Will scrapping NHS England improve patient care?

Keir Starmer has today announced plans to abolish NHS England. He states that by abolishing the arms length body and bringing the NHS back under government control money will be shifted back to the frontline, with more money for nurses, more GP appointments,  a re-focus on reducing waiting times and it will free the NHS to focus on patients. 

These are certainly laudable ambitions. But how likely is it that abolishing NHS England will improve NHS care? 

NHS England was established in 2013 to provide independent oversight of the NHS. According to the NHS England website, their mission is to: 

• Drive the delivery of safe and high-quality care in the right place and at the right time for patients.
• Support NHS staff with the training, data and tools they need to provide the best possible care.
• Deliver value for money for taxpayers, supporting the health of the population and the wider economy.

However, since August 2013 the number of patients on waiting lists for elective procedures has increased from 2,936,981 to 7,745,784 by August 2023. 

Keir Starmer claims that NHS England simply adds an additional layer of bureaucracy resulting in duplication of tasks already undertaken by the Department of Health and Social Care. He states that by bringing the NHS back under the sole control of the Department of Health and Social Care this duplication will be abolished and the savings will be ploughed back into frontline services in the NHS. 

It remains to be seen whether abolishing NHS England will result in more money and better care for patients or whether the reduction in the level of scrutiny on the NHS will result in reduced levels of safety and lower quality of care for patients.