New research published today (Tuesday 3 April 2007) suggests that 73% of the general public do not believe that there has been any improvement in NHS services over the last five years.
This statistic was from the National Health Report, a quarterly review of the UK publics and patients’ opinions on healthcare, GP and NHS services, produced by Health Squared Communications in partnership with Opinion Health.
However, more than 65% thought the professionalism of NHS staff they interacted with was good. This was echoed in the friendliness of staff, with over 70% rating friendliness as good.
Asked if NHS services had improved over the past five years, only 21% believed that they had. When asked about the role of the private sector in providing healthcare, 32% believed there should be more involvement. One in 10 said the private sector should totally withdraw, and only 14% called for a reduced role.
Andrew Wigmore, managing director of Health Squared, commented: “When we commissioned this report, we had no idea about the strength of feeling about the NHS’s current plight. However, all was not bad as far as GP services were concerned, with 75% of those we surveyed happy with the service.”
The National Health Report results are based on a sample of around 2,300 members of the general public. The survey, commissioned by Health Squared Communications, the specialist health communications consultancy, in partnership with Opinion Health, the online health-focused research company, will provide a regular quarterly monitor of the perceptions, opinions and experiences of the general public, as well as patients’ opinions of NHS services. These results will be reported back to stakeholders, the NHS and the patients themselves.
A full copy of the survey results can be seen at: http://www.healthsquared.co.uk/communications/nationalhealthreport
