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  • 89% of Britons concerned about NHS strain, 46% support NHS paying for private treatment where necessary to treat more patients

89% of Britons concerned about NHS strain, 46% support NHS paying for private treatment where necessary to treat more patients

A new Ipsos poll looks at voters' attitudes towards allowing private companies to provide NHS healthcare services.
  • In the run up to the election, Ipsos is looking at common perceptions and misperceptions that might be affecting voters’ views about the NHS
  • A substantial majority (89%) are concerned about the pressure that the NHS is currently under
  • To ease this pressure, 46% support the health service using private companies to provide NHS services to help the NHS treat more patients

New polling from Ipsos has found that 89% of the British public are concerned about the pressure that NHS services are currently under. This includes 53% who say they are very concerned, and 36% who say they are fairly concerned.

How concerned are you, if at all, about the pressure that NHS services are under at the moment? Very concerned 53% Fairly concerned 36% Not very concerned 6% Not at all concerned 3% Don't know 2%


Sometimes the NHS pays for patients to be treated by private healthcare companies to help the NHS treat more patients. Almost half (46%) of Britons support the NHS using private companies to provide NHS services, and 17% oppose it, while 30% say they neither support nor oppose it. Around half (48%) believe that the NHS’s use of private companies to provide treatment has gone up in the past 5 years. This is true in the case of planned treatments in hospital, although overall NHS spending on private companies has not increased over the last 5 years. 

Respondents were also asked what specific services they support the NHS using private companies to provide (some of which are already are). Half (50%) say cancer treatment, followed by dentistry (42%) and community health services like talking therapy (38%).

Which of the following types of health services, if any, would you support the NHS using private companies to provide? Cancer treatment 50% Dentistry 42% Community mental health services like talking therapy 38% GP consultations 31% Accident and emergency 27% None of these 13% Don't know 14%


Commenting on the findings, Anna Quigley, Research Director at Ipsos, said:

It's clear that the British public is deeply concerned about the strain on the NHS. When it comes to using private companies to alleviate this pressure, the public are lukewarm but broadly in favour – three times as many support it than oppose it, though many are uncertain. We know the public are strongly opposed to US-style privatisation of the health service, and cautious about the involvement of profit-making companies, so they will want to ensure that this approach doesn’t change their relationship with the NHS.

Technical note

Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,099 adults aged 18-75 across Great Britain. Polling was conducted online between 14-17 June 2024. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error. 
 

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