 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/SAMz5lHjQq

— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 13, 2025

 

Starmer was particularly critical of the structural inefficiencies within NHS England, which he argued had created unnecessary layers of management and duplicated functions already handled by the government. "Amongst the reasons we're 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're duplicating things that could be done once. If we strip that out, which is what we're doing today, that then allows us to free up that money, to put it where it needs to be, which is the front line."  

 

Starmer says 'world's largest quango' NHS England will be SCRAPPED as he condemns 'flabby, unfocused and over-cautious' state for giving worst value EVER - and vows civil service AI drive can save £45bn

 

While this is one of the most significant reforms announced by Starmer’s government so far, he made it clear that it would not be the last difficult decision his administration would take. "Tough choices won't just stop there. In this era, they will keep on coming. Our task is clear, national security, national renewal, driving change forward with a plan for change, focused on the interests of working people, securing our future together," he asserted, signaling a broader commitment to streamlining government operations.  

 

Despite his push for structural changes, Starmer also took a moment to defend civil servants, clarifying that the issue was not about their competence or attitude. "The problem was not that they had the wrong mindframe, or anything like that," he said, ensuring that his reform efforts were not an attack on public sector workers but rather on inefficiencies within the system.  

 

In addition to his plans for the NHS, the prime minister also confirmed a significant shift in the government's approach to business regulations. He announced a new initiative aimed at reducing compliance costs for businesses by 25 percent. "Today I'm issuing a new target for our government. We will make sure compliance costs for businesses are cut by a quarter. That's 25 per cent compliance costs that are going to go – and they will. That's less red tape, more delivery, renewing our country with growth," he stated, underlining his vision for economic efficiency.  

 

With these sweeping changes, Starmer is positioning his government as one focused on cutting through bureaucracy and redirecting resources to where they are needed most. The abolition of NHS England marks a decisive moment in his administration’s efforts to reform public services, and it remains to be seen how this move will impact the healthcare sector in the long term.

 

Based on a report by The Independent  2025-03-14

 

Related Topics:

Why the UK Civil Service Keeps Growing—But Not Improving

 

 

[faraday]

33 minutes ago, Social Media said:

allows us to free up that money, to put it where it needs to be, which is the front line."  

 

 

Hmmm...doesn't say that he will.

[JonnyF]

53 minutes ago, Social Media said:

"We're going to cut bureaucracy across the state. Focus government on the priorities of working people, shift money to the front line,"

 

The front line of the Russia/Ukraine border no doubt. 

 

Good to see him following Musk's lead of tackling bureaucratic waste though.

[newbee2022]

1 hour ago, Social Media said:

 

In a major shake-up of the healthcare system, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that NHS England will be abolished in a move aimed at cutting bureaucracy, redirecting funds to frontline services, and restoring government oversight of the health service. NHS England, which was established over a decade ago by the Conservative government, has been criticized for inefficiencies and duplication, which Starmer says the country can no longer afford.  

 

"We're going to cut bureaucracy across the state. Focus government on the priorities of working people, shift money to the front line," Starmer declared in his speech, emphasizing his commitment to reducing unnecessary administrative costs.  

 

Outlining his reasons for the decision, he stressed the importance of returning the NHS to direct government control, stating, "I'm bringing management of the NHS back into democratic control by abolishing the arms-length body – NHS England. That 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. An NHS refocused on cutting waiting times at your hospital."  

 

"There is no return to austerity. I said that to you before the election, and we're not going to austerity." Sky's Political Editor @BethRigby asks Sir Keir Starmer if the latest wave of announcements made is not austerity, what is? 

 

Starmer was particularly critical of the structural inefficiencies within NHS England, which he argued had created unnecessary layers of management and duplicated functions already handled by the government. "Amongst the reasons we're 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're duplicating things that could be done once. If we strip that out, which is what we're doing today, that then allows us to free up that money, to put it where it needs to be, which is the front line."  

 

Starmer says 'world's largest quango' NHS England will be SCRAPPED as he condemns 'flabby, unfocused and over-cautious' state for giving worst value EVER - and vows civil service AI drive can save £45bn

 

While this is one of the most significant reforms announced by Starmer’s government so far, he made it clear that it would not be the last difficult decision his administration would take. "Tough choices won't just stop there. In this era, they will keep on coming. Our task is clear, national security, national renewal, driving change forward with a plan for change, focused on the interests of working people, securing our future together," he asserted, signaling a broader commitment to streamlining government operations.  

 

Despite his push for structural changes, Starmer also took a moment to defend civil servants, clarifying that the issue was not about their competence or attitude. "The problem was not that they had the wrong mindframe, or anything like that," he said, ensuring that his reform efforts were not an attack on public sector workers but rather on inefficiencies within the system.  

 

In addition to his plans for the NHS, the prime minister also confirmed a significant shift in the government's approach to business regulations. He announced a new initiative aimed at reducing compliance costs for businesses by 25 percent. "Today I'm issuing a new target for our government. We will make sure compliance costs for businesses are cut by a quarter. That's 25 per cent compliance costs that are going to go – and they will. That's less red tape, more delivery, renewing our country with growth," he stated, underlining his vision for economic efficiency.  

 

With these sweeping changes, Starmer is positioning his government as one focused on cutting through bureaucracy and redirecting resources to where they are needed most. The abolition of NHS England marks a decisive moment in his administration’s efforts to reform public services, and it remains to be seen how this move will impact the healthcare sector in the long term.

 

Based on a report by The Independent  2025-03-14

 

Related Topics:

Why the UK Civil Service Keeps Growing—But Not Improving

 

 

Thanks Keith. You're doing a good job 🤗

[Bkk Brian]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

 

The front line of the Russia/Ukraine border no doubt. 

 

Good to see him following Musk's lead of tackling bureaucratic waste though.

He's doing away with one of the largest quangos which will hopefully be excellent news but unfortunately he's creating more.

 

What's a 'quango' - and how many are there?

The Labour government has set up more than 20 since winning power last July. These include Great British Energy, which will invest in renewable energy to help meet clean power goals, and Skills England, which supports people in finding jobs.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cx29lrl826rt?post=asset%3Adbb12fde-3492-498a-a601-2a48e25149d9#post

[HK MacPhooey]

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

Thanks Keith. You're doing a good job 🤗

Announcing that he will start to dismantle the whole sorry edifice of the NHS would be starting to do a good job

[newbee2022]

3 minutes ago, HK MacPhooey said:

Announcing that he will start to dismantle the whole sorry edifice of the NHS would be starting to do a good job

That's what I said. Thank you

[DaRoadrunner]

I will believe it when I see hospital waiting lists coming down.

[mrfill]

14 hours ago, DaRoadrunner said:

I will believe it when I see hospital waiting lists coming down.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/02/waiting-list-falls-as-nhs-staff-treated-record-numbers-last-year/

 

[thaibeachlovers]

Yes Starmer, return the NHS to the government where incompetent bureaucrats can meddle with it, steal the budget to use on the government wish list, etc.

 

Perhaps he should just fix England NHS and not make the NHS worse than it already is.

[thaibeachlovers]

18 hours ago, HK MacPhooey said:

Announcing that he will start to dismantle the whole sorry edifice of the NHS would be starting to do a good job

So you prefer a capitalist medical service where the rich get treated and the poor get to die?