Kier Starmer has announced that he will abolish NHS England, bringing the health service back under control of ministers.
The UK Prime Minister announced the decision during a speech today, saying that the move would make the “overcautious, flabby state” more effective.
Starmer said that the abolition of NHS England would free up cash for frontline clinicians and services and cut down on bureaucracy.
Starmer said: “I don’t see why decisions about £200bn of taxpayer money on something as fundamental to our security as the NHS should be taken by an arm’s length body, NHS England.
“And I can’t, in all honesty, explain to the British people why they should spend their money on two layers of bureaucracy. That money could and should be spent on, nurses, doctors, operations, GP appointments.
“So today, I can announce we’re going to cut bureaucracy… focus government on the priorities of working people, shift money to the front line.
“So 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, free it to focus on patients – less bureaucracy with more money for nurses.”
However, Shadow Health Secretary Caroline Johnson, asked whether Labour is up to the task given its “failure” to successfully run the NHS in Wales.
Meanwhile, Lib Dem MP Alison Bennett called for reform of the social sector too and questioned whether legislation would be needed to deliver the plans for change.
NHS England’s functions would be taken into the Department of Health.
