More than half of Britons say they have worse health due to rising cost of living

More than half of Britons say their health is in a worse state due to the rising cost of living, with NHS chiefs warning they are “very concerned” about the impact of surging prices.

Around 55 per cent of people felt their health had deteriorated owing to issues such as rising heating costs and soaring food bills, a YouGov poll commissioned by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) found.

One in four of these people have been told this is the case by a doctor or other medical professional, with stress seen as a driving factor of ill-health.

Of the people who reported their health getting worse, the most cited reasons were increased heating costs (84 per cent) and the rising cost of food (78 per cent).

Some 37 per cent of those in higher income brackets said the cost-of-living crisis was having a fairly negative impact on their health, while 16 per cent said it had had a very negative impact.

This compared with 37 per cent in lower income groups saying it had had a fairly negative impact and 22 per cent said it had had a very negative impact.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents all NHS trusts, said he was “very concerned” about the impact of rising costs on people’s health.

He said: “The evidence on the negative impact of food poverty, poor quality housing, air pollution and increasing energy costs on health is overwhelming, and the government must detail how it will address the country’s health divide in its forthcoming health inequalities white paper including a cross-government strategy and commitment to tackle the issues head on.”

Members of the RCP have already seen evidence up close how people are being impacted by the cost of living crunch. In one example a woman’s ulcers on her fingertips were made worse by her house being cold.

Another patient could not afford to travel to hospital for lung cancer investigation and treatment while medics also reported people’s asthma and other lung conditions were being made worse by exposure to mould in poor quality council housing.

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

Professor 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.

“In my recommendations for how to reduce health inequalities, sufficient income for a healthy life was one among six.

“But it is crucial as it relates so strongly to many of the others, in particular early child development, housing and health behaviours.

“As these figures show, the cost-of-living crisis is a potent cause of stress. If we require anything of government, at a minimum, it is to enable people to have the means to pursue a healthy life.”

Dr Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said: “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.

“The health disparities white paper due later this year must lay out plans for a concerted effort from the whole of government to reduce health inequality.”

Chris Hopson chief executive for, NHS Providers, which represents all NHS trusts, said: “Trust leaders are acutely aware of the soaring cost of living crisis facing the nation and the impact rising financial pressures could have on people’s health.

“This is particularly concerning in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic which exposed deeply entrenched social, racial and health inequalities.

“As highlighted in this survey, there is a risk that the current cost of living crisis widens those inequalities.”