More than three in four readers believe the NHS is underfunded, a survey has revealed as the health service today celebrates its 70th birthday.
To mark the milestone we asked for your views on the organisation: what you treasure, what can be improved and what you see as its biggest challenges going forward.
Of those who responded to the poll, 78% said the health service needed more investment, and 72% added they would be happy to pay extra tax to help facilitate this.
The revenue budget for the NHS in England in 2018/19 has been set at £114 billion, which is a rise from £106bn in 2016/17 and 110bn last year.
However, local health care providers such as hospitals are still struggling with gaps between resource and rapidly growing demand and are being asked to find huge savings to balance the books.
Prime Minister Theresa May recently vowed to up NHS funding by £20bn per year in real terms by 2023/24.
While highlighting concerns about resource, readers also shared moving words of praise for the quality of care they had received and for the dedication of staff who go above and beyond to help patients in their hours of need.
Here are just some of the responses to our survey: Timmy Drain, 25, Stowmarket
What do you value most about the NHS?
Free at the point of need.
Describe a time when the NHS has supported you or your family
I have Crohn’s disease which is a chronic ongoing condition. Was born by caesarean section with complicity. I needed a nebuliser at home as baby/toddler. I had my first mental health problem aged 11.
How can the NHS improve?
Shorter waiting times.
What do you think is the one biggest challenge facing the NHS today?
Rising demand and cost.
Marion Parnell, 65, Ipswich
What do you value most about the NHS?
High quality free healthcare.
Describe a time when the NHS has supported you or your family
I fractured my hip and the care I received from everyone in hospital was excellent they all did the best they could in the circumstances they work under.
How can the NHS improve?
More staff would ease the pressure on the existing staff.
What do you think is the one biggest challenge facing the NHS today?
To provide a high standard of care with decreasing funding.
Tom, 24, Ipswich
What do you value most about the NHS?
I value how much the staff have to balance and still manage to make a service, despite complaints from many it’s a service which has always been there and without the hard graft of the workers it wouldn’t have lasted like it has for so long.
Describe a time when the NHS has supported you or your family
With my epilepsy, when I had a fit for the second time, and following on from that into the diagnosis of the cause to the seizure, as well as the excellent work of the ambulance crew.
How can the NHS improve?
By getting more funding from the government, and also to treat its staff more fairly.
What do you think is the one biggest challenge facing the NHS today?
Funds.
Colin Long, 74, Felixstowe
What do you value most about the NHS?
Their skill in diagnosing and curing so many illnesses.
Describe a time when the NHS has supported you or your family
In the 2000s I had major successful vascular surgery on two occasions.
How can the NHS improve?
Administration and waiting time for test results are poor.
What do you think is the one biggest challenge facing the NHS today?
Finding a cure for dementia.
Jo Jones, 61, Ipswich
What do you value most about the NHS?
Bringing babies safely into the world and care for people in hospital and at home.
Describe a time when the NHS has supported you or your family
When my mother in law was recently very unwell and sadly died.
How can the NHS improve?
More staff, better communication particularly at weekends.
What do you think is the one biggest challenge facing the NHS today?
Recruiting staff with the right qualifications.
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