The cutbacks are planned to bring NHS England closer to the Department of Health and Social Care.
‘We are entering a period of critical transformation for our NHS,’ Health Secretary Wes Streeting said. ‘With a stronger relationship between the department and NHS England we will all work together to meet the scale of the challenge.’
NHS England was formed in 2013 by former Conservative Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to give it greater independence. However, as Wes Streeting states, the body is being streamlined so it can better work with the Department of Health and Social Care.
The government have outlined that they want to relocate resources from central admission to regional health boards.
The announcement means around 6,500 jobs are at risk, which equates to about half of the workforce, with the aim of saving £175million per year.
News follows recent announcements that Chief Executive of NHS England, Amanda Pritchard and Medical Director, Sir Stephen Powis will hand in their resignation.
In an email to her colleagues, Ms Pritchard warned that the change will be ‘very unsettling’ however she claimed it was the right time for ‘radical reform of the size and functions’ of NHS England.
She added: ‘The transition team will develop plans over the coming weeks, and we know that colleagues will want this to be completed as soon as possible to provide future certainty.’
Likewise, Chief Financial Officer at NHS England Julian Kelly, Chief Operating Officer Emily Lawson and Chief Delivery Officer Steve Russell have also announced their decision to stand down at the end of March.
Sir Jim Mackey is due to replace Ms Pritchard in April and he will be in charge of overseeing ‘a transition team’ that will begin the mission of blending NHS England with government social care services.
Photo by Red Dot via UnSplash
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