Over 50s less than impressed with NHS services

A new survey has revealed that 60 per cent of the over 50s have concerns about the NHS hospital they were treated in over the last 12 months.

According to a study by Saga, the perception of the NHS among the over 50s has got worse over the last two years. In a 2010 survey, just 16 per cent of respondents thought there had been a decline in services. But by 2012 this figure had increased to 36 per cent.

40 per cent of the over 50s thought the NHS would continue to get worse over the next two years.

At present, 60 per cent of participants who have used the NHS in the last 12 months have concerns about the hospital in which they were treated. Over a third (34 per cent) of over 50s said that car parking was their biggest concern.

A further 18 per cent were dissatisfied with communication with medical staff, and the same portion voiced concern with how clean their hospital appeared. Roger Ramsden, Chief Executive of Saga Services said:

"Many over 50s see there is a need for improvement in the NHS."

“Whilst people are still, in the main, confident with the quality of the NHS treatment, it is the wider hospital service that can be significantly improved upon, better communication between doctor and patient would go a long way to achieve this.

“Waiting times are always of key interest to the over 50s and recent reports suggesting that some trusts may be limiting 'non-urgent' treatment, will only serve to cause greater concern."

The report emphasised that patients with health insurance are free to arrange their own appointment privately, and will see the same consultant throughout their treatment.

However, around 40% of over 50s who have used an NHS hospital in the last 12 months said they had no concerns regarding the hospital. Almost half said they would have no concerns about the quality of treatment they would receive on the NHS.