MPs to Examine NHS England Abolition

The Health and Social Care Committee will hold two evidence sessions next week into the legislation for abolishing NHS England and reforming local commissioning (on 2 June, 3.10pm), and food and weight management (on 3 June, 9.30am).

• Details of witnesses for the Tuesday 2 June session, including representatives of the Nuffield Trust, King’s Fund and the Royal College of GPs, are available here.
• Details of witnesses for the Wednesday 3 June session, including Minister Sharon Hodgson and senior officials from NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care, are available here.

In Tuesday’s session, MPs will consider whether the Health Bill devolves power to local commissioners, as the Government claims, or whether the reforms would invest too much power in the Secretary of State. The cross-party Committee is likely to ask whether the Department’s officials have the skills needed to take over responsibilities held by NHS England. And, with plans to abolish Healthwatch contained in the Bill, there may also be questions on how the new system would ensure accountability in the system and that the patient’s voice is heard.

The expert witnesses are likely to be asked about the proposals to merge the Health Service Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB), an independent body that investigates failings in NHS services, into the Care Quality Commission.

In Wednesday’s session, the Committee completes its evidence gathering by questioning the Minister for Public Health on the Government’s approach to tackling obesity. 65% of adults in England were overweight or obese in 2025.

MPs will want to hear the Minister’s and officials’ views on why access to weight-loss support varies dramatically across the country, with scarce availability in some areas with highest levels of need. A study in the Clinical Obesity journal found that only 1% of adults eligible for ‘tier 3’ weight loss services were being referred to them.

There will also be questions about whether the NHS’s rollout of Mounjaro is going too slowly and entails too many appointments, making it unnecessarily resource intensive for the health service. There are concerns that this effectively excludes many people who are eligible for the medication and pushes them to private providers. MPs are also likely to ask whether community pharmacies should play a greater role in providing weight-loss drugs combined with wrap-around services.

The Minister and officials may also face questions on the Government’s interventions to promote consumption of healthy diets and limit the sale and overconsumption of high fat, sugar and salt product. MPs will also ask about the development of the Food Strategy and Healthy Food Standard, and how the Government can prevent undue influence from industry lobbying.