Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 26 April 2024 at 23:31
Research suggests satisfaction levels with the NHS are on the up – rising from 60 to 65% – while dissatisfaction levels dropped to an all-time low (15%).
The British Social Attitudes survey, carried out on behalf of health charity the King’s Fund, is seen as an important temperature check on how the public is feeling about the NHS. Since 1983, the survey has asked the public – rather than simply patients – about their views on and feelings towards the NHS and health care issues generally.
A total of 1,939 people took part in the survey, carried out between August and November 2014, and were asked: ‘All in all, how satisfied or dissatisfied would you say you are with the way in which the National Health Service runs nowadays?’
Satisfaction as reported here aggregates those who answer ‘very’ and ‘quite’ satisfied.
Those with recent personal experience of the NHS recorded higher levels of satisfaction, an increase by 4% from 2013 to 2014, while those who had no recent contact with the NHS, either personally or through friends or family members, recorded a jump of 11%.
Simon Stevens, NHS England’s Chief Executive, highlighted the results at the organisation’s public board meeting, saying they were a tribute to NHS staff.
Accident and emergency (A&E) services experienced an increase in satisfaction to 58%, from last year’s low point of 53%, with satisfaction with outpatient services at an all-time high of 69%.
About the British Social Attitudes survey
The British Social Attitudes survey is owned and directed by NatCen Social Research, and has been conducted every year since 1983 with the exception of 1988 and 1992. The NHS is one among a number of topics covered by the survey. This is the fourth year that The King’s Fund has sponsored health questions in the survey.
The survey was undertaken by NatCen Social Research and sponsored by the King’s Fund with interviews taking place between August and November 2014. The sample size for the overall NHS satisfaction question was 1,937. Interviews were carried out with a random sample of adults. The data is weighted to ensure it is representative of the general population.
Published 6th February 2015