The state of health and social care in 2026

News - 16 March 2026

Today, Healthwatch England published a new report on the public's experiences of health and social care.

This new report aims to show what care feels like for the people using it, and make recommendations to fix what isn’t working. With Healthwatch due to close, it’s essential that those who take over our work continue to value the public's voice and act on the issues they raise.

29% of people are still not confident they can access timely care from most key services we asked about, such as A&E, GPs, dentists and hospitals. 

The top five cross-cutting themes identified are :

  1. Access issues remain widespread.
  2. Inequalities in care persist.
  3. Waiting for care takes a toll on wellbeing.
  4. Digital transformation brings both opportunities and risks.
  5. Administrative and communication failures undermine care quality.

Click here for more further information including how to download the full report

Take five minutes to share your experiences

NHS and social care staff are doing everything they can to keep us well during these challenging times, but there might be things that can be improved for you and your loved ones, both in the area you live in and across the country.

Have your say

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