Britons desperate to see GPs now believe access to NHS services ‘more important’ then free care, survey says

A thinktank has suggested that voters may be willing to “make trade offs” over paying fees for access to NHS care after a new survey revealed that “free at the point of care” has reduced as a priority.

Major new polling for Policy Exchange showed that improved NHS performance for core services, including “improved access to GPs” and “shorter waiting times”, are more important.

The survey appears to reflect growing frustration in the UK with the difficulty in seeing a GP and the so-called dentistry deserts across the country.

Improving access to NHS dentistry is a top priority for the public, according to polling, with Policy Exchange calling for the development of a national dentistry plan to ensure core and preventative dental services are the right of every citizen – like access to a GP or attending primary school.

When asked to “pick three” from a list of thirteen options, respondents included access to NHS dentists to be their third most important priority for reform (43 per cent) behind only “shorter waiting times for operations” (56 per cent) and “better access to GPs” (48 per cent).

Respondents were less likely to choose the NHS providing its services free of charge as a priority (41 per cent) compared to improving access for GPs (61 per cent) or treatment for life threatening conditions (44 per cent).

The findings come in a week where prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and health secretary Wes Streeting have unveiled a series of reforms to bring down waiting lists including greater use of artificial intelligence and bringing in the private sector.

John Power, senior fellow in health and care at Policy Exchange, said: “Our polling reveals the public are open to trade-offs on NHS reform, with improved performance of core services more important than all services being free at the point of use. The crisis in NHS dentistry has cut through to the public and the case for major reforms clear – as are reforms to clampdown on health tourism which is regarded as an issue across the political spectrum.”

Voters across the political spectrum, including those intending to vote for parties on the ‘centre left’ – see “medical tourism” as a “problem in the NHS today”.

Even among Labour voters medical tourism is a major problem with 57 per cent. Voters for other centre-left parties echoed this view, with 56 per cent of those intending to vote Liberal Democrat and 45 per cent of those intending to vote Green agreeing with the statement. For Conservative and Reform, this rose to 75 per cent and 85 per cent respectively.

Policy Exchange recommend increasing the Immigration Health Surcharge to £1500 per annum.

Policy Exchange’s report is the latest in its landmark A Portrait of Modern Britain series whose inaugural report was authored by the former prime minister Rishi Sunak, then a new backbencher in 2014.

Those intending to vote for Reform are the most disillusioned with the current performance of the NHS. A third of those who intended to vote Reform stated they were unsure they would receive ‘good treatment on the NHS’, compared to those intending to vote Labour (18 per cent) or Conservative (10 per cent).