# Abolish NHS England

> “So I am bringing management of the NHS back into democratic control… By abolishing the arms-length body - NHS England.”
>
> — Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister, Labour Party; Speech on reforming the British state, 13 March 2025

- **Status:** In plan
- **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered
- **Policy area:** [Health](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/health)
- **Speaker:** [Sir Keir Starmer](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/keir-starmer), Prime Minister
- **Party:** [Labour Party](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/labour)
- **Made on:** 13 March 2025
- **Where:** Speech on reforming the British state
- **Cost a year:** No costing published
- **Who it affects:** NHS patients and staff in England
- **When:** Not stated by the Prime Minister; the Health Secretary said over the next two years
- **Paid for by:** Not stated when it was announced
- **Quote source:** https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-remarks-on-the-fundamental-reform-of-the-british-state-13-march-2025 (checked word for word at its source on 20 October 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0)
- **Last updated:** 21 October 2026
- **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-abolish-nhs-england-2025

## Where it stands

The Health Bill, introduced in the Commons on 14 May 2026, abolishes NHS England as a statutory body. It passed the Commons on 8 September 2026, under the current government, had its second reading in the House of Lords on 13 October 2026, and is due in committee there from 28 October 2026. NHS England still exists: it laid its 2025-26 annual report before Parliament on 3 September 2026. The Prime Minister gave no date; the Health Secretary told the Commons the same day that it would take two years. The card moves to Legislated when the Bill becomes law.

## Timeline

- 13 March 2025, Promised: The Prime Minister announces that NHS England will be abolished
- 14 May 2026, In plan: The government introduces the Health Bill, which abolishes NHS England, in the House of Commons ([evidence](https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/4124))

## About the cost

No cost was given with the promise.

## Sources

- [Prime Minister's Office: PM remarks on the fundamental reform of the British state, 13 March 2025](https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-remarks-on-the-fundamental-reform-of-the-british-state-13-march-2025)
- [Department of Health and Social Care: NHS England, Health and Social Care Secretary's statement (13 Mar 2025)](https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/nhs-england-health-and-social-care-secretarys-statement)
- [UK Parliament: Health Bill, stages](https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/4124)
- [Department of Health and Social Care: Health Bill (collection)](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/health-bill)
- [NHS England: annual report and accounts 2025 to 2026 (3 Sep 2026)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-england-annual-report-and-accounts-2025-to-2026)

## Checks

- Verified by Pavel Guzhikov, checked by AI Journalist; approved on 21 October 2026.
- Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 20 October 2026.

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