The idea of the NHS is as popular today as when it was created over 50 years ago. Everyone should have access to quality healthcare when they need it without worrying about how they will pay medical bills or private health insurance premiums.
People have to wait far too long for treatment.
The quality of that treatment varies enormously. And in other ways in everything from the convenience of booking an appointment to the cleanliness of hospital wards the level of service does not always match the expectations of patients or staff. But improvements are starting to come through. But even with that extra investment it takes time to deliver the improvements we want. The NHS is a huge organisation, with 780,000 staff and 35,000 buildings, of which 1,200 are hospitals.