NHS waiting times or limited access to treatment have affected the ability of 53% of employees to do their jobs in the last year.
This is according to a new study of 2,000 employees by Health Shield Friendly Society in its Britain at Work report.
The report also shows 43% said they self-treated due to a lack of access to healthcare while 55% said they had experienced difficulty getting an appointment with a doctor.
Meanwhile, more than one in five employees (22%) said NHS waiting times or access to treatment significantly affected their ability to work in the last year.
Almost half (48%) have experienced delays in follow up care after a referral from a doctor.
More than a third (35%) said they have suffered due to lack of access to healthcare, rising to 42% amongst 18-27 year olds.
And four in 10 (44%) resorted to self-treatment due to lack of access to healthcare – rising to 49% amongst 18-27 year olds).
Younger workers were significantly more likely to report missing work because they could not access healthcare.
Nearly two in five (39%) workers aged 28–35 said they had taken time off work for this reason, closely followed by 38% of 18–27-year-olds and 37% of those aged 36–44.
However, among older age groups, the figures dropped to 24% of 45–51-year-olds and 21% of 52–59-year-olds, while just 12% of over-60s reported the same issue.
Paul Shires, director at Health Shield, said: “Access to timely healthcare is now a workforce issue as much as a healthcare issue. When more than half of employees say NHS delays are affecting their ability to work, businesses cannot afford to ignore the impact on productivity, absence and engagement.
“What is particularly concerning is the effect this is having on younger workers, who are more likely to self-treat, miss work or struggle on without support because they cannot access care when they need it. Small health issues can quickly become more serious when treatment is delayed.
“Employers are increasingly recognising they have a role to play in helping bridge this gap through faster access to support, preventative healthcare and practical wellbeing benefits.”
