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UK Government to Abolish NHS England in Major Restructuring Effort

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces plans to streamline the NHS and civil service, promising cost savings and improved accountability.

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In a speech on Thursday Keir Starmer will claim a reform of the state will drive economic growth and make a difference to the lives of working people (Photo: Chris Eades/Getty Images)
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer gestures during a Q&A session after delivering a speech on plans to reform the civil service, during a visit to Reckitt Benckiser Health Care UK Ltd in Kingston upon Hull, Britain, March 13, 2025. OLI SCARFF/Pool via REUTERS
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Overview

  • Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced the abolition of NHS England, a £200 billion public body, to consolidate its functions into the Department of Health and Social Care.
  • The government aims to reduce duplication and bureaucracy within the health service, redirecting resources to frontline staff and patient care.
  • The reforms are part of a broader effort to cut civil service headcount by 50% across NHS England and the Department of Health, potentially saving hundreds of millions of pounds.
  • Starmer emphasized the need for democratic accountability, stating that decisions about public funds should rest with ministers rather than arms-length bodies.
  • Critics, including Labour MPs and think tanks, have raised concerns about the impact of proposed welfare cuts and civil service reductions on vulnerable populations and public services.