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Public satisfaction with the NHS has dropped to its lowest level in 25 years, according to the British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey.
Overall satisfaction with the NHS fell to 36% in 2021 – down from 53% in 2020. This is the lowest level of satisfaction since 1997.
The fall in satisfaction was seen across all ages, income groups, sexes and supporters of different political parties, with more people (41%) saying they were dissatisfied than satisfied.
The main reason people gave for being dissatisfied was waiting times for GP and hospital appointments (65%), staff shortages (46%) and inadequate government funding of the health service (40%).
Satisfaction with GP services at its lowest since the survey began in 1983
Satisfaction with GP services is currently at its lowest since the BSA survey began in 1983 at just 38%, down from 68% in 2019.
It is also the first time that the percentage of people dissatisfied with GP services was higher than people satisfied.
Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) and a GP in East London, said the College is “extremely disappointed and saddened” by the findings, which “reflect a service working under crippling staffing and resource pressures following the pandemic, which has pushed general practice, and the wider NHS, to its limits.”
He said the College shares patients’ concerns about the difficulties they face in accessing GP appointments and hopes the findings “serve as a wake-up call to Government and policy makers on the need for urgent action to boost the GP workforce.”
Just 15% were satisfied with social care services
Only a small proportion of the public (15%) were satisfied with social care services in 2021, with half (50%) saying they were dissatisfied.
The main reasons people gave for their dissatisfaction were: the pay, working conditions and training for social care staff are bad (59%), that people don’t get all the social care they need (59%), and that social care is not affordable to those who need it (44%).
With more than 100,000 vacancies reported in social care and around 93,000 in the NHS in 2021, Royal College of Nursing Director for England, Patricia Marquis, said the results show that “the public and patients are demanding action from the government” to tackle staff shortages.
A workforce plan that supports future staffing needs
Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians has similarly said that while additional funding is welcome, what the NHS really needs is a workforce plan that support future staffing needs in the best way possible.
“That’s why the RCP is one of 100 health organisations which have written to the Prime Minister calling for the government to today keep the Lord’s amendment to the Health and Care Bill that makes it a legal requirement to produce an independent workforce assessment to predict supply and demand of doctors, nurses and other staff.
“Unfortunately, the government has said it will disagree with it, so we need all MPs who think proper planning is key to successful businesses to make their thoughts known.
“Without this clarity, we will be flying blind – risking the recovery of the NHS and risking greater dissatisfaction with our ability to meet the needs of patients,” he said.
