According to the latest survey by the British Social Attitudes survey (sponsored by the King’s Fund and the Nuffield Trust), public satisfaction with the NHS has plummeted to its lowest level on record, with just 24 percent expressing contentment in 2023. The primary cause behind this dissatisfaction stems from the alarming increase in waiting times, coupled with significant staff shortages.
The study, encompassing 3,374 individuals across England, Wales, and Scotland, serves as the gold standard for assessing public sentiment towards the NHS. Notably, satisfaction peaked in 2010, with 70 percent of individuals expressing contentment. However, since 2020, satisfaction has nosedived by a staggering 29 percentage points. Key findings from the survey include:
A whopping 52 percent of respondents reported dissatisfaction with the NHS, marking the highest proportion since the inception of the survey.
The predominant reasons for dissatisfaction include prolonged waiting times for GP and hospital appointments (71 percent), followed closely by concerns over staff shortages (54 percent), and criticism towards the government’s inadequate spending on the NHS (47 percent).
A notable shift in perception was observed, with Conservative supporters registering only marginally higher satisfaction levels compared to Labour supporters in 2023 (29 percent versus 24 percent). Dissatisfaction levels remained similar across both party affiliations.
Furthermore, the survey revealed that satisfaction with GP services hit an all-time low of 34 percent in 2023, with a simultaneous increase in dissatisfaction to 41 percent. Since 2019, satisfaction with GP services has witnessed a staggering decline of 34 percentage points. Additionally, dentistry recorded its lowest satisfaction level at 24 percent, juxtaposed with a record high dissatisfaction rate of 48 percent.
When respondents were queried about the most critical priorities for the NHS, enhancing accessibility to GP appointments (52 percent) and augmenting the NHS workforce (51 percent) emerged as the top priorities. Furthermore, addressing prolonged waiting times for planned operations and in A&E were deemed imperative by 47 percent and 45 percent of respondents, respectively.
Moreover, public satisfaction with social care has plummeted to a dismal 13 percent, marking the lowest level since the survey’s inception. Half of the surveyed individuals expressed support for increased taxes and expenditure on the NHS, underscoring the significance of healthcare as a pivotal electoral issue.
Responding to the report, Rory Deighton, Director of the NHS Confederation’s Acute Network, acknowledged the challenges highlighted. He emphasized the public’s recognition of the NHS’s funding woes and urged policymakers to heed public sentiment, calling for substantial support and resources from the government. Deighton’s remarks underscored the necessity for a comprehensive strategy to address the prolonged waiting lists plaguing the NHS, signaling a potential avenue for restoring public satisfaction.
In parallel, the NHS faces challenges in maximizing procurement savings, as highlighted in a report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The PAC’s findings underscore the imperative for enhancing NHS Supply Chain utilization to realize substantial savings.
Furthermore, mental illness continues to exact a significant economic toll, costing England £300 billion annually, according to the Centre for Mental Health. The dire financial implications underscore the urgency of investing in mental health interventions to alleviate societal burdens.
Amidst mounting concerns, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has urged governmental action to mitigate avoidable harm in eating disorder services, advocating for enhanced funding and access to care.
In a bid to enhance A&E performance, NHS England has agreed upon new targets, underscoring the imperative of bolstering healthcare infrastructure to meet evolving demands.
The healthcare landscape also witnessed notable personnel changes, including Kim Leadbeater’s appointment as PPS to the shadow health team, signaling potential shifts in healthcare policy discourse.
Furthermore, proactive measures such as the £9.2 million investment in dental access initiatives in Northern Ireland underscore efforts to fortify healthcare accessibility and service delivery.
However, amidst these developments, cybersecurity breaches pose a significant threat to patient data security, as evidenced by the recent hacking incident involving NHS Dumfries and Galloway. Such incidents underscore the imperative for robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive healthcare information.
Additionally, the rise of artificial intelligence poses both opportunities and challenges, with the IPPR warning of potential job losses, particularly among low-skilled workers. The report underscores the necessity for a comprehensive policy framework to navigate the transformative impact of AI on the labor market.
In essence, the confluence of prolonged waiting lists, resource constraints, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities underscores the imperative for concerted efforts to address systemic challenges and fortify healthcare resilience in the face of evolving demands.
Long Waiting Lists Cause Record Drop in Public Satisfaction with NHS by Bangkok Health Service
