The level of public satisfaction with the NHS has reached a historic low, with a record high level of dissatisfaction, particularly concerning emergency services, general practitioner care, and dentistry. The latest annual patient survey reveals that only 21% of adults in Britain are satisfied with the running of the NHS, a decrease from 24% a year earlier, while 59% express dissatisfaction, up from 52%. This decline in satisfaction is stark, dropping from 70% in 2010 and 60% in 2019. A policy analyst at the Nuffield Trust thinktank notes that this represents the most significant loss of confidence in the NHS in 40 years of such surveys. A&E services have seen satisfaction plummet from 31% in 2023 to 19%, and dissatisfaction with NHS dentistry, which has fallen to 20%, is at a higher level than any other service. The survey also shows that just over a third of adults are satisfied with GP services and reflects a generational divide, with older individuals being more satisfied but still only 27%, while satisfaction among younger demographics has dropped from 24% to 19%. Despite this, there remains support for the NHS principles of being free at the point of use and funded through taxation. The health and social care secretary admits that the NHS was in a poor state but states that the government is addressing this with increased investment and a 10-year plan for improvement. Additionally, a separate study reveals that nearly one in 10 individuals in Britain have suffered harm from NHS treatment or delays over the last three years.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/02/patient-satisfaction-with-nhs-has-hit-record-low-of-21-survey-finds