The Ipsos poll revealed 77% of people worry about their local A&E not having enough beds with 70% concerned they will not be able to receive care at their GP surgery.

One in three said (34%) said they were reluctant to attend A&E because of its poor state with 43% so concerned about slow 999 response times that they rather take a taxi to hospital than wait for an ambulance.

President of RCEM, Dr Adrian Boyle, said the poll's findings were ‘worrying and frightening in equal measure', adding: ‘If the Government won't heed warnings from clinicians, then perhaps they will listen to their electorate, and act on their very real, and very valid, concerns.'

RCN general secretary and chief executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said: ‘People are alarmed at the state of the NHS and ministers must listen and begin to turn it around. Members of the public are worried about turning up at A&E when they may be most in need of care, genuinely frightened about the standard of care they might receive.

‘Nursing staff are doing all they can, but there simply aren't enough of them and demand is continuing to soar. This crisis is unfolding every day right across the NHS and needs urgent action. Patients are languishing in corridors while unsafe and undignified conditions have become routine.'

An NHS spokesperson said: ‘The NHS has been under significant pressure, particularly so over the last few months with staff experiencing one of the more challenging winter periods on record – but despite strain on services, it is absolutely vital that people come forward for care when they have health concerns – whether by using their GP, NHS 111 and through dialling 999 or using A&E when it is a life-threatening emergency. 

‘While there is a long way to go, thanks to the efforts of staff, the waiting list has fallen for the fourth month in a row and the latest figures show A&E and ambulance waiting times both improved compared to the month and year before.

‘Dealing with the challenges in the here and now is not enough and so we continue to work with the government on building an NHS fit for the future through the 10-Year Health Plan.'Three in four people fear being stuck on a trolley in a hospital corridor, a poll has found.