The Health Foundation have published their analysis on the seventh wave of their public perception survey programme with Ipsos, which is the first under the government. Conducted between 21st and 28th November 2024, the survey looks at public perceptions of health and social care in 2,198 UK adults aged 16 and over.

Although perceptions are still overall quite negative, the public is more optimistic about the performance of services than under the previous government. One in five (21 per cent) think standards of NHS care will improve over the next 12 months, compared with just 11 per cent in May 2024.

For the first time in this survey’s history, the public’s top priority for the NHS is making it easier to get appointments at GP practices; two fifths of participants (38 per cent) put this first. This is followed by improving A&E wait times (33 per cent) and reducing the number of staff leaving the NHS by improving working conditions (29 per cent).

Only 27 per cent of the English public are aware of the government’s 10-Year Health Plan, and only 24 per cent are aware of the government’s proposals for a National Care Service.

The NHS is the public’s top priority for extra public spending by a large margin, though the public is divided about how, if at all, to pay for the extra spending that would be needed to meet the demand. Although the preferred option is still to raise taxes to maintain the current level of care and services (4 per cent), support for taxes increases has deiced over time, down from 53 per cent in November 2022.

Although Labour won a landslide victory, the public mood on the NHS and case is very skeptical: more “wait and see” than “things can only get better”. The Health Foundation’s takeaways from the survey are the need for the 10-Year Health Plan to change perceptions and set the direction for an improved NHS, the importance of cashflow towards primary care, and the importance of the government to deliver reform sooner rather than later.