The King's Fund blog - Public satisfaction with the NHS falls to a 25-year low (30 March 2022)

Summary

This analysis by the King's Fund looks at the latest British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey, which revealed that public satisfaction with the NHS fell by 17 percent between 2020 and 2021. It discusses the 'halo effect' that affected public attitudes to the NHS at the beginning of the pandemic, and why this has faded since 2021.

The article highlights the importance of addressing workforce issues, but states that returning the NHS to an 'even keel' will take a long period of time. In the meantime, the Government should prioritise managing public expectations of the NHS. It also highlights that although the survey shows great dissatisfaction with the care currently provided, the public appears to have upheld its faith in the core principles of the NHS.