Only one-in-five people under 35 say they are satisfied with the NHS compared with more than a third of people aged 65 and over, an analysis of the annual British social attitudes survey shows. Satisfaction has risen for the first time since before the Covid pandemic, but experts say the improvements are “fragile” and there is still a lot more work to be done.

The 2025 survey of 3,400 people in England, Scotland, and Wales was conducted between August and October 2025. Only 16% of respondents believed NHS care would improve in the next five years, while 53% expected it to get worse. Around half (51%) were dissatisfied with the NHS in 2025, compared to 59% the previous year.

Bea Taylor from the Nuffield Trust said the NHS satisfaction boost isn’t equal across age groups. Older people are more optimistic, but younger people remain less satisfied. The government and NHS leaders should work on improving younger people’s views on the service.

This news comes as Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced he would place the worst-performing NHS trusts in England in an ‘intensive recovery’ programme.