A Health Foundation study of 2,200 UK adults, carried out by Ipsos in May, finds that easier access to GP appointments is the public’s top NHS priority. The poll also lists shorter A&E waits and reducing staff leaving the NHS among the next major concerns, while cutting waits for routine hospital treatment ranks fifth.

The Government’s plan for change includes a pledge that by July 2029 at least 92% of patients will be seen within 18 weeks for routine hospital treatment such as hip or knee replacements, but this is not the public’s main concern. The findings show public confidence in the Government’s NHS policies remains low: 53% disagree that the Government has the right policies, while 16% agree. Perceptions of the NHS are described as negative overall, with some signs of improvement. About 83% say the standard of care has stayed the same or worsened in the past year, and 41% expect a further decline in the next 12 months. The share who think care has improved rose from 8% in November 2024 to 13% in May.

The poll indicates local NHS performance is viewed more positively than the service overall. A quarter (26%) disagree that the NHS will provide a comprehensive service to everyone in five years, and 21% doubt it will remain free at the point of delivery. Most respondents still support the founding principles that care should be free at the point of delivery, comprehensive for all, and funded through taxation. The polling was conducted before the Government unveiled its 10-Year Plan for the NHS. The authors note that public pessimism about social care persists, with 51% disagreeing that the Government has the right policies for care. Tim Gardner of the Health Foundation said the public mood on health and care is largely downbeat but shows slow signs of improvement, and that policymakers must show tangible gains in the areas people care about. He added that while improving waiting times is a pledge, easier GP access remains the top priority, and progress will depend on resources and trade-offs. NHS Providers chief executive Daniel Elkeles said services are working hard to turn the tide on falling satisfaction, while Royal College of Nursing England executive director Patricia Marquis stressed staffing and capacity pressures in general practice and A&E. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the Government is turning around a decade of neglect, focusing on improving access at the front line as part of the 10-Year Plan, and that more than 2,000 extra GPs have been recruited in the past year along with a £1 billion funding boost and upgrades to surgeries.