MERGING NHS quangos could save almost £800million, a damning report by the TaxPayersâ Alliance finds.
Slashing the number of NHS management bodies from 19 to seven would improve efficiency and give NHS England more independence, according to a report.
It would also halt âturf warsâ between different management arms to focus resources on essential care.
The report said NHS England should be modelled on organisations like the BBC or the Bank of England with budgets set by ministers but day to day management left to NHS itself.
It highlighted clashes between NHS Improvement who deal with finances and management and the Care Quality Commission – who look after the treatment of patients.
And it called for the abolition of the little known Independent Reconfiguration Panel and National Information Board.
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Cutting the number of quangos would save around £760m with savings to the Department of Health and Social Care of a further £40 million.
Last night John OâConnell, chief executive of the TaxPayersâ Alliance, said: âThe system of NHS quangos has become a total mess, with both patients and taxpayers bearing the brunt of poor performance, duplication and confusion.
âToo many of these bodies have been created by political power struggles, with taxpayers picking up the bill for turf wars between management arms of the NHS.
âBy abolishing unnecessary bodies and merging others, the NHS could save hundreds of millions for taxpayers and ensure that resources are focused on the essentials.â
Last night a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: âThe NHS needs to remain focussed on delivering world class patient care â not a unnecessary and distracting national reorganisation.
Key bodies NHS England and NHS Improvement have already announced they will be working closer together to speak as one voice, reducing overlap and ensuring patients benefit from their joint expertise.â
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