The public’s voice on health and care in 2026: new report highlights key challenges

Blog - 17 March 2026

What does health and social care really feel like in 2026? A new report from Healthwatch England reveals the realities behind the statistics, highlighting ongoing access issues, inequalities, and the growing risk of a two-tier system. Read more to understand the challenges and what needs to change.

Healthwatch England has published a new report, The state of health and social care in 2026, offering a powerful insight into what care really feels like for people across the country.

Drawing on nearly 390,000 experiences shared between 2023 and 2025, the report goes beyond statistics to highlight the real-life challenges people face when accessing NHS and social care services.

While there are signs of slight improvement, significant issues remain. Almost a third of people say they are not confident they can access timely care, with ongoing problems around GP appointments, dentistry, mental health support, and hospital services.

The report identifies five key themes shaping people’s experiences, including continued difficulties accessing care, widening inequalities, the impact of long waiting times on wellbeing, risks linked to digital exclusion, and ongoing problems with communication and administration.

It also raises concerns about a growing “two-tier” system, as more people turn to private healthcare due to long waits and limited access to NHS services.

With major changes ahead for the health and care system, the report stresses the importance of listening to the public and acting on their experiences to improve services for everyone.

Residents and stakeholders can read the full report from Healthwatch England to better understand the challenges facing health and social care and the changes needed to make care more accessible, equitable, and effective.

The public's perspective - The state of health and social care

Download the report below
The public's perspective - The state of health and social care
Download (PDF 12.17 MB)
The public's perspective - The state of health and social care (Large print)
Download (PDF 1.25 MB)

Tell us about 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.

Your feedback can help services spot issues that are affecting care for you and your loved ones.

Share your views

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