Cost of living takes toll on health of majority in UK

THE cost of living crisis has affected the health of more than half of the UK, according to a survey, as patients struggled to afford to heat their homes or travel to hospital.

A Royal College of Physicians (RCP) poll found 55 per cent of respondents felt their health had got worse owing to issues such as high heating costs and soaring food bills. One in four of these people have been told this is the case by a medical professional, with stress seen as a driving factor of ill-health.

Of all those who reported their health getting worse, 84 per cent said it was due to increased heating costs, 78 per cent cited the rising cost of food and 46 per cent said transport costs had had an impact.

The negative impact was consistent regardless of socioeconomic status, the research found.

The Inequalities in Health Alliance (IHA), a group of more than 200 organisations convened by the RCP, has called for a cross-government strategy to reduce health inequalities.

Prof Sir Michael Marmot, director of the University College London Institute of Health Equity, said: “This survey demonstrates that the cost of living crisis is damaging the perceived health and wellbeing of poorer people. The surprise is that people in above average income groups are affected, too.”

A Government spokesman said: “We understand how the rising cost of living is making life harder for people and we are providing support worth over £22billion in 2022 to 2023 to help families with these pressures.” The spokesman added: “Our health disparities white paper will set out impactful measures.”