Public dissatisfaction with NHS found to be growing, says BMA
pharmafile | June 26, 2017 | News story | Medical Communications, Sales and Marketing | BMA, NHS
The British Medical Association has revealed that a poll, conducted by British doctors, shows that levels of public dissatisfaction with the NHS is higher than the levels of people satisfied with the service. It is the first time that polls have reported a dimming in happiness with the service, and the poll further revealed that 82% of people are worried about the future of the service.
The figures were released on the second day of the BMA annual representative meeting, as the BMA’s chairman, Dr Mark Porter, lambasted the government’s lack of funding to the organisation.
He said: “We have a Government trying to keep the health service running on nothing but fumes. A health service at breaking point. Run by ministers who wilfully ignore the pleas of the profession and the impact on patients. After years of underinvestment, with a growing, ageing population, and despite the extraordinary dedication of its staff, it is failing too many people, too often.”
In particular, Porter compared spending by the UK government to other European countries – finding that spending in the UK was below the average of leading European economies. He suggested that if the UK were to spend at average levels, it would mean a further £15 billion would be invested over the coming parliamentary term.
The figures that were released in the poll of 1,031 people across England found that 43% of respondents were dissatisfied with the service, higher than the 33% who claimed that they were satisfied. 62% of people also expected the NHS to get worse in the coming years.
In a further poll that questioned doctors on the future of the health service, 71% said it had become harder for patients to access the NHS.
The government responded with a statement: “This does a disservice to the achievements of NHS staff – the highest cancer survival rates ever, mental health care expanding at the fastest rate in Western Europe, and 17 million people getting evening and weekend GP appointments”.
Ben Hargreaves
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