Half of Britons say cost of living crisis has made health worse, poll finds

theguardian.com:

More than half of people in the UK have already seen their health deteriorate as a result of the cost of living crisis, a survey reveals as doctors warned some patients can no longer afford to look after themselves.

A YouGov poll of 2,001 people commissioned by the Royal College of Physicians(RCP) found 55% felt their health had worsened owing to issues such as higher heating and food costs. One in four of these people had been told this was the case by a doctor or other medical professional, with stress seen as a driving factor of ill-health.

“The cost of living crisis has barely begun, so the fact that one in two people is already experiencing worsening health should sound alarm bells, especially at a time when our health service is under more pressure than ever before,” said Dr Andrew Goddard, the president of the RCP.

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

About 37% of those in higher income brackets (ABC1) said the cost of living crisis had had a fairly negative impact on their health, while 16% said it had had a very negative impact. Of those in lower socio-economic groups, 37% said it had had a fairly negative impact and 22% said it had had a very negative impact.

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

RCPmembersalso revealed how people were suffering, with one saying a woman’s ulcers on her fingertips