Starmer scraps NHS England in sweeping health service shake-up, promises AI-led efficiency drive

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced on Thursday, March 13, the abolition of NHS England — the body that has overseen the National Health Service since 2013 — as part of a wider plan to streamline public services and re-centre healthcare around patients.

Speaking in East Yorkshire, Starmer said the landmark reform aims to “cut red tape, end bureaucratic duplication, and return direct accountability to the Department of Health and Social Care.”

The move, he claimed, will allow more resources to flow directly to front-line care, with funds redirected to support nurses, doctors, and patient services rather than administrative overheads.

“NHS England has played an important role, but we need a leaner, smarter system focused on care, not committees,” the Prime Minister said. “This change will help us rebuild trust in a health service that puts patients first.”

Alongside the NHS shake-up, Starmer unveiled a broader efficiency agenda across Whitehall, powered by artificial intelligence. New AI tools will be rolled out across government departments to streamline processes, cut costs, and improve service delivery. The government estimates these digital reforms could unlock up to £45 billion in savings over the next five years.

Despite warnings from critics, Starmer dismissed suggestions that the measures signal a return to austerity. “This is not about cuts for cuts’ sake,” he insisted. “It’s about smarter spending — using modern technology and better organisation to get more from every pound we spend.”

Starmer maintained that the reforms are necessary to restore confidence in public institutions and deliver value for taxpayers, arguing that inefficiency, not investment, has been the root cause of many government failings in recent years.

“We can’t afford waste in a country that wants world-class public services,” he said. “We’re not cutting back — we’re clearing a path.”