Cost of living: People are increasingly avoiding NHS appointments and prescriptions
Healthwatch England conducted a tracker poll with 2000 adults in England between October and December to assess the impact of the cost of living on their health and wellbeing and whether it has affected how they use health and social care services.
They found that more people avoided getting prescription medicines, and booking NHS appointments, including dental treatment, due to the fear of extra costs in December than in October.
The number of people who avoided an NHS appointment due to the cost of travel doubled to almost one in 10, 11%, in December, up from 6% in October.
Healthwatch England set out immediate actions the government working with health and care services can take to support people in the cost-of-living crisis and save money.
