Almost half of people do not think 10-year plan will boost GP access
More than four in 10 also believe the 10-year plan will make no difference or will not improve waiting times in A&E.
However, there is huge support for some of the ideas included in the blueprint, with the overwhelming majority backing the creation of neighbourhood health centres, the expansion of the NHS app and more mental health support in schools and colleges.
The 10-year health plan was unveiled by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier this month, and set out a series of shifts to bring care much closer to people's homes, reducing the reliance on hospitals and A&E.
Key reforms include an enhanced NHS app, giving patients more control over their care, new neighbourhood health centres open six days a week and at least 12 hours a day, and new laws on food and alcohol to prevent ill health.
A survey of 1,023 adults in Britain, conducted by Ipsos for the PA news agency, asked people how they think the plan will impact access to healthcare, such as getting a GP appointment, A&E waiting times and waiting times for routine hospital treatment.
Some 35% said the plan will have no impact on getting a GP appointment, while 14% believe it will make things harder.
This compares with the 29% of people who said they think it will make getting an appointment easier.
More than a third (37%) said it will make no difference to waiting times in emergency departments, while almost one in 10 (9%), said they believe it could worsen waiting times, compared with 30% who said it will improve them.
Meanwhile, 31% said the plan will have no impact on waiting times for hospital treatment, 11% believe the plan will worsen waiting times and 34% said they think the measures will help.
However, a number of proposals outlined in the plan were strongly backed by the public.
Some 84% said they supported the creation of a single patient record, while 78% backed the creation of neighbourhood health centres, 73% support the expansion of the NHS app and 72% are in favour of more mental health support in schools and colleges.
However, more than a quarter (27%) of people do not support making hospitals fully AI enabled, compared with 44% who would back the move.
Almost one in five (18%) said they would not support so-called 'patient power payments', which would allow patients to hold back some of the payment for their care if they are not satisfied, while 42% would support the measure.
Some proposals aimed at helping people to lead healthier lives were also strongly supported.
A ban on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks was backed by 78% of people, while 69% back plans to restrict junk food advertising.
However, almost one in five (18%) tended to disagree with measures that could see alcoholic drinks labelled with nutritional information, although 57% backed the move.
One in four people think the measures included in the plan will make no difference to patients, the poll found.
Almost one in 10 (9%) said they think the changes will make things worse, while 35% believe it will improve the health service.
A similar proportion, 23%, said the 10-year health plan will make no difference to NHS staff, while 13% said it could make things worse and 33% believe it will have a positive effect.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'We're getting on with the job of delivering for patients, with NHS waiting lists falling by 260,000 since July 2024, delivering more than 4.6 million additional appointments since the general election and recruiting over 1,900 extra GPs to fix the front door of the NHS.
'Backed by an additional £29 billion, our 10-year health plan will seize the opportunities provided by new technology, medicines and innovation to deliver better care for all patients, no matter where they live or how much they earn, and better value for taxpayers.
'It is no surprise the plan is popular with patients, it was the result of the biggest conversation with staff, patients and the public since the formation of the NHS, with more than a quarter of a million contributions.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'I'm an unpaid carer for my mum in Greenwich - it's like grieving your own life'
Seven years ago Denise Wilkins was a successful accountant who was regularly travelling across Europe for her work. Her career achievements were remarkable considering she had been simultaneously caring for her mum, Maureen Shields, since the age of 14 when she started to lose her sight. But in 2018 everything changed. Maureen woke up one morning and couldn't move. She'd developed osteoporosis, a condition which weakens bones and makes them more susceptible to fractures. Maureen had spinal fractures that prevented her movement and caused her excruciating pain. Denise was forced to give up the career she'd worked so hard to build to look after Maureen full-time. Denise, now 54, said: 'It's almost like grieving the loss of your own life. You're grieving because of the loss of what's happened to somebody else, and seeing somebody in constant pain is hard. "It's also just incredibly mentally and emotionally wearing having to not only deal with your own life's disappointments and problems, but also the emotions that they're going through.' Denise lives with her 89-year-old mum in a flat in Vanbrugh Hill, Greenwich and has said the experience has had a profound impact on her mental health and wellbeing, to the point that she's been prescribed antidepressants to cope. Never in doubt was it that she would be there for her mum, but the lack of support from the government for unpaid carers like her has led to burnout and a feeling of being abandoned. 'There's a lack of support, a lack of understanding, and a lack of recognition,' Denise said. 'I just don't think people really understand just how all time consuming it is, and to be honest, it is very emotionally draining.' After the osteoporosis diagnosis the family moved from Loughton in Essex – their home for over 20 years – to Greenwich in order to be closer to King's College Hospital and because they couldn't adapt their Essex home to Maureen's needs. Maureen had a series of operations which stabilised her condition, but it left her with virtually no mobility. Denise has looked after her mum on a near daily basis since then as she can't afford to get paid carers in to help. She praised the work the NHS did in treating Maureen, but was critical of the provision for care that is provided afterwards. She said: 'There is just this assumption that the family's going to step in. There is nothing wrong with that, but then you realise there is very little support out there to recognise what you've lost in your life. It was life-changing for her, but it was also life-changing for me.' Denise felt that since she started looking after her mother in 2018, she has massively missed out on living her own life. She said: 'I mean not just financially, career-wise, socially, but all hobbies and interests have been completely put on hold. Even things like your own fitness levels and personal relationships. 'You feel like it's not just the person who needs to be cared for whose life has changed. It's almost like you've got an illness too.' Denise said she even has trouble attending to her own medical needs due to the lack of available appointments. If she's not able to find someone to look after her mum at the time when a GP appointment is offered, she can't attend it. Denise said she has been on antidepressants for the past six years, something she directly attributed to the stress of being a full-time carer. She is often told by people to take a break, but that is something that is incredibly difficult for her because she would need to find someone Maureen is comfortable with, who is able to look after her and she is able to afford. Her own retirement is in doubt Since becoming a carer, Denise hasn't been able to pay into her pension. For work, she has been able to pick up some zero-hour flexible contracts for minimum wage. 'While you're going through this journey you talk to other people and you find that it's common across the board,' she said. 'You start to realise that if people weren't stepping in and doing what they were doing, the whole adult social care system would just collapse.' Denise was critical of the government's stance on adult social care. She said: 'I can remember for at least the last 10 years that it's going to be reviewed. There's been loads of these reports, and you just feel like saying to people, 'Come on, we need to address this'. 'We need to, not just as individuals but as a society, look at how we're going to handle this.' When asked what changes she would like to see the government make to adult social care and the role of carers, Denise said: 'I think they could really do a lot more in terms of allowing carers to have time off, especially with work. 'You're allowed to take two or three days' unpaid leave, but that's nothing. It doesn't even begin to cover the number of hospital appointments that you'll need to attend.' She also hoped that a system could be brought in that would allow for carers to be registered and recognised. 'It would allow us to be able to go to employers and people and say, 'I am a registered carer'.' Denise also wanted the government to recognise that often carers are skilled workers who could be put to use helping society if there was more of a push to get them to work from home. 'There's a whole skill base out there of people like me who have got the qualifications and have got the work experience,' she said. 'I think that's another frustrating thing. They go off and supposedly do these reviews, but they never ever seem to talk to us. We're not just sitting here complaining. We actually feel that we've got things we could suggest.' Protest outside Parliament In an attempt to drive the issue of carers into the public eye and onto the government agenda, Denise took part in a protest on Tuesday (July 22) outside Parliament. As she can't get away from her caring duties, Denise wasn't there in person. Her story, alongside those of several other unpaid carers, will be broadcast on LED screens outside government buildings in an attempt to get politicians to listen. The protest, which was set up by Uncommon Creative Studio and is backed by charity Carers Trust, has been launched in conjunction with a petition which calls on the government to give all unpaid carers the legal right to a break. Kirsty McHugh, CEO of Carers Trust, said: 'It's incredibly disappointing that the UK Government still hasn't given unpaid carers a right to respite. For decades, successive governments have depended on unpaid carers to provide social care on the cheap, which has delayed the need to come up with long-term funding and support. 'Whilst the government is focused on strengthening employment rights, it seems to have forgotten unpaid carers – who can't take a break at all.'
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Thrill-seekers called to take part in skydive for a nurse fundraiser
A sky-high challenge is calling all thrill-seekers to help raise vital funds for hospice care. Salisbury Hospice Charity has launched its Skydive for a Nurse fundraiser, offering members of the public the chance to take part in a 10,000ft tandem skydive in support of hospice nurses who provide end-of-life care across the region. The event will take place on Sunday, September 14 at Go Skydive in Old Sarum Park, Salisbury. A spokesman for Salisbury Hospice Charity said: "More than just an adrenaline rush, each skydive is a tribute to the compassion, dignity, and expert care that Salisbury Hospice nurses deliver every day to patients with life-limiting illnesses." Participants are asked to raise a minimum of £450, with every pound going towards funding ongoing care for patients and their families. (Image: Salisbury Hospice Charity) Read more Popular lifestyle shop opens at new location after relocating to bigger venue Downton dance school dazzles with sell-out summer show Children's charity offering support and activities for parents Salisbury cinema honoured for championing inclusive jobs For many, the jump is deeply personal. One former participant shared: "I jumped in memory of my mum. She spent her final days at Salisbury Hospice, and the care she received was incredible. That freefall? It felt like flying with her." The charity welcomes first-time skydivers and team entries, encouraging groups of colleagues, friends, or club members to take on the challenge together. No previous experience is needed, as full training will be provided by instructors at Go Skydive. During the jump, participants will reach speeds of up to 120mph. The event not only offers a personal challenge or a way to remember a loved one but also provides an opportunity to raise funds for a vital cause. Salisbury Hospice nurses deliver both medical and emotional care to patients and support to their families, helping them through some of the most difficult times. Events like Skydive for a Nurse help ensure these free services can continue for those who need them most. The charity is encouraging as many people as possible to get involved and help raise funds to support its essential work. To find out more or to register for the skydive, visit For further information or help with registration, contact the Salisbury Hospice Charity fundraising team at info@
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
No, not crunches — trainer says these 5 bodyweight moves are the secret to building stronger abs
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. You don't need a gym full of weights to build the kind of core strength you're aiming for. While many people turn to weighted ab exercises, online trainer James Stirling says you can achieve it with just your bodyweight and shares his 30-minute routine to help you get there. There aren't any of the same old classics like sit-ups and crunches, but instead a smart mix of isometric holds, controlled movements, and full-body stability work that hits your core from every angle. This is a challenging core routine, but it's suitable for a range of fitness levels. Feel free to reduce the number of rounds or adjust rest times if it feels too intense. And if you're currently managing an injury or health concern, check in with a medical or fitness professional before giving it a go. Watch The London Fitness Guy's No-Equipment Core Workout I recommend watching the video from Stirling's Instagram page, where he regularly shares home-friendly strength-building routines. It shows him demonstrating all five moves, which I find really helpful when following a workout at home without a trainer there in person to correct my form. Although I said it's a no-equipment routine, you may have noticed Stirling does the workout on a mat in his home. This helps cushion your back, bum, and joints while working through the exercises. If you're on the lookout for a suitable mat, I can point you in the direction of our hand-picked guide to the best yoga mats. The Manduka Prolite is one of our top picks for a reason. It offers reliable grip and cushioning for everything from ab workouts to cooldown stretches. As my colleague Sam said in her review of the mat, it 'gives the right amount of grip and flexibility to flow between poses(/exercises)."View Deal How do bodyweight moves build strength? Bodyweight exercises like hollow holds, planks, and shoulder taps might look simple, but they can be incredibly effective for building strength, especially in your core. These moves use your own body as resistance, forcing your muscles to engage, stabilise, and control each movement. While lifting weights involves external resistance, bodyweight training is still a form of resistance exercise. Instead of using dumbbells or gym machines, you work against gravity and your mass. Exercises like Copenhagen planks or leg raises engage multiple muscle groups at once, which requires extra balance and control on less stable surfaces. That extra challenge encourages your core muscles to work harder and grow stronger in a way that supports everyday movement. To see real progress, consistency and progression are key. You can increase the number of rounds, shorten your rest periods, or hold each move for longer to keep challenging your muscles. If you're just starting out, completing one or two circuits is a great foundation, and you can gradually build from there. One of the biggest strengths of bodyweight routines is how easy they are to fit into your life. You do not need a gym or expensive gear, just a little space and the willingness to move. Whether you're fitting in a quick session between tasks or winding down in the evening with a short circuit, it is consistent effort that builds strength over time. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. More from Tom's Guide Fibermaxxing is trending right now — here's what to know before you try it Forget the sauna — soaking in a hot tub could be better for your health, says new study I hiked through rain, wind and fog in the Rab Firewall Mountain Waterproof Jacket — here's my verdict