Marc Rolph from School Lane Surgery in Thetford shares his thoughts on recent changes to the NHS, including the planned abolition of NHS England and the recruitment of 1,500 new GPs.
There have been major announcements recently about the future of our National Health Service. You may have seen headlines that NHS England is being abolished, or that 1,500 new GPs have been recruited. But what does this really mean?
The government has announced plans to scrap NHS England (NHSE), the body that has overseen the NHS since 2012. NHSE was originally created to reduce political interference in healthcare. This latest move effectively returns control of the NHS to the Department of Health and Social Care, allowing more direct government oversight of day-to-day services and NHS management.
At the same time, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)—the local organisations responsible for managing NHS services including GPs and dentists—have been told to cut their running costs by 50%. The aim is to reduce bureaucracy and direct more funding into frontline care.
While that sounds positive, ICBs are responsible for coordinating care across hospitals, GPs, mental health services, and social care. Halving their budgets could impact their ability to maintain joined-up services, potentially leading to more fragmentation. That said, this is a bold move that aligns with some recommendations from last year’s Darzi Report, which called for more investment in primary care and less bureaucracy.
The government has also announced the recruitment of 1,500 new GPs. This is welcome news—any additional support is appreciated—but the reality is more complex. Many of these GPs are newly qualified and working part-time. Spread across more than 6,200 GP surgeries in England, the average increase is less than a quarter of a GP per practice. Meanwhile, the number of surgeries continues to fall. As of February 2025, a total of 1,402 surgeries have closed since 2015—around 140 closures per year. The number of full-time equivalent GPs has also declined, despite rising demand and a growing population.
While some headlines have hailed this as the “end of the 8am scramble,” meaningful change will be gradual. This is a step in the right direction, but it will take time and sustained investment before patients notice a real difference.
Here in Thetford, we’re already feeling the strain: long waits for appointments, overstretched staff, and services under pressure. These national changes alone won’t fix everything overnight. However, there may be opportunities. If the restructuring is supported by meaningful investment and thoughtful planning, it could help refocus care closer to home and build stronger community-based services.
The NHS is something we all rely on. It deserves careful, considered reform—not quick fixes. While these changes show a willingness to address long-standing issues, real improvements will take time, commitment, and ongoing support.
Marc Rolph, Business Manager, School Lane Surgery
