The Health Foundation commissioned Ipsos MORI to carry out a survey of the general public in Great Britain to gather their views on a range of health and care issues in light of COVID-19.
Key findings
- This report presents the findings of a survey commissioned by the Health Foundation and conducted by Ipsos MORI between 13 and 24 November 2020. This was a follow-up survey to two previous rounds of polling: the first carried out in May 2020 and the second in July 2020.
- The survey highlights the public’s strong support for the £20 a week increase in Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit for families during the pandemic (74%), with only one in ten opposing it (9%). The majority of the public support making the increase permanent (59%), with one in five opposing this (20%).
- The public’s concern about the risk of COVID-19 to the health and wellbeing of the nation remains high, with 86% saying they are concerned. However, the public are even more concerned about the knock-on impact of the coronavirus on lifestyles and the economy (94%).
- The majority of the public say they would feel comfortable using a local hospital (75%) or a local GP service (87%) – in line with the previous survey in July (77% felt comfortable using a local hospital and 89% felt comfortable using a GP service).
- The survey shows many aspects of the coronavirus pandemic have had a negative impact on people’s mental health. In particular, 73% say that worry about family and friends catching the virus is having a negative impact on their mental wellbeing.
- Public support for the UK government's response to the pandemic has deteriorated. Only 39% of the public think the government has handled the pandemic well, a fall of 21 percentage points from 60% in May.