NHS
Around 97% of the British population do not believe what the Government says about the NHS, according to recent YouGov findings.
The survey, commissioned by WPA, showed that 40% of people in the UK never believe what politicians say about the public health service. Some 57% also admitted that they only 'sometimes' trust what has been said.
Charlie MacEwan, head of communications at WPA, said that while he was surprised by the figures, the results speak volumes. "It shows that there has been a huge gap between what has been said and what has been done. These statistics should certainly work as a wake-up call for the Government," he added.
Published quarterly, the research also revealed that 64% believe the NHS has not changed for better or worse over the past 12 months. Moreover, 58% think waiting lists have stayed the same or deteriorated. Although still high, this figure is slightly lower than the pessimistic 63% recorded in September 2004.
Looking ahead, only 6% of those surveyed said they think that, by 2010, the NHS would be so good that there will be no need for private treatment. This gloomy forecast is also reflected by the fact that 76% said they would choose to go privately if money was not an issue.
