Cost of living remains barrier to health for the most vulnerable

News - 26 March 2024

The cost of living remains a barrier to health, particularly for people on low incomes, and those requiring dental care.
Seated woman resting head on one hand and with tablets in other hand

The findings form the last Healthwatch England poll which was completed by 2,008 adults shows the cost of living remains a barrier to health, particularly for those under the most financial pressure and those requiring dental care.   

Key findings: 

  • More than one in five, 21%, people avoided going to the dentist because of the cost in January 2024. This is up from one in seven, 15%, in January 2023. 
  • The number of people avoiding NHS appointments due to the cost of travel has declined from 11% last January to four per cent this year.   
  • The number of people avoiding NHS appointments due to associated costs, including the cost of internet or a phone call, has declined from 11% last January to three per cent. 
  • One in 20 people had to avoid either getting an NHS prescription or the over-the-counter medication they rely on. This is down from one in 10 in January 2023. 

Recommendations 

Some of the receommendations Healthwatch England have made are:

Prescriptions

Calling for: 

  1. Over the counter medications to be offered on prescription for those already eligible for free prescriptions. 
  2. An NHS England campaign to raise awareness of annual and pre-paid prescription options for patients taking lots of medications. 

Travel 

  1. NHS England to raise awareness of access to current patient transport services or travel reimbursement schemes.   
  2. NHS England to re-open its review of the health travel cost scheme, to speed up reimbursement for those eligible.  
  3. Transport support schemes to be extended to cover primary and community care, as well as hospital appointments. 

Dental care 

  1. Extra dental appointments should be made available for those who have not received NHS dental care in years, including children and those experiencing health inequalities.  
  2. NHS dental charges to be frozen in future and more done to raise awareness of support with costs to support those who avoid seeking help because of the cost of living. 
  3. More joined-up schemes between dental practices, GP surgeries, schools, and other services are needed to deliver prevention and link oral health to other issues, such as weight management and smoking cessation.  

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