How Have Public Attitudes To The NHS Changed Over The Past Three Decades?

What can data from 23 years of the British Social Attitudes survey tell us about the public's relationship with the NHS and how it is viewed alongside other publicly funded services? We reflect on the top four issues. Click here for Kings Fund

Mental health experts criticise new Netflix film about anorexic girl

Mental health experts have said a Netflix trailer for a film about a teenage girl with anorexia could trigger psychological issues for sufferers and should come with a warning.

To the Bone, which is released next month, tells the story of 20-year-old Ellen, who struggles with anorexia and enters a group recovery home for help. But while its director says the film is intended as “a conversation starter about an issue that is too often clouded by secrecy and misconceptions”, critics say the film risks glamourising and trivialising anorexia

What does the public think about NHS and social care services?

The Health Foundation commissioned Ipsos MORI to do a survey of the general public in Great Britain on their views about funding of the NHS, as well as the provision of NHS and social care services.  Key findings include:

• Protecting the NHS from cuts is important to the majority of the general public.
• Nearly two-thirds of people think that taxes should be increased to fund the NHS.
• Nine in 10 people (88%) agree that the NHS should be tax funded, free at the point of use, and provide comprehensive care for all citizens.
• Only 12% of people think the general standard of NHS care has improved over the past year.
• While almost a third of people (30%) don’t have a preference for where they receive NHS-funded care (ie from an NHS or non-NHS provider), there has been an increase in the number of people preferring to go to an NHS-provided service.
• Half of respondents (50%) think the NHS often wastes money.

Social workers' role in mental health 'misunderstood', survey finds

The role of social workers in mental health services is “greatly misunderstood” by the public, according to research published by fast-track social work training scheme Think Ahead.

A survey of over 1000 British adults found only a third (33%) knew social workers were involved in deciding whether someone should be detained under the Mental Health Act. Social workers who are qualified as Approved Mental Health Professionals lead on this work. Click on the link above for more findings.

There's no time like the present to talk about mental health

NHSI Executive Director of Corporate Affairs, Helen Buckingham reflects on the changes she's seen in attitudes to mental health.

We need patients and the public to shape local health plans, say NHS leaders

Patients and the public across England are set to be asked to help the local NHS make decisions about how best to develop services. 

The NHS in England is today (Thursday) publishing national advice for local health and social care leaders preparing what are known as local Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs).

Local plans for local people:communicating change - NHS Confederation

NHS England have produced a guide for local areas to use, which is intended to support them in involving and engaging with local people in the development of Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs).

‘Engaging local People’ is specifically aimed at STP communications leads and footprint leaders and also clarifies the level of patient and public participation expected of STP.

British Social Attitudes Survey 33

This British Social Attitudes report from the National Centre for Social Research aims to uncover the consequences of seven years of austerity for social and political attitudes in Britain. The chapter on the NHS explores levels of dissatisfaction with the NHS and how this has changed over time and in relation to trends in NHS funding. It examines new data identifying the reasons for NHS dissatisfaction and satisfaction.

Public Perceptions Of The NHS

The BMA commissioned BritainThinks to conduct an online survey of 1240 adults living in England to question their perceptions of the NHS as of June 2016. The survey concentrates on general perceptions of the NHS, public health and seven-day services. It shows:

• Growing discontent with the way the NHS is being run. 37% are dissatisfied with the running of the NHS, compared with 21% this time last year.
• The public are far more pessimistic about the future of the NHS this year. 53% of the public think it is going to get worse, and only 29% think it will get better.
• There are also strong indications that the public do not trust the government's motivations in the way it runs the NHS, nor its ability to do so effectively. 58% say they they do not trust the government with the management of the NHS.
• 48% disagree that this government genuinely cares about the NHS.
• A large majority (81%) say that ring-fencing NHS funding is not enough, and that the government should increase the amount of money received by the NHS.