NHS performance and satisfaction

Fact checks about the reported quality of the NHS, waiting lists and quality of care

23 January 2023

How many excess deaths are A&E delays causing?

Earlier this month the Royal College of Emergency Medicine estimated delays are causing 300-500 deaths a week - but NHS leaders say they “don’t recognise these numbers”.

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How many excess deaths are A&E delays causing?
9 May 2022

NHS dentists are still operating in Somerset

A headline suggesting otherwise is not accurate. There is a reported shortage of appointments for new NHS patients, however.

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NHS dentists are still operating in Somerset
20 October 2021

Two doctors with same name cause Times letter confusion

A social media post incorrectly claims that a letter written to The Times was from a doctor who died in 2016.

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Two doctors with same name cause Times letter confusion
13 October 2021

Daily Mail report on GPs seeing fewer patients on Fridays needs more context

There are some important caveats to figures showing GP appointments drop off later in the week.

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Daily Mail report on GPs seeing fewer patients on Fridays needs more context
9 January 2017

Public satisfaction with the NHS

Data from 2017 doesn’t necessarily tell us much about public perceptions of the NHS this winter, still less its actual performance.

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Public satisfaction with the NHS
11 February 2016

The level of dissatisfaction with the NHS is not the highest on record

There's been some confusion in media reports of health charity The King's Fund's analysis of survey data about public satisfaction with the NHS.

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The level of dissatisfaction with the NHS is not the highest on record
29 January 2015

Public satisfaction with NHS at second-highest level in 30 years—but are we really happier?

NatCen says satisfaction with the NHS is up to 65% from 60% in 2013. Dissatisfaction is at its lowest level since Natcen's survey began 30 years ago.

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Public satisfaction with NHS at second-highest level in 30 years—but are we really happier?

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