Public responds positively to NHS 10 Year Plan measures, but with some scepticism about its impact

New research from Ipsos in the UK shortly after the 10 Year Health Plan launch suggests a positive response from the public, with British adults much more likely to say the plan will make things better for patients (35%) than worse (9%). However, a quarter (25%) say they think the plan will make no difference for patients, with “some scepticism” from the public about the plans.

The 10 Year Health Plan, launched on 3 July by the Prime Minister and Health Secretary, enjoys cross-party support that it will make things better for patients and NHS staff:

• 2024 Labour voters
  • Better for patients 52% vs 7% worse
  • Better for NHS staff 49% vs 11% worse
• 2024 Conservative voters
  • Better for patients 35% vs 13% worse
  • Better for NHS staff 33% vs 15% worse
• 2024 Liberal Democrat voters
  • Better for patients 37% vs 8% worse
  • Better for NHS staff 28% vs 14% worse

2024 Reform UK voters are the only major UK party voters to think the 10 Year Health Plan will be as likely to make things better for patients (15%) as it is to make things worse (17%). However, a significant proportion of the public think the measures outlined in the plan will make no difference to major areas of concern in the NHS. In particular, one in three (35%) say the plan will make ‘no difference’ to how it easy it is to get a GP appointment, a “key metric of patient satisfaction with the NHS”, according to Ipsos researchers.

The public is very supportive of a number of individual measures announced in the 10 Year Health Plan, including:

• Creating a single patient record (84% support vs 5% oppose)
• Banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children aged under 16 (78% support vs 8% oppose)
• Establishing Neighbourhood Health Centres (78% support vs 6% oppose)
• Expanding use of the NHS app (73% support vs 9% oppose)
• Restricting advertising for junk food targeted at children (69% support vs 12% oppose)

Over half (58%) of the British public weren’t aware of the 10 Year Health Plan when polled, including 53% of 2024 Labour voters.

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

Broadly, the government can be happy with how the NHS 10 Year Health Plan landed, despite all of the turbulence surrounding it. The public – when they had heard of the plan and its measures – were more likely than not to think it will have a positive impact on patients and NHS staff. However, there remains some scepticism among Britons about whether the plans will have any tangible impact. In particular, one in three think the plan won’t make any difference to how easy it is to get a GP appointment, which we know is a key metric for patient satisfaction with the NHS.

Technical note: 

• Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,023 adults aged 18-75 across Great Britain. Polling was conducted online between the 9-10 July 2025.   
• Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.