How can the government make a success of the abolition of NHS England?

How can the government make a success of the abolition of NHS England?

Author: Institute for Government January 29, 2026 Duration: 59:42
On 13 March 2025, Keir Starmer announced the abolition of NHS England, the arm’s-length body responsible for overseeing, planning, funding and delivering the health service – with its functions to be merged back into the Department of Health and Social Care. Work on the transition is underway but key decisions are still to be made. What are the risks and opportunities associated with abolishing NHS England? How much progress has been made to date? What can be learnt from previous structural changes to the NHS and other parts of government? How can the government get the reform process right? To answer these questions and more, this webinar from the IfG and the Nuffield Trust brought together an expert panel featuring: Mark Dayan, Policy Analyst and Head of Public Affairs at the Nuffield Trust Stuart Hoddinott, Associate Director at the Institute for Government Sarah Reed, Senior Fellow at the Nuffield Trust The webinar was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This webinar was kindly supported by the Nuffield Trust.

Ever wondered what really happens behind the doors of Whitehall? Institute for Government pulls up a chair at the table where policy is made and governance gets tested. This isn't about partisan politics or headlines; it's a deeper, more practical conversation about how the machinery of the UK government actually works-or sometimes, why it doesn't. Each episode brings you the experts from the Institute itself, along with senior civil servants, ministers, and analysts, for frank discussions that dissect the challenges of running a country. You'll hear specific case studies, analysis of major events as they unfold, and explorations of long-term issues like public service reform or the complexities of Brexit implementation. The goal is to move beyond theory and into the tangible details of effectiveness and accountability. Tuning into this podcast feels like gaining access to a privileged briefing, one that demystifies the processes that shape daily life. It’s for anyone curious about the structures of power, the art of the possible in policy, and the ongoing effort to improve how the nation is governed. Expect thoughtful, evidence-based dialogue that cuts through the noise to examine the levers of statecraft.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Institute for Government
Podcast Episodes
How will Keir Starmer’s No.10 reset work? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:34
The prime minister has made some big changes in No.10. Darren Jones moves from the Treasury to take on the newly-created job of chief secretary to the prime minister. A new executive director of communications has been r…
The Expert Factor Live! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:54
Back by popular demand, Hannah White, Paul Johnson and Anand Menon reunited on stage to record a special live episode of The Expert Factor – the podcast for people who haven’t had enough of experts. Nine years to the day…