NHS England has announced plans to reduce its workforce by ‘around half’ in a ‘radical reduction’ of the centre.
The national commissioner also revealed that three leading board members will be stepping down at the end of this month as part of the upcoming changes.
This is part of health secretary Wes Streeting’s plans to build a ‘stronger relationship’ between NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
NHSE said today in a statement: ‘As part of the need to make best possible use of taxpayers’ money to support frontline services, the size of NHS England will be radically reduced and could see the size of the centre decrease by around half.’
Sir James Mackey, who will be taking over from current chief executive Amanda Pritchard in April, will set up a team to lead this ‘radical reduction and reshaping of the centre’ with DHSC.
The three board members standing down at the end of March are chief financial officer Julian Kelly, chief operating officer Emily Lawson and chief delivery officer and national director for vaccination Steve Russell.
Ms Pritchard told staff today that they have decided that ‘now is the right time to step down’ as ‘part of the upcoming changes to the size and function of the centre’.
The health secretary also recently confirmed the appointment of Dr Penny Dash as the new NHS England chair.
Responding to the resignations today, Mr Streeting said thanked the board members for their ‘dedication as public servants’ and particularly their work in ‘helping steer the NHS through the pandemic’.
He continued: ‘We are entering a period of critical transformation for our NHS. With a stronger relationship between the Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England, we will work together with the speed and urgency needed to meet the scale of the challenge.’
NHS England was originally set up as a result of former Conservative health secretary Andrew Lansley’s 2012 reforms, which he said at the time aimed to ‘take the politics and politicians out of day-to-day management of the NHS’.
Formally known as the NHS Commissioning Board, it was intended to be an independent body with executive powers and responsibilities.
A version of this story was first published on our sister title Pulse.
