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PLUMMETING satisfaction with the NHS is a direct result of political neglect, campaigners warned today.
The latest British Social Attitudes Survey on the NHS reported that patient satisfaction with the health service has hit 21 per cent — the lowest level since records began in 1983.
The survey was carried out between September and October last year among 2,945 adults across Britain.
A&E was recorded as the service with the lowest satisfaction levels for the first time at only 19 per cent, down 12 points compared with 2023.
Satisfaction with NHS dentistry “has continued to collapse,” with levels at a record low of 20 per cent, compared with 60 per cent in the pre-pandemic year of 2019.
Less than a third of adults are satisfied with their GP services and some 62 per cent were dissatisfied with how long it takes to get an appointment at their local practice.
But the findings show that 90 per cent still support the founding principles of the NHS.
Seventy-two per cent said there weren’t enough staff in the NHS, and 46 per cent supported increasing taxes to fund the health service.
Some 44 per cent said that too little cash is spent, and another 25 per cent said far too little is spent.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said that since the survey was taken, Labour had “taken the NHS off life support,” pledged an extra £26 billion in investment over the next two years and is drawing up a plan to make the service “fit for the future.”
As part of his plans to “reform” the NHS, Mr Streeting has repeatedly vowed to increase reliance on the private sector to cut waiting lists.
Dr Tony O’Sullivan, Keep Our NHS Public co-chairman, said: “The collapse in public satisfaction with the NHS should shock the government into action.
“But let’s be clear — this is not a failure of the NHS model; this is the direct consequence of years of underfunding, staff shortages, and creeping privatisation.”
He added: “Investment in private health companies is no solution — it is a disaster. It drains resources, poaches staff, and leaves patients at risk.”
