Boris Johnson is reportedly planning to introduce a new law to allow the government to exert more control over the NHS.
Legislation to be introduced this year will include new powers for ministers to give orders to Sir Simon Stevens, the NHS chief, who is supposed to be operationally independent.
According to the Times, Downing Street will launch an overhaul of NHS structures, having become frustrated by the slow pace of change in the health service.
They are concerned that NHS bosses have too much power and are not delivering Whitehall's demands quickly enough, and want "more levers to pull".