DHSC Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 15 Jan 2025 Closed: 17 Jul 2025 Parliament page
In May 2024 , the PAC found that the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) had been getting the basics unacceptably wrong in their financial management and accountability for public spending – for the second year running. Its report expressed disappointment that, … Read more
21 Recommendations
13 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
8 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 12 events
15 Dec
2025
Correspondence
8 Dec
2025
Correspondence
17 Nov
2025
Correspondence
18 Sep
2025
Report published
4 Sep
2025
Correspondence
14 May
2025
Report published
8 May
2025
Correspondence
28 Apr
2025
Correspondence
24 Apr
2025
Correspondence
20 Mar
2025
Correspondence
13 Mar
2025
Oral evidence
13 Mar
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
13 Mar 2025
View on parliament.uk
Andy Brittain · Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Julian Kelly · NHS England Professor Dame Jenny Harries · UK Health Security Agency Professor Sir Chris Whitty · Department for Health and Social Care
Title HC No. Published Items Response
25th Report - DHSC Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 HC 639 14 May 2025 34 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
Clear
7 Conclusion Acknowledged
25th Report - DHSC Annual Report a…
Department plans "smaller and leaner" headcount reduction without specifying exact numbers.
We asked the Department about reports that its headcount would also be cut by 50%. The Department told us that it aimed to become “smaller and leaner”. It said that it was not in a position to put a number … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the observation, describing ongoing work to create a single new organization and develop staff transfer plans. Specific headcount information is likely to be confirmed in Autumn 2025, with further details provided to the Committee Chair in July 2025.
HM Treasury
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9 Conclusion Acknowledged
25th Report - DHSC Annual Report a…
NHS England unable to clarify application of 50% headcount reduction across ICBs.
We asked how the 50% headcount reduction will be applied to ICBs, noting that some were already working efficiently and the importance of the place–based approach in ensuring effective working between local councils, directors of public health and local GPs. … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the observation, reiterating principles of empowering local leaders and strong partnerships. However, specific details on how the headcount reduction will apply to ICBs remain linked to the forthcoming 10 Year Health Plan and are subject to future primary legislation.
HM Treasury
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11 Recommendation Acknowledged
25th Report - DHSC Annual Report a…
Department expects Integrated Care Boards to maintain local accountability and stakeholder balance.
We asked the Department whether the current locally–led approaches would be retained as part of the new structure to allow better local accountability, and whether previous commitments about public health and prevention would also be retained. The Department said that … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees to retain locally-led approaches, stating that reforms empower local leaders and NHS England has already clarified that Integrated Care Boards should foster strong relationships with local government to improve outcomes. The 10 Year Health Plan will further address shifting healthcare to the community, but specific new actions are not detailed.
HM Treasury
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15 Conclusion Acknowledged
25th Report - DHSC Annual Report a…
Clinical negligence cases impose significant monetary costs on taxpayers, totalling £2.8 billion.
The Department recognised that each incidence of clinical negligence has a tragedy behind it involving a patient. It told us that while the optimal number of clinical negligence cases would be zero, this will never be a practical target. Clinical … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the committee's findings, stating it will continue to prioritize patient safety and a learning culture through ongoing work under the NHS Patient Safety Strategy. This strategy, which aims to reduce harmful patient events, will be reviewed and updated in autumn 2025.
HM Treasury
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16 Conclusion Acknowledged
25th Report - DHSC Annual Report a…
Department's clinical negligence liability reaches £58.2 billion, ranking second largest across government.
The Department recognises an amount for potential future compensation payments for incidents of clinical negligence in its financial statements as a liability. This is reported in the accounts of NHS Resolution and is consolidated into the Departmental Group accounts. The … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the committee's findings, stating it will continue to prioritize patient safety and a learning culture through ongoing work under the NHS Patient Safety Strategy. This strategy, which aims to reduce harmful patient events, will be reviewed and updated in autumn 2025.
HM Treasury
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30 Conclusion Acknowledged
25th Report - DHSC Annual Report a…
Department's 2023–24 accounts published five months late, facing significant timetable challenges.
The Department published its 2023–24 accounts on 17 December 2024, five months after the summer Parliamentary recess deadline. The Department has reported that there continues to be significant challenges in bringing the laying of its accounts back to a pre–summer … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the committee's observation and highlights its existing multi-year plan to return to a pre-recess timetable, stating it will provide further details on the plan and risks to the Committee in September 2025.
HM Treasury
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31 Conclusion Acknowledged
25th Report - DHSC Annual Report a…
Accounts delays result from UKHSA audit challenges and slow completion of local NHS audits.
The delays to the accounts were the result of challenges in preparing the accounts of UKHSA and delays in completion of local NHS audits.51 UKHSA was subject to a disclaimed audit opinion in 2021–22 and 2022–23, with significant remedial work … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the committee's observation, detailing its multi-year plan to accelerate accounts publication, while noting dependency on private sector audit firms. It commits to providing further plan details to the Committee in September 2025.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 34 of 21 classified
Accepted 19
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 7
Deferred 7
Total 21 recs + 13 conclusions
Correspondence 8 letters
15 Dec 2025 To committee Letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Health and Social Care relating to recommendations of the Committee’s Twenty-fifth Report on DHSC Annual Report and Accounts 2023–24, 04 December 2025
Parliament page
8 Dec 2025 To committee Letter from the Chief Executive of NHS England relating to the Committee’s Twenty-fifth Report on DHSC Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24, 01 December 2025
Parliament page
17 Nov 2025 To committee Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Health and Social Care relating to TM25 DHSC Annual Reports and Accounts 23-24, Recommendations 2 and 5, 07 November 2025
Parliament page
4 Sep 2025 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care relating to the DHSC-NHSE Transformation and PAC’s DHSC’s 2023-24 ARA Report recommendations, 04 July 2025
Parliament page
8 May 2025 To committee Letter from the Interim Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Care relating to the oral evidence session held on 13 March 2025, DHSC ARA 2023-24, follow up on NHS productivity, 29 April 2025
Parliament page
28 Apr 2025 To committee Letter from the Interim Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Care relating to the oral evidence session held on 13 March 2025 on DHSC Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24, 23 April 2025
Parliament page
24 Apr 2025 To committee Letter from the Chief Financial Officer at NHS England relating to the oral evidence session held on 13 March 2025 on DHSC Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24, 10 April 2025
Parliament page
20 Mar 2025 To committee Letter from the Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network relating to the DHSC Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 inquiry, NHS payment caps, 07 March 2025
Parliament page