Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced today that NHS England, the administrative body responsible for running the national health service in England, will be scrapped to reduce bureaucracy and bring the management of the NHS “back into democratic control.”
The abolition of NHS England is expected to take two years to complete, with control reassigned to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
The change is designed to streamline the management of the NHS and enhance democratic oversight. It is believed that by reducing bureaucratic layers, the NHS will be able to function more efficiently, with decisions being made closer to the patient level.
Whilst we understand that this announcement may raise questions and concerns, we would like to reassure our clients that this announcement will not impact NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding claims or the work we are completing for our clients, given that the National Framework and relevant legislation providing for CHC remains unchanged. Responsibility for assessments remains with the local Integrated Care Board (ICB), and we will continue as usual to work on behalf of our clients to secure funding for those who should be entitled.
For individuals and families appealing eligibility decisions, there will be no immediate change to the process. We will seek clarity on any potential future changes to the appeal process involving NHS England, and ensure our clients are kept informed as the government progresses the transition of responsibilities to the DHSC over the next two years. We will of course continue to keep our clients updated as the Government provides further details.
