Public Wants Better GP Access Over Shorter Hospital Waits

Improving access to GP services has emerged as the top priority for the NHS among UK adults, according to a recent survey by the Health Foundation. The findings highlight a “potential misalignment” between public expectations and the government’s focus on reducing waiting times for routine hospital care.

Polling in November by Ipsos for the Health Foundation found that 38% of 2198 respondents aged 16 and over ranked easier GP access as their highest priority. This compared with 27% who prioritised reducing hospital waiting times.

Other key concerns included improving A&E wait times (33%) and addressing NHS staff retention through better working conditions (29%).

Hugh Alderwick, director of policy at the Health Foundation, noted in a press release that cutting waiting lists “will require substantial resources and may mean slower progress on improving care elsewhere”.

Shifting Public Sentiment on NHS Performance

The survey, conducted a month after the announcement of a forthcoming 10-Year Health Plan, was the first by the health think-tank under the Labour government. Compared with a similar poll in May 2024, public priorities have shifted. GP access, A&E waiting times, and efficiency improvements have gained importance, while workforce issues have moved down the list.

Optimism about NHS standards has also grown. In November, 21% of respondents believed NHS care would improve in the next 12 months, up from 11% in May. Confidence in social care improvements also increased, from 5% to 11%.

Despite widespread publicity for the 10-Year Health Plan, around 3 in 4 of people in England (73%) were unaware of it. Once informed, 35 % expressed confidence in its potential to improve the NHS, while 59% were sceptical.

Support for Key NHS Reforms

The public largely backs the three major reforms outlined in the plan:

• 86% support a stronger focus on preventing illness.
• 82% prioritise shifting more care from hospitals to communities.
• 73% endorse better use of technology in healthcare.

Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive of NHS Providers, said public support for these reforms was encouraging. “But the findings show there is more to be done in explaining how the NHS is aiming to deliver these shifts through the 10-Year Health Plan,” she added in a statement.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, stressed the importance of giving GPs more time with patients. This would “facilitate the conversations necessary to support them to make lifestyle changes that can improve their overall health,” she said in a statement.

Call for a Clearer Vision

In its analysis, the Health Foundation called on the government to “articulate a more hopeful vision for the future and address the potential misalignment between their overriding political priority of reducing hospital waiting times and what is most important to the public.” 

Ruth Rankine, NHS Confederation director of primary care, emphasised that reform efforts must focus on both increasing appointment numbers and improving patient experience.

Hawthorne was unsurprised by the findings. “GP teams are already delivering more consultations than ever before – 367 million last year, more than a million per day – and more complex care, but with only a handful more qualified GPs than in 2019. This isn’t sustainable,” she stressed.

Dr Rob Hicks is a retired NHS doctor. A well-known TV and radio broadcaster, he has written three books and has regularly contributed to national newspapers, magazines, and online. He is based in the UK.