World & places · Evidence-backed
NHS England: 10 Key Facts About the Body Leading the NHS in England
NHS England leads the National Health Service in England, setting priorities, allocating funding and holding providers to account. Established by the Health and Social Care Act 2012, it commissions specialised services, publishes performance league tables and runs patient-facing tools such as My Planned Care and NHS 111. The organisation is sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care and is accountable to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
NHS England is the executive non-departmental public body that oversees the commissioning, budget and day-to-day operation of the National Health Service in England. It operates with a £181.4 billion budget, employs around 13,500 staff and is headquartered in Leeds.
NHS England is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care
NHS England operates as an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB) of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). This means it has operational independence but is accountable to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. The DHSC sets the mandate and holds NHS England to account for delivering the NHS in England. This governance structure was established by the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and refined by the Health and Care Act 2022.
It oversees the budget, planning, delivery and day-to-day operation of the commissioning side of the NHS in England
NHS England is responsible for the commissioning side of the NHS: it allocates the £181.4 billion annual budget (2024–25), sets national priorities, plans service delivery and oversees the day-to-day operation of commissioning. It works with integrated care boards (ICBs) and NHS trusts to ensure services meet population needs. This role includes direct commissioning of specialised services, health and justice healthcare, and military healthcare.
Headquarters in Leeds with around 13,500 employees and a £181.4 billion annual budget for 2024–25
NHS England's headquarters are in Leeds, England. The organisation employs approximately 13,500 staff and manages an annual budget of £181.4 billion for the 2024–25 financial year. This budget funds the vast majority of NHS services in England, including hospitals, primary care, mental health, community services and specialised commissioning.
The Chair is Dr Penny Dash and the Chief Executive is Sir James Mackey
As of the latest available information, Dr Penny Dash serves as Chair of NHS England, providing non-executive leadership and governance oversight. Sir James Mackey is the Chief Executive, responsible for the executive management and operational delivery of the organisation. Both appointments are made in line with public appointments processes and are accountable to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
NHS England publishes league tables showing how NHS trusts perform in key services
NHS England produces and publishes league tables that compare NHS trust performance across key service areas such as urgent and emergency care, elective services, mental health and more. These tables are part of the NHS Oversight Framework and are intended to drive improvement, transparency and accountability. They are publicly accessible on the NHS England website and used by patients, regulators and policymakers.
It runs the My Planned Care service to support patients waiting for hospital consultations or surgery
My Planned Care is an NHS England service that provides advice and support to patients while they wait for hospital consultations, treatment or surgery. It helps patients prepare for their appointments, understand what to expect and manage their health during the wait. The service is accessible online and complements the care provided by local NHS teams.
NHS England commissions specialised services, health and justice healthcare, and military healthcare
Beyond general commissioning, NHS England directly commissions a range of specialised services for rare and complex conditions, healthcare for people in the justice system (including prisons and immigration removal centres), and healthcare for the armed forces and their families. These services are managed nationally to ensure consistent quality and access across England.
The public-facing NHS website (nhs.uk) provides health information, service finders and the NHS 111 urgent care service
NHS.uk is the official website for the NHS in England, offering a comprehensive health A-Z, service finders for GPs, pharmacies, hospitals and dentists, and access to NHS 111 online. It is the primary digital gateway for the public to access trusted health information, book appointments, order prescriptions and get urgent care advice. The site is maintained by NHS England but operates as a distinct public-facing brand.
NHS 111 online and phone line direct people to the right care for urgent but non-life-threatening issues
NHS 111 is a free-to-call urgent care service available online at 111.nhs.uk and by dialling 111. It assesses symptoms and directs users to the most appropriate care, whether that is self-care, a pharmacy, GP, urgent treatment centre or emergency department. For life-threatening emergencies, the public should call 999. NHS 111 operates 24/7 and is a key part of NHS England's strategy to manage demand on emergency services.
Contact centre available 9am–5pm Monday to Friday (10am Wednesday) via phone, webchat, email and BSL video interpreter
NHS England operates a customer contact centre for general enquiries about primary care services, commissioned services and complaints. It is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, with a later start of 10am on Wednesdays, and closed on bank holidays. Contact methods include phone (0300 311 22 33), webchat, email (england.contactus@nhs.net), Relay UK for hearing or speech impairments, and a British Sign Language video interpreter service.
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