Responding to to Prime Minister’s announcement today (Thursday 13 March) that NHS England is to be abolished, Jon Restell Chief Executive of MiP said:

“This is a chaotic way to run the NHS. On Monday there was 50% cut to NHS England, then yesterday a 50% cut to local Integrated Care Boards, then today the abolition of NHS England.

“The approach demonstrates a contemptuous attitude to real people who work hard to improve access to services, cut waiting lists, improve productivity and safeguard the public.

“The Prime Minister says he’s fixing the Lansley mess, but he risks repeating the mistakes that held the NHS back for a decade. Destabilisation on this scale will affect delivery of government priorities and the public will feel that.

“The government urgently needs to tell the country its plan to get the NHS back on its feet and how it will support managers to do that.

“Duplication is a red herring. The NHS needs to know what will be done and what will not be done in the future, as a result of these changes.”