Government announce the reintegration of NHS England into the Department of Health and Social Care
Today, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, announced that NHS England will be reintegrated into the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). This decision is aimed at improving service delivery. Read the full press release from the DHSC.
NHS England plays an important role in the commissioning of specialised services and is a delivery partner for the UK Rare Diseases Framework, the UK-wide government strategy for people with rare conditions.
Genetic Alliance UK’s policy team is working to thoroughly assess the potential impact of these reforms on individuals and families affected by genetic, rare, and undiagnosed conditions.
We will provide a comprehensive update to our members next week, following a detailed assessment of the potential impact on our community
What is happening to NHS England?
NHS England is responsible for leading the National Health Service in England. It has responsibility for commissioning highly specialised services, including those for rare and ultra-rare conditions. It also serves as a key delivery partner for the UK Rare Diseases Framework. The changes announced today mean that NHS England, which is currently an executive non-departmental public body, will return to direct oversight within the Department of Health and Social Care.
The Government has stated that this change is necessary to improve efficiency and allow healthcare professionals to focus more directly on patient care.
These changes affect England only.
What are Genetic Alliance UK doing?
We are immediately and actively working to understand the full implications of these changes, particularly how they will affect the commissioning of highly specialised services.
We will be working with our members and partner organisations to navigate these reforms and to ensure the needs of the genetic, rare and undiagnosed conditions communities remain a priority throughout this transition.
Your voice matters
We encourage people within the genetic, rare and undiagnosed community to share their questions with us by email to [email protected]
