What the National Public Is Telling Us About Health and Care

The new Public’s Perspective: The State of Health and Social Care report draws on 390,000 experiences shared between 2023 and 2025, and its message is clear: people value the NHS deeply, but too many struggle to get the care they need, when they need it. 

Key Findings 

Confidence in accessing timely care has risen modestly — from 31% in 2023 to 35% in 2025 — but this masks stark variation across services. GP access remains the number one issue people raise. The “8am rush” still blocks many from getting appointments, and groups such as young people, those on low incomes, housebound residents, and trans and non‑binary people face additional barriers. Pharmacy First is a bright spot, with 86% satisfaction and strong potential to ease pressure on GPs. 

Dentistry continues to be in crisis. Only 35% feel confident they can get timely NHS dental care, and urgent dental cases and A&E attendances for dental problems have surged. People are travelling long distances, self‑treating, or going without care entirely. 

Mental health services remain overwhelmed. Long waits, limited interim support, and fragmented pathways leave many people deteriorating while they wait. Young people in particular describe feeling lost in a confusing system. 

Across cancer care, elective treatment, social care, and winter pressures, the themes repeat: long waits, poor communication, and administrative failures that undermine otherwise excellent clinical care. Digital healthcare offers promise, but risks deepening inequalities if traditional access routes aren’t protected. 

Perhaps the most concerning trend is the rise in private healthcare use — from 9% in 2023 to 16% in 2025 — driven largely by long waits and lack of eligibility. Without action, the NHS risks drifting further toward a two‑tier system. 

What This Means for Us 

For us at Healthwatch Greenwich, these findings reinforce what local people tell us every day: access, communication, and fairness matter just as much as clinical quality. As responsibilities shift nationally, it’s vital that the public voice remains central to shaping the future of care.