The UK government is reportedly planning to tie NHS funding to patient satisfaction levels as part of its upcoming 10-year reform strategy, raising concerns among health professionals about the potential consequences.
Under the proposed measure, a portion of funding for NHS services—reportedly around 10% of standard payments—could be withheld and redirected into a local “improvement fund” if patients express dissatisfaction with their care. Patients would be surveyed soon after treatment, and negative feedback could directly impact the hospital’s budget.
Maternity services are expected to be among the first to trial the scheme, following a national investigation launched by Health Secretary Wes Streeting into failing maternity units across England. Streeting recently described the system as suffering from widespread institutional failure, stating: “Maternity units are failing, hospitals are failing, trusts are failing, regulators are failing.”
Concerns Over the Funding Model
However, clinicians and healthcare leaders have voiced alarm over the idea. Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, warned that the proposal could unfairly penalise institutions for problems beyond their control.
“Patient experience is influenced by more than just the clinical interaction,” said Taylor. “Unless this is carefully designed and evaluated, there is a risk that providers will be punished for systemic issues.”
He also highlighted that no other healthcare system currently uses such a funding model. “None of our members have raised this idea with us, and we are unaware of any international precedent for it,” Taylor added.
NHS Must Reconnect with the Public, Warns Senior Leader
The idea comes amid stark warnings from Sir Jim Mackey, the new head of NHS England, who criticised the health service for becoming increasingly inaccessible.
“We’ve built mechanisms to keep the public away,” Mackey told The Telegraph. “The big worry is if we don’t address this urgently, we’ll lose public support. And if we lose the population, we’ve lost the NHS.”
Mackey stressed that restoring public trust requires a shift in mindset across the system. “Instead of viewing patients as a disruption, we need to ask how we can identify their needs and resolve them.”
Aiming to Reduce Health Inequalities
As part of the broader NHS overhaul, Streeting said the government aims to tackle one of the UK’s most persistent health inequalities: unequal access to information and healthcare choices. The 10-year plan, expected to be unveiled next week, will reportedly include reforms aimed at increasing transparency and patient empowerment.
