This report presents findings from an online survey of 2,056 English adults, conducted 26 November–1 December 2020. This period coincided with the second national lockdown in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and this context should be taken into account when reading the findings presented in the report.

This research was supported by the Health Foundation.

This research finds that the public has a strong understanding of some aspects of the NHS – but on others they have significant misperceptions, which risk undermining how sustainable the health service is seen to be. The research is based on a survey by Savanta ComRes of 2,056 people in England during the second national lockdown in England (26 November to 1 December 2020). The survey focused on public perceptions of the NHS in normal times, outside of the pandemic. The findings reveal the public tend to think the NHS is performing less well than it is and also had inaccurate perceptions about several other important issues for the health service.