Poll Reveals Long Waits for Ambulance, GP, and Emergency Care as Top Concerns for NHS
The Department of Health and Social Care stated that the outcomes are ‘no surprise’ but committed to ‘turning around the health service’.
Concerns about long waits for A&E care, ambulances, and GP appointments rank high among the worries of Britons regarding the NHS, as per a survey.
Over 80% of people expressed concerns about the overall health service, with only half confident in the government’s plans to improve the NHS in the next five years.
Approximately a quarter of respondents were aware of Labour’s promise to reduce waiting times.
A survey of 1,081 individuals, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the PA news agency, found that 83% of participants have worries about the NHS.
The main concerns included A&E waiting times (68%); lengthy waits for GP appointments (63%); planned hospital appointments (62%); and ambulances (62%).
About 50% of those concerned were worried about the workload on healthcare staff and the quality of care provided.
Some 38% expressed concerns about the NHS’s recruitment abilities, while a third were anxious about the welfare of existing workers.
The DHSC remarked that the findings were not unexpected but affirmed their commitment to improving the health service.
The government’s 10 Year Health Plan, set to be released in the spring, will focus on illness prevention, digital technologies, and shifting care from hospitals to the community.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged that by July 2029, 92% of patients would receive pre-planned care like hip and knee replacements within 18 weeks, yet only 24% of survey respondents were aware of these plans.
More than half doubted the 18-week target would be met within a year, with 36% believing it could be achieved in five years.
Overall, 65% were not confident that the government’s NHS plans would lead to improvements within a year, dropping to 51% within five years.
Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive of NHS Providers, emphasized the challenges facing NHS leaders as they strive to instill public confidence in the health service and meet key targets.
