• British Social Attitudes survey reveals majority of voters back tax rises to fund the NHS
• The new data shows 61% of voters would be willing to pay more tax to increase funding for the health service

Responding to the latest findings from the British Social Attitudes survey, NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson said:

"These findings confirm that we have reached a watershed moment for the NHS.

"They reflect a growing consensus behind the arguments we have made, that the gap between what the NHS is being asked to deliver and the resources available is growing, and will not be bridged without a sustainable long term funding plan for health and social care.

"The evidence for this is now overwhelming.

The public support the NHS. They are rightly worried that standards are slipping.

"The public support the NHS. They are rightly worried that standards are slipping. And increasingly – as this survey shows - they are prepared to pay more to fix it.

"We welcomed the recent commitment made by the prime minister to address long term health service funding.

"However, following the longest and deepest funding squeeze in the history of the NHS it is important that people understand the scale of the current shortfall.

"We need a proper national debate on how much to devote to health and care to meet rapidly growing demographic pressures and how we raise the increased taxation required, so people are clear about how much more they will need to pay, and what they can expect in return.”