Majority of Scots think NHS is worse than ten years ago – poll

A majority of Scots believe the NHS is worse now than it was ten years ago, a poll suggests.

Research for the think tank Enlighten found 71% agreed with the statement “the NHS in Scotland is worse now than it was ten years ago”.

Meanwhile, 77% agreed with the statement: “If current trends continue, the NHS in Scotland will be worse in ten years than it is today.”

Some 66% said the current model of the NHS is “no longer sustainable”.

Asked about the statement “private providers should play a bigger role in delivering NHS services” – more respondents agreed (50%) than disagreed (22%).

A total of 1,020 people were surveyed between October 5 and 15 as part of the Norstat panel.

It was released ahead of a conference at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE), hosted by Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and Enlighten.

A number of politicians will speak at the conference, including Health Secretary Neil Gray.

The vast majority of those polled, 93%, said the NHS needs either “significant” or “moderate” reform.

RCPE president Professor Andrew Elder said: “The college recognises that under the current funding envelope, it is not possible to continue providing everything that modern healthcare can now offer, from ‘cradle to grave’.

“There must be a conversation about whether public funding can be increased.

“Or, if it cannot be, the conversation must move to how we make reasoned decisions about what can – and cannot – be provided via the public purse.

Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said the findings came as ‘no surprise’ (Andrew Milligan/PA). PA Media

“Policy-makers cannot continue to pretend that the NHS can do everything for everybody all of the time, with no change in funding.”

Enlighten director Chris Deerin said: “The people on the front line of delivering health and social care in Scotland are increasingly telling us that the system is unsustainable, often stretched beyond capacity and overly complex.

“We also know that the nation’s health is deteriorating, that inequalities are widening and that with an ageing population demand for health and social care services can only grow.

“The polling we commissioned ahead of today’s conference shows that the users of the services see that too and accept that the status quo is not an option.”

Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “Under the SNP, the founding principles of our NHS have been torn to shreds.

“It’s no surprise people are worried about the state of our health service when one in six Scots are stuck on an NHS waiting list and getting a GP appointment feels like winning the lottery.

“We cannot afford a third decade of SNP failure and simply tinkering around the edges won’t cut it – a Scottish Labour government will renew our NHS so it is fit for the future, and slash bureaucracy and waste from the system so we can protect lifelong frontline care.”

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “This poll shows that 88% of people believe healthcare should be free and we will always protect the founding principles of the NHS – publicly owned and free at the point of need.

“That’s why we are investing a record £21.7 billion in health and social care this year, targeting areas with the longest waits, tackling backlogs, and ensuring patients get the care they need faster.

“As part of this, we’re investing over £110 million specifically to reduce long waits. This targeted funding is expected to deliver more than 213,000 additional procedures and appointments over the year.

“Our plan is delivering results. Last year, the NHS performed a record number of hip and knee operations, and this July saw the highest level of operations overall since February 2020.”