The Health Foundation has published new polling with Ipsos UK on the public’s attitudes towards the NHS, general practice and social care in the UK, as of May 2024.
Although much of the research is on the NHS and general practice, a key finding is that the public strongly supports improving pay and working conditions for the UK social care workforce. About 73% of respondents believe the government should focus on enhancing pay and conditions so it can recruit and retain more social care workers from within the UK, rather than maintain current conditions and recruit from overseas.
Health Foundation conclude that addressing social care pay is essential for a sustainable care workforce. The Foundation's surveys 'have repeatedly shown that improving working conditions for care workers matters to the public, and the government's commitment to a new fair pay agreement has potential to deliver progress. With a substantial majority and the likelihood of a full 5-year term, the government also has an opportunity to push ahead with long overdue funding reforms – this opportunity must be seized.'
There are also findings on public health which highlight what action the public thinks the government should take on tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food.
