People are increasingly avoiding NHS appointments and prescriptions due to rising costs

Tori_Scope

Cost of living: People are increasingly avoiding NHS appointments and prescriptions (Healthwatch)

With spiralling costs of living, we have warned people are making changes to how they use health and social care services, which can have an adverse impact on their health and wellbeing.

The impact the cost of living crisis is having on many people’s ability to heat their homes and eat well has been widely reported. However, our new data suggests people are increasingly avoiding booking/attending NHS appointments or taking up prescriptions and over-the-counter medications because of the costs. 

People are avoiding vital care due to the fear of extra costs

The number of people who avoided an NHS appointment due to the cost of travel doubled to almost 11%, in December, up from 6% in October. 

The poll also found that in December: 

• Over 11% have avoided booking an NHS appointment because they couldn’t afford the associated costs, such as accessing the Internet or the cost of a phone call; up from 7% in October;
• 15% of respondents avoided going to a dentist because of the cost of checks ups or treatment, an up from 12% in October;
• And 10% of people have also avoided taking up one or more NHS prescriptions because of the cost, up from 6% in October;
• 10% avoided buying over the counter medication they normally rely on, up from 7% in October.

Cost of living affects people's health

39% of the respondents said that the changes they have made to keep up with the rising cost of living – include the actions mention above as well as not turning on the heating and cutting back on food - have negatively affected their mental health, while 35% said their physical health had got worse in the last two months.

Over to you...

Have you avoided accessing health care or medication due to the extra costs? 

Has your health been negatively affected by the cost of living crisis? 

What do you think the Government should do in response to Healthwatch's findings?

durhamjaide2001

I don't think it's the cost of the NHS but it's the wait times.  Personally it hasn't affected that much as I get free NHS prescriptions  so medication hasn't been a problem but the supplies of one of my medicine low and I think it's because of the cost of fuel. 

Tori_Scope

Wait times are definitely likely to be another factor @durhamjaide2001! 

Great point about the fuel, too. I think I saw something about that on the news, and I'm aware that some people have been struggling to get their medications, which is really worrying.

durhamjaide2001

Tori_Scope said:

Wait times are definitely likely to be another factor @durhamjaide2001! 

Great point about the fuel, too. I think I saw something about that on the news, and I'm aware that some people have been struggling to get their medications, which is really worrying.

It is isn't it 

Hannah_Alumni

If you feel unwell and don't always go to see a GP, you sometimes take the route of seeing your pharmacist. With the cold and sickness bugs going around, I know a few people spending between £5-£10 for a  medicine, then going back to try another and another, and end up needing a prescription for antibiotics anyways.

Trying to feel well with over the counter medications when you have no confirmed diagnosis can take funds away from elsewhere. 

SueHeath

I know what your saying @Hannah_Scope but the our Doctors don't give medication out for this really bad cold thats going around, unless they think it's turned into a chest or ear infection, so we have brought extra meds from the chemist to treat ourselves.
I'm not sure if i am agreeing with this survey, in my brain if people are not taking up appointments, surely the appointments would be more available for people who want them. Hope that makes sense. The only thing i can see with the out come of the survey with Doctors appointments is making it more viable for them to start charging for missed appointments.
Yes i agree that i can see why people avoid going to the dentist because of the costs. I think this is the same as having your eye's tested with the fear of having to have glasses.

Hannah_Alumni

Sorry if I wasn't clear That's what I meant, those few I know had infections which meant they spent money they didn't need to. 

I get what you mean about appointments, it actually makes me wonder for people trying to get appointments, especially with a lot of GPs still doing telephone appointments, if we should be making the GP numbers free to call? 

Cartini

Have you avoided accessing health care or medication due to the extra costs?

No, because there are certain elements of life that are a priority.

Has your health been negatively affected by the cost of living crisis? 

Not to my knowledge.  I live on my own so I don`t have a "guardian" to notice any changes in my mental state that I may not notice.

What do you think the Government should do in response to Healthwatch's findings?

The money allocated to the devolved nations should be reduced and the savings used to "level the playing field" with regards to prescriptions.  Either start charging for prescriptions in the devolved nations or stop charging for them in England (yes, I know - pie in the sky).

To be honest, I take the results of these polls with a pinch of salt.  A survey of 2000 people is hardly representative of how a country of 56,550,138 (as of 2022) feels or how they are being affected by the cost of living.

Having said that, I`m not suggesting that families, couples or singletons are not struggling.

SueHeath

woodbine said:

People who cannot afford the cost of a prescription @ £9.35 per item can sign up for a pre-payment certificate at £10.80 per month and that will cover the full script, and I would argue that most people who have to pay could well afford £2.70 a week.

Yes woodbine that would work for people that have to have prescriptions for long term illness etc, but i think if it is a one off illness, that some people who struggle with money, would avoid going to the Doctors if they think they need antibiotics, my youngest would fall in that bracket, yes they get free prescriptions for their children, but not for themselves. With this son we have gave him the money for his prescription to make sure he gets the help he needs.