Quangos - “quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations” - are set up by government to oversee regulations and operate independently from politicians.

NHS England was created as part of the 2012 reforms introduced under former Tory health secretary Andrew Lansley.

The idea was to free the health service from political meddling – with ministers instead setting the wider strategy, but stepping back from getting involved on a daily basis.

In the years afterwards NHS England has exercised that independence. This was most notable under the leadership of Sir Simon Stevens, who challenged and pressed the Theresa May government into increasing funding.

In the late 2010s, after Lansley had left government, Conservative health ministers privately expressed frustration that the single-biggest part of their brief was outside of their control.

As soon as Streeting took charge at the DHSC last summer, it was clear he felt the same and NHS England was on borrowed time.