How Satisfied Are the Public with the NHS and Social Care?

Why It Matters

The shift in public satisfaction signals a potential window for policy reforms, yet persistent access and funding concerns mean that without decisive action, the NHS could lose momentum and social care may face growing public dissatisfaction.

Key Takeaways

• Overall NHS satisfaction rose 5.6 points, first increase since pre‑pandemic
• Dissatisfaction fell sharply, biggest drop since 1998 overall
• Younger adults and Reform supporters remain least satisfied with NHS
• Social care satisfaction stagnant at ~14%, though dissatisfaction decreased
• Public believes NHS underfunded and inefficient; 45% support higher taxes

Summary

The webinar presented the latest British Social Attitudes survey, revealing a modest rebound in public sentiment toward the NHS and persistent challenges in social care. Overall satisfaction with the NHS rose 5.6 percentage points—the first uptick since before the pandemic—while overall dissatisfaction fell to its lowest level in more than two decades.

Demographic analysis showed that over‑65s and Labour supporters reported higher satisfaction, whereas under‑35s, Reform Party backers and respondents in Wales remained markedly less satisfied. Satisfaction with specific NHS services such as GP, A&E and outpatient care showed no significant gains, and social‑care satisfaction plateaued at roughly 14%, even as dissatisfaction slipped slightly.

Panelists highlighted that 87% of respondents had recent NHS contact, which correlated with higher satisfaction, yet waiting times and staffing shortages continue to drive discontent. The public overwhelmingly believes the NHS is under‑funded and inefficient, with about 45% favoring higher taxes to boost health spending, while support for increased taxation for social care lags behind.

These findings suggest a cautious optimism about the NHS’s image but underscore enduring systemic pressures on access, staffing and funding. Policymakers will need to address the gap between perceived under‑investment and efficiency concerns to sustain the recent satisfaction gains and improve social‑care perceptions.

Original Description

For over 40 years, the British Social Attitudes (BSA), conducted by NatCen, has been the most authoritative source on the public’s attitudes towards health and social care. Since 2011, The King’s Fund and The Nuffield Trust have jointly analysed the findings, which are widely regarded as the gold standard by academics, policymakers and journalists seeking to understand public satisfaction with the NHS and social care.

In 2024, just 1 in 5 people (21%) said they were satisfied with the way the NHS runs – the lowest level recorded since the survey began in 1983. Public satisfaction with social care was even lower – only 13% of respondents said they were satisfied with social care.

For this year's findings, the fieldwork was carried out between August and October 2025, a little over a year after the new government declared the NHS was broken. To what extent do the public believe progress has been made in repairing it?