Record rise in NHS dissatisfaction levels, survey finds

A survey conducted by NatCen Social Research has found that there has been the biggest ever rise in public dissatisfaction regarding the NHS.

The survey, British Social Attitudes, has been tracking satisfaction since 1983, with the 2015 poll revealing satisfaction rates had decreased by 10 per cent since 2010.

The survey questioned around 2,200 people covered Scotland, Wales and England. It found 23 per cent said there were actively dissatisfied, a rise of eight per cent on the previous year and the biggest recorded jump in a single year.

Reasons cited for dissatisfaction included long waiting times and lack of staff. The news arrives as pressure mounts on waiting times for cancer care, A&E and routine operations, such as knee and hip operations.

Amongst services, patients reported highest satisfaction rates for GP services and lowest rates for social care, run by local authorities.

Chris Ham, chief executive of the King's Fund think-tank, said that while overall satisfaction levels were still high by historical standards, the findings should act as a ‘real wake up call’.

He said: ”What's gone wrong is the public's perception of the NHS under growing pressure. Money is tight, waiting times are getting longer, people are concerned that when they need the NHS it might not be there for them."

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "There is pressure on the NHS as our population ages, and that's why the government is investing record amounts to transform care."