Two thirds (67%) of the public favour an increase in taxes to maintain current levels of NHS care, up from 64% in May 2017 and 59% in March 2015, a survey by the Health Foundation has found.
Only 13% think spending on other services should be reduced to maintain current levels of NHS care. In addition, 62% say that if the government decided to increase spending on social care, this should be funded through some form of tax increase, up from 51% in May 2018.
‘The public report unwavering support for the NHS and growing dissatisfaction with the unfairness of the social care system in England. People recognise that high-quality health and social care comes with a price tag and there is growing preference for tax increases as the best way to meet that cost rather than cutting back other services. While the three main parties’ funding pledges for the NHS and social care mean big differences in what the public can expect from these services over the next 5 years, investment in the NHS can’t continue to be at the expense of other public services, not least because these also affect our health,’ said Jennifer Dixon, chief executive of the Health Foundation.
‘People are clearly now recognising the deep unfairness in how social care support for older people works and are increasingly dissatisfied. In stark contrast to the NHS, publicly funded social care is only provided free to those with the greatest need and lowest means, leaving too many others no choice but to sell their homes to pay for care. The public is strongly against this – which is yet another warning that the issue can no longer be dodged as previous governments have done. A new government should do the right thing and act fast.’
On social care, three in five people say it is unacceptable to have to use the value of one’s home to pay for care, while 21% say it is acceptable. Nearly half (46%) think it is unfair that people are means-tested to receive social care, while 37% think means-testing is fair.
‘Far from being an election solely about Brexit, the last four weeks have proven that the NHS and social care are very much high in the minds of the British public and politicians should remember this long after the polls close,’ said Dame Donna Kinnair, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing.
‘Nurses across the UK will be pleased to see increased public support for the provision of free at the point of use health care and for more investment in services – they more than anyone know how much the frontline needs these extra resources.’