One in 10 Britons have taken out private medical insurance (PMI) due to increased NHS waiting times even more acute in Northern Ireland where 21% reported taking out PMI.
LifeSearch’s latest Health Wealth and Happiness Index showed vast numbers of people were avoiding undertaking routine tests and proceedures because of the coronavirus.
While four in 10 respondents (44%) felt more confident in the NHS and the services it provides in the last six months, 38% of those with routine check-ups had avoided these in the last six months, potentially amounting to 13 million people.
These included mammograms, cervical smear tests and blood pressure checks.
The figures were particularly notable for younger adults where 51% of those aged 25 to 39 and a further 46% of 18 to 24 year-olds had skipped tests.
However, more than a third of young people (35%), and 27% of all adults overall, had made more use of virtual healthcare such as virtual GPs.
Worsening inequality and waiting times
The study also showed 60% of repsondents believe health inequality has worsened in the UK in the last six months, with this rising to 65% of Londoners.
Other findings included:
- Nearly two-thirds (63%) of Brits seeking GP appointments and 61% seeking a dentist appointment have had to wait longer in the last six months. Overall, 82% who are seeking hospital treatment say that wait times are longer.
- More than a third (35%) who have required specialist treatment, such as a physio or chiropractor, have avoided this care.
- Four in ten (43%) of all Brits are still fearful of medical environments due to the pandemic.
- Over a third (35%) of Brits are relying more on the internet and apps for health support and advice, rising to 44% of younger people aged 18 to 24.
- Of those who have needed to see a doctor, four in 10 said they avoided seeing one even if pre-Covid they would have gone in similar circumstances.
Emma Walker, chief marketing officer at LifeSearch, said it was encouraging to see the nation’s health, wealth and happiness begin to recover with the overall index score rising to 91.4, the highest level since the pandemic began as all three measures improved.
“The health index in particular has rebounded in the last three months, no doubt a reflection of the Covid vaccine rollout, but we see some red flags appear when it comes to consumers’ health in the future,” she said.
“The fact that 38% of Brits have avoided routine check-ups like cervical smear tests or blood pressure checks, is a huge concern.
“While many of us feel confident in the NHS, there are clearly some concerns about wait times and fearing Covid in a medical environment.
“In the last six months alone, one in 10 of us has taken to funding our own healthcare, and many more are turning to virtual healthcare and the internet for advice and care – a trend that could well continue in the years ahead.”
