NHS England to be abolished, says PM

Sir Keir Starmer in Hull. Credit: Oli Scarff/PA Wire

By Sarah Lowden

NHS England is to be abolished to reduce "duplication", the Prime Minister has announced.

Sir Keir Starmer has said his government wants to bring the management of the health service "back into democratic control" and the money saved could be spent on frontline services.

The prime minister said decisions about NHS spending should not be taken by an “arms-length” body.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a visit to Yorkshire on Thursday. Credit: PA Media

Announcing the decision during a speech in Hull on Thursday morning, he said: “Amongst the reasons we are 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 are duplicating things that could be done once.