NHS satisfaction is falling

But what about social care in West Berkshire?

New findings from The King's Fund show that public satisfaction with the National Health Service has dropped to its lowest level on record.

Only 1 in 5 people (21%) say they are satisfied with how the NHS is running, with long waits, staffing pressures and access challenges continuing to impact people’s experiences.

But there’s another part of the system that people feel even more concerned about, and it often gets less attention.

Social care: the bigger concern?

While NHS satisfaction is low, social care is rated even worse.

• Just 13% of people say they are satisfied

• Over half of people report being dissatisfied

This makes social care the lowest-rated part of the health and care system.

Yet many people don’t think about social care until they need it – whether that’s support at home, care for a loved one, or help after leaving hospital.

Why this matters locally

At Healthwatch West Berkshire, we often hear that people:

• Aren’t sure what social care is or how to access it

• Find the system confusing and difficult to navigate

• Experience delays or gaps in support

These experiences matter – not just for individuals and families, but for the whole system.

When social care isn’t working well, it can lead to:

• People becoming more unwell

• Increased pressure on GP and hospital services

• Delays in leaving hospital

In short, health and social care are closely connected – you can’t improve one without the other.

We want to understand what this looks like for people in West Berkshire.

Have you or someone you care for needed social care support? Take our Poll, and let us know you how found accessing Social Care.

Social Care, Do you understand it?

• 0%I understand social care and how to access it, when needed
• 0%I’ve used social care and it worked well
• 0%I’ve used it but found it difficult
• 0%I wouldn’t know where to start

See All Results

👉 Share your experience with Healthwatch West Berkshire.

Your feedback helps us highlight what’s working, where people are struggling, and what needs to change.

Email Us at contact@healthwatchwestberks.org.uk

Call Us on 01635 886210

Online at Have Your Say | Healthwatch West Berkshire