Public opinion: impact of raising NIC on the NHS UK 2021

In September 2021, the British government announced an increase in taxes to be spent on easing the NHS backlog caused by the pandemic and to change the way social care is funded in England. As of September 2021, the public showed mixed support for the new policy that will increase the NIC starting April 2022. Furthermore, three-quarters believed the NHS will likely need even more funding than the planned increase and around half of the public felt the policy is unlikely to improve the NHS nor will staff shortages be reduced. This statistic presents public opinion on the impact of raising National insurance Contributions (NIC) on the NHS in the United Kingdom as of September 2021.

Public opinion: impact of raising National insurance Contributions (NIC) on the NHS in the United Kingdom as of September 2021

Characteristic	Likely	Unlikely
The NHS will need even more funding than this policy provides	76%	12%
The NHS will improve as a result of this policy	37%	48%
Staff shortages in the NHS will be reduced as a result of this policy	33%	51%

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Release date

September 2021

More information

Region

United Kingdom

Survey time period

September 10-11, 2021

Number of respondents

2,100 respondents

Age group

16-75 years

Method of interview

Online survey

Supplementary notes

Survey question: "As you may know, the Government has recently announced an increase in taxes to be spent on easing the NHS backlog caused by the pandemic and to change the way social care is funded in England (including paying for a new £86,000 cap on the amount anyone in England will need to spend on their personal care over their lifetime).
The changes will be paid for by a 1.25 percentage point increase in both employers’ and employees’ National Insurance Contributions (including for people working beyond retirement age), and a 1.25 percentage point increase in the tax paid by shareholders on the profits they make.
How likely or unlikely do you think each of the following will be over the next few years, as a result of this policy?"

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