Ambulance, GP and emergency care waits among biggest NHS concerns – poll
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Long waits for A&E care, ambulances and GP appointments are among the biggest worries that Britons have about the NHS, according to a survey. It comes as more than eight in 10 people said they have concerns about the health service overall, with half not confident that the Government’s plans for the NHS will lead to improvements in the next five years.
Only about a quarter of those who responded to the poll were aware of Labour’s pledge to bring down waiting times. The survey of 1,081 people, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the PA news agency, showed 83% have concerns about the NHS. The chief concerns were: A&E waiting times (68%); as well as long waits for GP appointments (63%); planned hospital appointments (62%) and ambulances (62%).
About half of those with concerns said they are concerned about the workload on healthcare staff (52%) and the quality of care being delivered (49%). Some 38% said they have concerns about the NHS’s ability to recruit staff, while a third said they were worried about the wellbeing of existing workers.
About a quarter of those who said they were concerned about the NHS at the moment said they were concerned about staff pay (26%), the qualifications of workers being recruited (24%) and the share of contracts being offered to private healthcare providers (23%).
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the results are “no surprise” but vowed “turn the health service around”. The Government’s 10 Year Health Plan is expected to be published in the spring and will focus more on ill-health prevention, digital technologies and shifting more care from hospitals into the community.
