Public support for NHS founding principles falls across UK, research shows

Summary

Research shows that public support for the NHS's founding principles of being free to use, available to everyone and tax-funded has fallen across the UK population over the last five years. Backing for all three pillars dropped between 2021 and 2025, except for a small rise in millennials' support for NHS funding from taxation. Experts say rising economic hardship and changes in attitudes towards migration could explain the drop.

Timeline

1. The Guardian

   20 Oct 2026, 05:00 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that public support for the NHS's founding principles of free use, universal availability and tax funding has fallen over the last five years, with backing for all three dropping between 2021 and 2025, and that experts link this to economic hardship and attitudes towards migration.