Overview

• The British Social Attitudes survey shows only 21% of people are satisfied with the NHS, the lowest level since the survey began in 1983.
• Dissatisfaction has reached 59%, with A&E services, GP care, and dentistry seeing record lows in public approval.
• Long waiting times, staffing shortages, and difficulty accessing services are the main drivers of dissatisfaction, with only 11% believing the NHS has enough staff.
• Despite the collapse in satisfaction, 90% of the public still supports the NHS's founding principle of being free at the point of use and funded through taxation.
• The government has pledged £26 billion in investment and promised a 10-year reform plan, but public sentiment remains unchanged since Labour's election victory in 2024.