Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced plans to break up NHS trusts that continue to underperform, following a new satisfaction survey revealing low public confidence in the service. Streeting indicated the Department of Health could transfer services from struggling trusts to better-performing neighbouring organisations to improve overall NHS delivery.
Low NHS Satisfaction Despite Improvements
The latest survey by the King’s Fund showed that only 26% of British adults were satisfied with how the NHS operates in 2025, an increase from 19% in 2024, while dissatisfaction fell from 59% to 51%. Despite some progress, Streeting acknowledged ongoing challenges, noting just 13% of people think the NHS spends money efficiently and only 22% are satisfied with accident and emergency care. Satisfaction with social care remains low at 14%, although dissatisfaction also declined slightly.
Targeted Intervention for Five NHS Trusts
Streeting outlined targeted measures to address “deep-rooted challenges” in five specific NHS trusts: North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, and East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust. The planned interventions include deploying experienced NHS leaders to turnaround efforts and, in some cases, replacing trust leadership. The proposal to break up trusts aims to allocate services to more successful neighbouring trusts.
Public Perception and Political Differences
Further analysis reveals younger people generally hold lower satisfaction levels with the NHS compared to older groups. Political affiliation also influences views, with Conservative, Labour, and Liberal Democrat supporters showing above-average approval, while Reform, Green Party supporters, and non-aligned individuals express below-average satisfaction. Only 16% of respondents believe the NHS will improve over the next five years, while a majority anticipate deterioration or no change.
For more stories on this topic, visit our category page.