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June 2025 - Health

Fewer than one in four people were happy with NHS services in 2024, according to recent research:

Recent research shows that just over a fifth (21%) of British adults were “very” or “quite” satisfied with the way the NHS is run, marking a 3% decrease since 2023 and a notable 39% decrease since 2019. Over half (59%) of those surveyed reported being “very” or “quite” dissatisfied with the NHS, a 7% increase on the previous year and the highest dissatisfaction level recorded since the survey began in 1983. The home nation recording the highest levels of dissatisfaction was Wales, which was significantly higher than the national average (72% vs 52%).

The annual British Social Attitudes survey, undertaken by the National Centre for Social Research, surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,945 adults in England, Scotland and Wales, between 16 September and 27 October 2024. As in previous years, the survey aimed to understand public satisfaction rates with the NHS and adult social care and identify several key areas of dissatisfaction

When it came to social care, just over half (53%) of respondents admitted they were “very” or “quite” dissatisfied, while just over 1 in ten (13%) reported they were “quite” or “very” satisfied. Once again, of the three home nations, people in Wales (69%) were significantly more likely to be dissatisfied.

Waiting times were a significant issue, with 69% of respondents expressing dissatisfaction with the time it takes to be seen in A&E. Around two-thirds (65%) were dissatisfied with the time it takes to access hospital care, while just under two-thirds (62%) were dissatisfied with the time required to obtain a GP appointment. Among those who were otherwise satisfied with the NHS overall, 39% still reported being unhappy with A&E waiting times.

Concerns were also raised about staffing levels within the NHS. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of those surveyed disagreed with the statement “There are enough staff in the NHS these days.” When it came to NHS funding and efficiency, while over two-thirds (69%) of respondents believed that the NHS is underfunded, just over half (51%) of those surveyed disagreed with the statement that “the NHS spends its money efficiently”, while only 14% agreed.

Despite overall low satisfaction levels, there were several positive findings regarding specific aspects of the NHS. Just over half (51%) of respondents reported being “very” or “quite” satisfied with the quality of care they received, and nearly half (48%) said they were satisfied with the range of treatments and services available. However these signs of optimism do not detract from the overall conclusion of this study, which is that public dissatisfaction with the NHS has reached its lowest point ever. 

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