Between 2003 and 2005, The Health Foundation conducted a series of surveys of patients’ opinions and attitudes towards the healthcare they receive in the UK and beyond. We also questioned healthcare professionals on the quality and performance of the UK health service.
International health policy
In 2006, we partnered with The Commonwealth Fund of New York on its International Health Policy Survey which looked at how primary care physicians from seven countries felt about their own healthcare services and systems.
The Health Foundation funded an expansion of the UK sample, which was carried out by the Picker Institute. The Australian Primary Care Research Institute and the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care funded expansions of the Australian and German samples respectively.
In the UK, while GPs expressed high levels of satisfaction with their medical practice, the great majority believed the healthcare system required fundamental change or a complete rebuild.
How patients feel about health
In 2005, we partnered with The Commonwealth Fund on a similar survey to provide a picture of how patients across five nations felt about the healthcare they received. Through our support the views of patients across the four countries of the UK were compared with those of citizens in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The results showed there was a high level of satisfaction with the health service in the UK compared with other countries. However, poor communication between doctors and patients was one of the main barriers to achieving effective patient engagement. Working alongside policy makers in the Department of Health we have been using the results to help influence future health policy.
- To read the full report, visit the Picker Institute website
Managing chronic conditions
Also in 2005, we funded the Picker Institute Europe to conduct a population survey to establish the degree to which patients with chronic conditions across the UK are confident in managing their own care. The results showed that nearly half of all people living with chronic diseases don’t feel able to take effective action to improve their own health. In addition, people from lower socio-economic groups, those who left school at 16 and the elderly face the most difficulties managing their care.
Although other research has found that patients want to be actively involved in the management of their healthcare, this survey is particularly significant as it shows how difficult it is for certain groups of people to actually do so.
- To read the full report, visit the Picker Institute website
Quality and performance of the NHS
Between 2003 and 2005, The Health Foundation conducted a series of surveys of healthcare professionals in senior managerial roles, both clinical and non-clinical, on questions relating to the quality and performance of the UK health service.
Around 1,000 healthcare leaders contributed their views and experiences to quarterly surveys conducted by the internet polling company YouGov.
Participants included chief executives of NHS Trusts, directors of nursing, health and safety leads and directors of finance. The panel represented healthcare leaders across the UK and covered the full range of healthcare bodies and structures, from Primary Care Trusts and Local Health Boards to Foundation Trusts and Patient Forums.
We used the results to inform our programme development and to encourage debate by releasing the results through the media or in briefings for ministers and civil servants.