Public Health

Concern about Britain's ageing population - including social care and pensions - increases this month, although still far behind other domestic issues

Economy remains the number one issue, with concern about unemployment, inflation and prices creeping up

Ipsos research for the AMRC has found that 97% of the public believe it is important the NHS should support research into new treatments.

Ipsos conducted a survey for NHS East of England exploring attitudes to talking about death and dying.

In a month in which the spotlight has been fixed on the reform of the health service, the Economist/Ipsos Issues Index shows that a quarter of the public (26%) think that the NHS is one of the most important issues facing Britain. This is an increase of six percentage points since April, and the highest level of concern since January 2008.

Rise in concern about the economy and defence/foreign affairs amid the Portuguese bailout and Libya crisis

The most marked increase this month is with petrol prices/fuel. One in seven (15%) are concerned about this, an increase of seven percentage points since last month, and the highest since July 2008. Those who are most concerned include those in rural areas (20%), those in social grades DE (21%) and those in Scotland (27%).

The vast majority of doctors are not convinced that the potential benefits of the government's plans for the NHS in England outweigh the risks, an Ipsos survey for the BMA suggests.

Our latest issues index shows that concern about unemployment is higher amongst the young.