Healthwatch response to NHS England reform
NHS England will be abolished and brought under "democratic control" in an attempt to cut bureaucracy and duplication, Sir Keir Starmer has announced.
The prime minister said the move would free up money for front-line services.
The government said it expected around 50% of the jobs at NHS England, which as of December had 14,400 staff, and the Department of Health, which has 3,500 staff, to go.
In a speech in Hull, Sir Keir said for too long politicians had "chosen to hide behind vast arrays of quangos" - organisations funded by taxpayers but not directly controlled by the government.
The government said work would begin immediately to return many of NHS England's current functions to the Department of Health and Social Care, with the aim of completing the process in two years.
The significant move gives the government more control and accountability over one of their key pledges - to cut NHS waiting times.
NHS England is a separate body from the NHS and oversees the health service, working with government to agree funding and priorities, as well as monitoring the performance of local NHS services.
It has been NHS England's job to translate minister's priorities into the services people get on the frontline.
The body is also responsible for things like overseeing training and collecting data, as well as managing GP services.
About 18,000 people work for NHS England and the Department of Health, but we expect this workforce to get cut by 50% after today's announcement.
Responding, Healthwatch England Chief Executive Louise Ansari said:
"We know people want better access to and experience of care for everyone, in particular those facing health inequalities, including disabled people, carers, and those on low incomes.
"During the forthcoming period of change for NHS England, it's important that everything possible is done to ensure that patients’ care is not disrupted and that the progress the NHS has been making in some areas as is not reversed. Going forward, any changes in structures need to have improvements in patient access to and experience of care at their heart.”