Public Satisfaction with the NHS Falls to Historic Low
Are More Britons Turning to Private Healthcare?
By Camellia White | Last reviewed
A new report has revealed a striking fall in public satisfaction with the NHS — and the trend may be driving increased demand for private medical insurance.
Based upon The British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey 2024, The Kings Fund have released a report (in April 2025)* that shows only 21% of UK adults are satisfied with the way the NHS runs today — the lowest figure since the survey began in 1983. Dissatisfaction has risen sharply, with 59% of people now saying they’re unhappy with NHS services — up from 52% in 2023.
The BSA survey, widely regarded as the gold standard of public opinion, paints a bleak picture of a health system under strain and losing the public’s trust. The findings raise urgent questions for policymakers, but also signal a growing reality for many families across the UK: increasingly, private healthcare is no longer seen as a luxury, but a necessity.
Long Waits and Staffing Shortages Top the List of Concerns
The survey identifies the top drivers of dissatisfaction:
- 62% of people are unhappy with the time it takes to get a GP appointment
- 65% say they’re dissatisfied with hospital waiting times
- A shocking 69% are unhappy with how long it takes to be seen in A&E
Only 11% of respondents believe there are enough staff in the NHS, and just 14% think the NHS spends its money efficiently. These views cut across political lines, age groups, and income levels — pointing to a national concern, not a niche one.
The Collapse of Confidence Since the Pandemic
While public satisfaction with the NHS was already under pressure before 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have accelerated a sharp decline. In 2019, 60% of people were still satisfied with NHS dentistry, but by 2024, that number had collapsed to just 20% — a staggering 40-point drop.
General practice, once the most highly rated NHS service, has also seen steep falls. Satisfaction with GP services has fallen from 63% in 2017 to just 31% in 2024.
It’s a trend that many now see as irreversible without major reform — and for millions of people, waiting for reform is no longer an option.
Find your private health coverTurning Point: The Rise of Private Health Insurance
As dissatisfaction with the NHS has deepened, the private healthcare market has expanded. Industry data suggests a steady rise in PMI enquiries and policy take-ups, particularly among families, self-employed professionals, and retirees seeking faster, more reliable care.
Anecdotally, insurance providers report that many new customers are first-time buyers, often prompted by a specific event — a long wait for treatment, an unavailable dentist, or a cancelled NHS procedure.
The shift is especially notable among those with the means to invest in peace of mind and avoid lengthy delays for treatment.
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What Does This Mean for the Future of UK Healthcare?
Public support for the founding principles of the NHS remains strong — with 90% still backing the idea that it should be free at the point of use. But a growing number of Britons are making a personal, practical choice: if the NHS can’t meet their needs, they’ll pay to go private.
The Government’s own rhetoric echoes the public mood. The Secretary of State for Health has declared that the “NHS is broken”, while waiting lists remain at near-record levels. Funding commitments have been made, but doubts persist about whether they’re enough to reverse the trend.
In the meantime, many UK households are voting with their wallets — and private medical insurance is becoming the safety net that people once assumed the NHS would always provide.
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The Main Points
- Dissatisfaction with the NHS is at a 40-year high, driven by long waits and under-resourced services.
- Public trust in the NHS has eroded since the COVID-19 pandemic, with steep falls in satisfaction across GP, A&E and dental services.
- More families are exploring private medical insurance as a way to regain control over their healthcare options.
- The profile of the typical PMI buyer is shifting — it now includes homeowners, working families, retirees and the self-employed.
- As public expectations rise and NHS performance continues to lag, private health cover may become the new normal for a growing segment of the UK population.
