The announcements first of the departure of Amanda Pritchard, and secondly, of the abolition of NHS England raise more questions than they answer. It is not surprising that the Labour government should want to distance itself from any remaining legacy of the controversial “Lansley” reforms. It is more surprising, however, that they have chosen this way, and this point in time. After all, Lord Darzi’s report clearly indicated that his plans for wide-ranging NHS reform are possible without “top-down reorganisation”.

Labour’s new NHS elective reform plan for England has developed against a backdrop of expanded waiting lists emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic and reduced NHS spending. A key aspect of the plan relies on the right of NHS patients to choose an NHS or private provider for their NHS-funded treatment enshrined by the NHS Constitution since the days of New Labour. This in turn relies on a new agreement between the NHS and private healthcare providers.