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Here’s What You Need to Know:
- What did Prime Minister Keir Starmer say about England’s health service?
- What’s the point of scrapping N.H.S. England?
- Is there a broader agenda here?
- Are there risks for the Labour government?
What did Prime Minister Keir Starmer say about England’s health service?
In a recent address, Prime Minister Keir Starmer unexpectedly announced the dissolution of N.H.S. England. However, this does not imply the abolition of Britain’s cherished National Health Service, which provides free healthcare funded through taxes and payroll contributions. The service is immensely popular, once compared to a national religion by a senior official. Mr. Starmer’s announcement pertains specifically to N.H.S. England, an agency within the broader health service framework.
The proposed change involves removing one administrative layer from the comprehensive health system. Established in 2013, N.H.S. England collaborates with the government to determine funding and priorities for healthcare services, operating independently of the Department of Health and Social Care.
What’s the point of scrapping N.H.S. England?
The agency currently employs approximately 15,300 individuals. The exact number of job eliminations remains uncertain, and it is unclear how many roles will be absorbed by the Department of Health, which employs 3,300 people. However, Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated in Parliament that the move aims to save “hundreds of millions of pounds a year” and intends to cut the overall workforce by 50 percent.
The government’s rationale is that the existence of two separate structures, stemming from an unsuccessful 2012-2013 reform of the health service, results in inefficiencies and duplicated efforts.
