NHS England facing major job losses to reduce DHSC 'overlap'

The shake-up of NHS England looks like it could go up a notch, as reports emerge of thousands of job cuts to avoid "duplication" of roles within the Department of Health and Social Care.

It has been reported that around 6,500 jobs could be on the line, which would be equivalent to around half of NHS England's workforce, with an objective of saving £175 million a year. Some of the job losses are expected to be within the DHSC.

"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," said NHS England in a statement, as the departure of three top board members was also announced.

Chief financial officer Julian Kelly, NHS chief operating officer Emily Lawson, and chief delivery officer Steve Russell, who also serves as national director for vaccination and screening, will leave their roles in the coming weeks.

They are following in the footsteps of NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard and medical director Sir Stephen Powis, who have also handed in their resignations as the government prepares to unveil its 10-year plan to reform and revitalise the health service later this year.

Pritchard's successor Sir James Mackey, who will take over as CEO at the start of April, will set up a transition team within NHS England "to lead the radical reduction and reshaping of the centre," which was established in 2013 under the previous Conservative government to handle the budget and day-to-day running of the commissioning side of the health service in England.

It was also confirmed last week that Dr Penny Dash has been appointed as the new NHS England chair. She is currently the chair of the NHS North West London Integrated Care Board and is leading a major review into the regulation of health and social care quality in England.

"We are entering a period of critical transformation for our NHS," said DHSC Secretary Wes Streeting. "With a stronger relationship between the Department…and NHS England, we will work together with the speed and urgency needed to meet the scale of the challenge."

In an internal email sent to NHS England staff and seen by the BBC, Pritchard said that the news of the job cuts would be "unsettling" but that the time had come for "radical reform of the size and functions" of the centre.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation membership body, said that the changes are happening "at a scale and pace not anticipated to begin with, but given the huge savings that the NHS needs to make this year, it makes sense to reduce areas of duplication at a national level and for the NHS to be led by a leaner centre."