NHS England: Staff Costs

Lord Scriven Excerpts

Monday 21st July 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Scriven]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what impact assessments have been undertaken, including analysis of regional effects, regarding the 50% reduction in staff costs for NHS England that is currently in progress.

[Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Blake of Leeds) (Lab)]

My Lords, work is progressing at pace to develop the operating model for the future department. I can confirm that there will continue to be seven regional teams. It is only right that the potential impacts of the reforms are carefully assessed and understood. The Government are committed to ensuring that, once the necessary appraisals are finalised, all relevant information is made accessible to Parliament. This includes the impact assessment that will accompany the primary legislation.

[Lord Scriven (LD)]

My Lords, in the absence of any assessment, including the work that NHS England does on health inequalities, coupled with last week’s decision to cut £100 million of support from five integrated care boards, three of which serve highly deprived areas, on what basis can the Minister guarantee that this course of action will not jeopardise efforts to reduce health inequalities or indeed risk widening them further?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

Tackling health inequalities is one of the priorities of this Government, but the noble Lord raises an important point. It is a sad fact that, around the country, people’s experience of health services and health outcomes are very variable. However, we need to allow the people looking into this to do their work and bring forward solutions, working with ICBs and looking at how we can become far more efficient in our delivery of services. That will ultimately have an enormous benefit to patients.