This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18398698#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Record fall in 'NHS satisfaction' | Record fall in 'NHS satisfaction' |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News | By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News |
| Public satisfaction with the NHS has dropped by a record amount, the British Social Attitudes Survey suggests. | Public satisfaction with the NHS has dropped by a record amount, the British Social Attitudes Survey suggests. |
| The poll indicates satisfaction fell from 70% to 58% last year - the largest annual drop since it started in 1983. | The poll indicates satisfaction fell from 70% to 58% last year - the largest annual drop since it started in 1983. |
| The King's Fund think tank sponsored the NHS questions put to more than 1,000 people and said their answers appeared to be a comment on reforms and spending squeezes and not care quality. | The King's Fund think tank sponsored the NHS questions put to more than 1,000 people and said their answers appeared to be a comment on reforms and spending squeezes and not care quality. |
| The government said the survey contradicted its poll among patients. | The government said the survey contradicted its poll among patients. |
| The survey formed part of the wider British Social Attitudes Survey, which covers a whole host of policy areas. | The survey formed part of the wider British Social Attitudes Survey, which covers a whole host of policy areas. |
| The 1,096 respondents to the health questions were asked "how satisfied or dissatisfied" they were with the way in which the National Health Service was run. | The 1,096 respondents to the health questions were asked "how satisfied or dissatisfied" they were with the way in which the National Health Service was run. |
| The King's Fund released the findings on the NHS as it has taken on responsibility for funding that element of the research after the government pulled out last year. | The King's Fund released the findings on the NHS as it has taken on responsibility for funding that element of the research after the government pulled out last year. |
| 'Shock' | 'Shock' |
| Prof John Appleby, chief economist at the King's Fund, said the poll was important because it had tracked satisfaction over such a long period of time. | Prof John Appleby, chief economist at the King's Fund, said the poll was important because it had tracked satisfaction over such a long period of time. |
| "It is not surprising this has happened when the NHS is facing a well-publicised spending squeeze. | "It is not surprising this has happened when the NHS is facing a well-publicised spending squeeze. |
| "Nevertheless, it is something of a shock that it has fallen so significantly. | "Nevertheless, it is something of a shock that it has fallen so significantly. |
| "This will be a concern to the government given it appears to be closely linked with the debate on its NHS reforms." | "This will be a concern to the government given it appears to be closely linked with the debate on its NHS reforms." |
| The King's Fund said it had reached that conclusion because performance measures, such as waiting times and hospital infection rates, remained low. | The King's Fund said it had reached that conclusion because performance measures, such as waiting times and hospital infection rates, remained low. |
| When the figures are broken down in more detail they show similar patterns. | When the figures are broken down in more detail they show similar patterns. |
| Satisfaction fell among supporters of all three main political parties - although unsurprisingly if dropped most among Labour voters. | Satisfaction fell among supporters of all three main political parties - although unsurprisingly if dropped most among Labour voters. |
| 'People are worried' | 'People are worried' |
| The falls were similar when England was compared with Scotland and Wales combined. | The falls were similar when England was compared with Scotland and Wales combined. |
| While the NHS reforms apply only to England, the King's Fund suggested there could be some "leakage" into the public consciousness elsewhere. | While the NHS reforms apply only to England, the King's Fund suggested there could be some "leakage" into the public consciousness elsewhere. |
| Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said the survey results "clearly reflect David Cameron's disastrous decision to reorganise the NHS at a time of financial distress. Patients are beginning to see the signs of a service in distress." | Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said the survey results "clearly reflect David Cameron's disastrous decision to reorganise the NHS at a time of financial distress. Patients are beginning to see the signs of a service in distress." |
| He said A&E waiting times over winter, reports of patients on trolleys in corridors, redundancies, and "reports of services being restricted" were "leading people to feel worried about the future of the NHS". | He said A&E waiting times over winter, reports of patients on trolleys in corridors, redundancies, and "reports of services being restricted" were "leading people to feel worried about the future of the NHS". |
| And Mike Farrar, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, added: "These results give us a sharp indication that the public have become worried and confused about what is going on with the NHS." | And Mike Farrar, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, added: "These results give us a sharp indication that the public have become worried and confused about what is going on with the NHS." |
| But Health Minister Simon Burns said the findings contradicted the government's own research which showed satisfaction rates remained high. | But Health Minister Simon Burns said the findings contradicted the government's own research which showed satisfaction rates remained high. |
| In particular, he highlighted the annual patient survey which showed that 92% of patients said their experience was good, very good or excellent. | In particular, he highlighted the annual patient survey which showed that 92% of patients said their experience was good, very good or excellent. |
| "The British Social Attitudes Survey targets the general public rather than targeting people that have actually used the NHS, so responses are influenced by other factors. | "The British Social Attitudes Survey targets the general public rather than targeting people that have actually used the NHS, so responses are influenced by other factors. |
| "By its nature it is not as accurate a picture as the data from patients." | "By its nature it is not as accurate a picture as the data from patients." |