The Cost of Living Crisis
We conducted a survey, which ran from 23 August 2023 – 19 November 2023, and received 238 responses.
Our findings reveal that one in two residents in H&F have struggled to access health services or attend appointments in the last 12 months or will do so in the future. There is a concern that the rising cost of living is deepening inequalities in our borough and will create a two-tier system between those that can afford vital healthcare and those that cannot.
The most difficult to access services were dentists and opticians due to cost of checkups and treatment. This finding confirms local Healthwatch intelligence of access to dentistry in H&F. These services, along with pharmacists and hospital outpatient appointments, are key areas to explore improving barriers of access in the future due to other cost challenges raised; the cost of prescriptions, over the counter medication and travel.
Nearly one in two respondents told us their mental health had worsened in the last 12 months due to the stress and worry of affording rent and increased bills. Combined with this, many respondents were also seeing family or friends less often and participating less in social activities that would usually benefit wellbeing. This finding highlights how the cost-of-living crisis demonstrates in real-time how wider determinants are impacting on local people’s health and wellbeing. This echoes concerns raised by mental health charities .
One in three respondents said their physical health had been negatively affected by the cost-of-living crisis - more than half of these respondents have an existing long-term health condition. Rising costs have resulted in many people changing their living and care arrangements such as not affording equipment that helps with their health and mobility and/or stopping a special diet or other arrangement recommended for a health condition. This is concerning as it could mean that more residents are experiencing difficulties with managing long term health conditions or disabilities at home, which could create additional strain on health and social care services in the future
