NHS Satisfaction Rises to 26% as Recovery Programme Launched

Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced a new initiative on Wednesday to address chronic underperformance at several National Health Service trusts, as a major survey indicated the first rise in public satisfaction with the health service since the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking at the University of East London, Streeting outlined the NHS Intensive Recovery programme, which will target five struggling providers starting next month.

The British Social Attitudes survey, conducted annually by the National Centre for Social Research and involving more than 3,400 respondents from England, Scotland and Wales, showed satisfaction with the NHS increased to 26 percent in 2025, up from 19 percent the previous year. Dissatisfaction fell to 51 percent, the sharpest annual decline since 1998. Analysis by the King's Fund and Nuffield Trust think tanks described the shift as the largest improvement in over a quarter of a century, though levels remain historically low.

Government officials attributed the progress to increased investment and operational changes. An additional 26 billion pounds has been allocated to the NHS this year, contributing to a reduction of 374,000 patients on waiting...