Cost-of-living crisis impacts people’s access to health and care

Healthwatch England conducted a poll with over 2000 adults living in England in January 2024 and found that 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. This rose from 12% in October 2022, and 15% in both January and March 2023;
• Although the number of people avoiding NHS appointments due to the cost of travel has declined from 11% last January to four per cent, some people still cannot afford to travel for their treatment;
• Almost one in five, 19%, of people said they are eating less healthy food, 12% have skipped meals, and 12% have stopped doing things that help them to stay healthy, including going to the gym.

Getting medication

The Department of Health and Social Care has announced that from 1 May 2024, the NHS prescription charge will rise to £9.90.

Our data shows that one in 20 people are finding it difficult to afford the medicines that they need. For people experiencing the most financial strains, one in ten said they have avoided getting an NHS prescription, and one in five said they have avoided getting over-the-counter medication.

You are entitled to free prescriptions if:

• You are 60 or over
• You are under 16 years old
• You are 16, 17 or 18 years old and in full-time education
• You are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months and have a valid maternity exemption certificate
• You have a continuing physical disability that stops you going out without help from another person, and you have a valid medical exemption certificate
• You are an NHS inpatient
• You have a long-term health condition. People with certain medical conditions can get free NHS prescriptions by applying for a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx).

Other support available 

If you have a low income, you may be able to get financial help towards your NHS costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS).

The scheme covers:

• prescription costs
• dental costs
• eyecare costs
• healthcare travel costs
• wigs and fabric supports

For more information on services that can help you with health costs, read this article by Healthwatch England.

Our recommendations

We have set tangible actions that the government and health and care services can take to support people in the cost-of-living crisis. You can read more about our recommendations here.

Prescriptions

• People eligible for free prescriptions should be offered over the counter medications on prescription
• Primary care staff should inform patients taking lots of medications about the option of having annual or pre-paid prescriptions.

Dental care

• 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. 
• 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.

Our Healthwatch team is currently planning some targeted engagement on this topic in our local areas, which is planned to start in the summer.