The public's views on the future of the NHS in England

The public's views on the future of the NHS in England Analysis May 2024 The public’s views on the future of the NHS in England Findings from deliberative research and polling with the public and what it means for the next government Genevieve Cameron, Luisa Buzelli, Kate Duxbury, Rob Sinclair, Anita Jeffreson, Tim Gardner Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank colleagues at the Health F. [...] 4 The public’s views on the future of the NHS in England Introduction The challenges facing the next government A general election is looming and once again the NHS will be at the centre of the debate, as well as a top issue for people in deciding how they will vote.1 Public concern reflects the realities of a low point in the NHS’s history. [...] Full details about the survey methodology are provided in the accompanying Ipsos report.10 8 The public’s views on the future of the NHS in England Findings Underfunding and government policymaking are seen as the main factors causing pressure on the NHS This section covers the public’s perceptions of the NHS and the causes of the current challenges it faces. [...] Following the presentation, discussions focused on the below-average funding growth in the decade before the pandemic, the instability of funding growth over time and the spending plan announced in the 2023 Autumn Statement. [...] 20 The public’s views on the future of the NHS in England The public supports the current NHS model and its founding principles over alternatives This section covers the public’s views on the best funding model for the NHS, comparing the current model to two alternative proposals: introducing extra user charges and moving to a system of social health insurance.