Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what structures are in place within the NHS to (a) oversee and (b) manage financial efficiency in healthcare settings; and whether his Department has considered establishing a dedicated executive function to support this work.

Financial efficiency within the National Health Service is managed primarily by integrated care boards (ICBs) and NHS trusts, which are responsible for local financial planning, budget control, and delivery of efficiency savings. Progress is monitored and supported by both NHS England regional and national teams including as part of the new Financial Performance and Improvement Programme. For example, as part of 2025/2026 planning, NHS England provided every provider and system with a tailored and benchmarked productivity and efficiency data pack setting out opportunities to support the development of efficiency and savings schemes.

NHS England have also established an executive chaired group to oversee the development of a coherent, organisation-wide strategy and associated policies for delivering programmes to improve productivity and efficiency across the NHS.