Public satisfaction with the NHS has plunged to its lowest point with people’s main problems including waiting times, staff shortages and underfunding, a major national survey has revealed.
Carried out between the 7th of September and the 30th of October, the National Centre for Social Research’s 2022 British Social Attitudes Survey asked 3,362 people from England, Scotland and Wales how happy they were with the NHS.
The survey was sponsored by The King’s Fund and the Nuffield Trust and found that overall satisfaction with the health service dropped from 36% in 2021 to 29% – the lowest level recorded since the survey started in 1983. This is coupled with the highest proportion (51%) of people reporting dissatisfaction with the NHS since the survey began.
The drop was observed across all ages, income groups, sexes and political dispositions, analysis from The King’s Fund stated.
The key reasons given behind the dissatisfaction were GP and hospital appointment waiting times (69%), staff shortages (55%) and the Government not investing enough money into the health service (50%).
The results were “hardly surprising” when considering the backdrop of the 124,000 vacancies across the NHS in England and the maintenance backlog of more than £10bn, according to NHS Confederation’s Chief Executive, Matthew Taylor.
“This should give further impetus to the Government to fast track a fully funded workforce plan and provide funding increases to pay for both pay rises and improvements to the NHS’s crumbling estate,” he said.
Read the full results of the survey here.
