NHS IN CRISIS

Only the cost of living crisis was mentioned more often among the biggest challenges facing the UK

MORE than eight in 10 people feel the crisis in the NHS is one of the most significant challenges currently facing the nation.

It comes as new data shows that almost 44,000 people had to wait over 12 hours in A&E in October, while ambulance response times are getting longer and remain well below NHS targets.

The NHS is also facing longstanding workforce issues, with thousands of staff vacancies.

The situation is only likely to get tougher, as traditional winter pressures - coupled with the potential for Covid-19 infections to start rising again, possibly in combination with seasonal flu - are likely to see more patients admitted to hospital during the run-in to Christmas.

Meanwhile, nurses at many hospital trusts have voted to take strike action, after NHS staff were given an average pay rise of 4.7%, well below the rate of inflation that currently stands at 12%, meaning they are effectively being expected to take a real-terms pay cut.

Now it seems the pressure on the health service has many people concerned.

During a regular survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics to assess public opinions and social trends, adults were asked what they felt were the most important issues facing the country.

Some 82% said the NHS. That was higher than the economy (79%) and climate change (66%). Only the cost of living crisis (93%) featured more among the challenges that were of most concern.

Older people over the age of 70 were most likely to be concerned about the NHS (92%), with more people citing it as a major issue even than the cost of living (87%).

Teenagers and younger adults aged between 16 and 29 were far less likely to worry about the NHS (67%).

But when adults were asked to pick out just one issue as the most important challenge facing Britain today, only one in 10 (10%) chose the NHS, behind the cost of living crisis (48%), the economy (15%) and climate change (11%).

Other issues facing the UK that people believe are important include international conflict (cited by 47% of respondents) - with Britain continuing to supply weapons and aid to Ukraine in its efforts to repel the Russian invaders - housing (53%), crime (49%), education (43%) and immigration (43%).

Some 41% are not convinced that Brexit is really done and believe ongoing issues surrounding the EU exit - such as resolving contentious issues in Northern Ireland - remain a key challenge for the nation.

But only three in 10 (29%) believe the Covid-19 pandemic is still a major challenge and concern for the nation.