Public satisfaction with the NHS has increased for the first time since 2019, rising from a record low of 21% last year to 26%, according to the latest British Social Attitudes survey. Dissatisfaction has also fallen significantly, dropping by 8 percentage points to 51%, marking the largest improvement since 1998. Despite this shift, overall sentiment towards the health service remains largely negative.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has welcomed the figures as evidence that the NHS is beginning to recover after what he previously described as a “broken” system when Labour came to power in 2024. He is expected to outline further reforms, including a new “NHS intensive recovery programme” targeting poorly performing trusts, with leadership changes and potential mergers aimed at improving standards of care.
However, health experts have cautioned against overinterpreting the rise in satisfaction, describing it as “fragile” and only an early sign of improvement. Analysts from The King’s Fund and Nuffield Trust noted that public opinion remains deeply pessimistic, with many indicators still worse than in previous decades when dissatisfaction with the NHS was already considered high.
The survey highlights ongoing frustrations with access to care, particularly long waiting times. Only 22% of respondents are satisfied with A&E and dentistry services, while satisfaction with GP services and hospital care stands at 36% and 37%, respectively. A majority of the public report dissatisfaction with waiting times across the system, including 66% unhappy with A&E delays and 58% dissatisfied with GP appointment access.
Although the government points to improvements such as reduced backlogs, faster A&E treatment times and better ambulance response rates, public priorities remain focused on quicker access to frontline services. While ministers aim to meet targets on waiting lists by 2029, the overall mood remains subdued, with experts warning that meaningful recovery will require sustained progress over a much longer period.
