Easier access to GP practice appointments is now the public’s top priority for the NHS, overtaking resolving staffing issues

The Health Foundation has partnered with Ipsos to deliver a programme of public polling research examining expectations and perceptions of health and social care. Every 6 months, we poll a representative sample of the UK public using the UK KnowledgePanel – Ipsos’ random probability online panel.

The findings from the seventh survey (with fieldwork in November 2024) show:

• When asked about which public sector area should receive more public spending in the future, nearly two-thirds (65%) would prioritise NHS/healthcare. This is followed by social care for older people (26%) and housing (23%).
• The public are less negative about the services the NHS provides than in May 2024. They are less likely to think the general standard of care provided by the NHS over the last 12 months has got worse (down from 55% in May 2024 to 41% in November 2024) and will continue to get worse over the next 12 months (down from 52% in May 2024 to 39% in November 2024). The public are more likely to agree that their local NHS is providing them with a good service (up from 37% in May 2024 to 45% in November 2024) and that the UK / Scottish / Welsh / Northern Ireland government has the right policies for the NHS (up from 8% in May 2024 to 17% in November 2024). 
• Making it easier to get appointments at GP practices (38%) is the top public priority. This is followed by improving waiting times for A&E (33%), reducing the number of staff leaving the NHS by improving working conditions (29%) and reducing waste and improving the efficiency of NHS services (29%). 
• Around three-quarters (73%) of the English public say they are unaware the government and the NHS are developing a 10 Year Health Plan for the NHS, whilst around one-quarter (26%) are aware. Although around three in five (59%) are not confident that the 10 Year Health Plan will lead to improvements in the NHS, the English public generally support the government's three shifts for the NHS being a top priority. Focusing on preventing sickness rather than just treating it is the most popular shift (86% support), followed by moving more care from hospitals to communities (82%). Making better use of technology receives the least support, although support is still high overall (73% support). 
• The public are less negative about the social care services than in May 2024. They are less likely to think the general standard of social care over the last 12 months has got worse (down from 50% in May 2024 to 44% in November 2024) and will continue to get worse over the next 12 months (down from 49% in May  2024 to 36% in November 2024). Whilst very few think the government has the right policies in place for social care (9%), they are significantly less likely to think the government does not have the right policies in place than in May 2024 (down from 63% to 43% in November 2024).
• Only one in five (22%) of the English public say they are aware of the government's promise to create a National Care Service, while 76% are not aware. The public are divided on how the government should best tackle social care reform. While 43% think the government should prioritise building cross-party consensus for social care reform, even if this means that it takes longer to deliver reforms to improve care services, 40% think it should prioritise delivering social care reform quickly to improve care services, even if this means that not all political parties agree with their reform plans. 
• Just under half (47%) of the public say they are unlikely to pay for private health insurance or healthcare, consistent with findings in May and November 2023.

Download the slide pack from the Health Foundation's website.

Technical note

The survey was conducted between 21 and 27 November 2024 using Ipsos' UK KnowledgePanel, a random probability online panel. We surveyed 2,198 people aged 16 years and older in the UK. A response rate of 58% was achieved. The sample was reviewed on key demographics to ensure a balanced sample was selected. Weighting was applied to the data to ensure the survey results are as representative of the UK population as possible. Calibration weighting was applied to region and an interlocked variable of Gender by Age; and demographic weights were applied to Education, Ethnicity, Index of Multiple Deprivation (quintiles), and number of adults in the household. 

The survey covers a range of public perceptions including expectations and perceptions of the NHS and social care; awareness and views of the 10 Year Health Plan; views of social care reform; view of NHS funding; views on private healthcare.