The health services is in need of some fresh medicine
More than eight in 10 people have concerns about the state of the health service, while half have little confidence in the Government's efforts to turn it around
That somewhat gloomy result of a survey by pollster Ipsos will come as little surprise to anybody who has used the NHS recently.
In fairness, the NHS still usually performs well when it comes to serious and urgent situations. But the public is rightly concerned about growing waiting lists, a shortage of GP appointments and the time it may take for an ambulance to arrive.
Hopefully, as the after-effects of the coronavirus pandemic begin to recede, the situation will improve. But the underlying pressures, particularly the growing demands from a growing and ageing population, are unlikely to disappear any time soon. There will be no quick fixes.
In 1942, during the coalition government of the Second World War, politicians of all parties put their differences aside to come up with a plan for a postwar National Health Service.
It would be nice to think today's leaders could work together to come up with a similar consensus to meet the needs of the 21st century. We won't hold our breath.