Chris Whitehouse, a political consultant and expert on medical technology policy and regulation at Whitehouse Communications, an advisor to MedTech suppliers, chair of the Urology Trade Association, and governor of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre, reports on the Government’s plans to abolish NHS England and bring its functions under political control.
“Medical and care technology” will sit in the new Commercial and Growth Directorate General of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), according to new organisational plans released jointly by Sir Jim Mackey, current Chief Executive of NHS England, and DHSC Permanent Secretary, Samantha Jones.
The restructure will come over the next few months as Government moves to implement its plans to abolish NHS England, previously described by Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, in derogatory terms, as the “largest Quango in the world”.
The new organisational structure will see the creation of 13 Director General roles, and 12 additional senior roles with the same status. The Commercial and Growth Directorate will answer directly to Sam Jones along with those for the Chief Operating Officer, Social Care, and Strategy & Healthcare Policy.
Three Directorates will answer jointly to Ms Jones and Sir Jim: Technology & Data, Finance, and Performance & Delivery; with Sir Jim directly overseeing People, System Development, Medical Director, and Chief Nursing Officer in his new position as Chief Executive of the NHS. The remaining two Directorates, Public Health & Emergencies and Science & Research will report directly to the Government’s Chief Medical Officer.
The restructure, and ultimately the abolition of NHS England, is intended to reduce duplication and costs, and to bring the NHS in England more directly under Government control through the DHSC.
The positioning of MedTech, along with Life Sciences, in the Growth Directorate reflects the Government’s view that these sectors continue to have the potential to deliver economic growth across the UK, a commitment to the delivery of which will be set out in the forthcoming Life Sciences Sector Plan soon to be published as part of the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy.
Further information on the restructure, including an organogram, can be found here.
The Author used AI in preparing this article, comments upon or questions about which can be addressed to [email protected].
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