Public satisfaction with the NHS is the lowest it has been in more than a decade – with unhappiness over waiting times the main reason for the trend, research shows.

The annual British Social Attitudes survey reveals a sharp drop in the numbers who are happy with the health service, despite the Prime Minister’s £20bn funding boost.

Just 53 per cent of the public is satisfied with the NHS – with long waits for hospital and GP appointments the prime factor blamed, the research shows.

The figure is a fall from 70 per cent satisfaction levels in 2010, with a drop of three percentage point seen in the last year.

It comes amid controversial proposals to scrap the flagship four-hour Accident & Emergency (A&E) target.

Health officials have said it is likely to be replaced with new measures, with “tougher, faster standards” for the most urgent cases, and longer waits likely for less serious problems, following a review which is due to report within weeks.

Last month saw the worst performance against the target in 15 years, while the percentage waiting more than 18 weeks for operations was the highest for nine years.