The analysis from ONS's new Health Insight Survey (HIS), commissioned by NHS England, revealed 29% of people in Asian groups had a ‘poor' or ‘very poor' experience of the NHS compared with 14% of the white ethnic group. Those most satisfied with the NHS tended to be older, living in less deprived areas, without long-term health conditions and were white.

The analysis also included waiting list data covering the period between 23 July 2024 and 15 August 2024. This was based on self-reporting and not waiting time data published by NHS England.

Of those who had attempted to contact their GP, 94.3% were successful, with 76.8% making contact the same day. Over half (52.2%) of these did so by telephone, although a fifth (21%) described this as ‘difficult'. Those who contacted their GP practice via online methods were most likely (67.5%) to describe the experience as ‘easy'.

Two thirds (67.4%) rated their GP experience as ‘very good' or good' with older people most satisfied (73.6%) compared with 60% of 16 to 24 year olds.

Over half (52.1%) had an NHS dentist, with a third (34.2%) having a private dentist and more than one in ten (13.5%) not having any dentist. Males were more likely not to have a dentist (16%) than females (11%). Respondents in the South West and South East were most likely to have a private dentist.

Nine out of ten (89.5%) were ‘very satisfied or ‘satisfied' with their dentist experience. Of respondents with an NHS dentist, 42.1% had last had an appointment between one and six months previously, a quarter (26.6%) between six and 12 months ago and 16.9% less than one month ago. Of those who did not have a dentist but tried to make an NHS dental appointment in the previous 28 days, 90.6% were unsuccessful.

Six out of ten (59.8%) respondents reported using NHS services from a pharmacy in the last 28 days and 85% of those were ‘very satisfied' or ‘satisfied'. However, a fifth (20.1%) of those who had been dispensed an NHS prescription had a problem. Females, older adults, and those with a long-term health condition significantly were more likely to report using NHS services from a pharmacy. Most respondents (77.5%) used a pharmacy they could walk to.