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Impact of the cost of living on access to healthcare�February 2023��

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Context

Over the last year, many charities and campaign groups have warned that millions of people are struggling with the cost of living crisis.

We have heard from our Healthwatch network about the impact the rising cost of living is having on people.

To understand the scale and nature of this impact, especially the effect on people’s health and their use of health and care services, we commissioned a nationally representative (of England) poll.

We are running this poll in four waves across winter to track the changing impact of the rising cost of living over time.

Our research is principally focussed on finding out the following:

    • What impacts do people anticipate the rising cost of living having on them;
    • What impacts are people already experiencing, including how they are changing their behaviour to cope with the rising cost of living; and
    • If, and how, the rising cost of living affects how people interact with health and care services.

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When is the polling taking place?

    • Wave 1 ran 19 to 25 October
    • Wave 2 ran 5 to 9 December
    • Wave 3 ran from 3 and 9 February
    • Wave 4 will run in mid March

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What have we found so far (1 of 4)?

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What have we found so far (2 of 4)?

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What have we found so far (3 of 4)?

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What have we found so far (4 of 5)?

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What have we found so far (5 of 5)?

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What have we done with the findings (1 of 4)?

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  • On 9 January we published a news story using findings from waves 1 and 2, focusing on people avoiding health and care services and medicines, and the gender divide in the impact of the rising cost of living.
  • We put out the story with the Press Association, and it was covered by a number of national and regional outlets (including The Independent, Daily Mirror and Daily Mail)
  • We also published a set of immediate actions the government working with health and care services can take to support people in the cost of living crisis.�

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What have we done with the findings (2 of 4)?

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Our recommendations include:

  • GPs should offer over the counter medications on prescription where a patient’s ability to pay is affected by significant social vulnerability.
  • Primary care staff should ensure patients on lots of medication, repeat or long-term prescriptions are aware of the annual prescription option.
  • NHS services should ensure people are aware of access to patient transport services or travel reimbursement schemes.
  • NHS Trusts should follow current car parking guidance and actively promote the offer of free parking for Blue Badge holders, people who attend hospitals at least three times a month and parents of sick children staying overnight.�

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What have we done with the findings (3 of 4)?

Cost of living project

February 2023

Recommendations continued:

  • NHS England should support NHS trusts to further consider reducing the costs of parking and provide concessions to visitors and carers of people who are gravely ill or have extend stays in hospital.
  • NHS dentists should follow NICE guidance to offer dental check-ups based on patient’s individual risk factors. This will help free up NHS slots for more people who currently can’t find an NHS dentist and are forced to go private.
  • NHS England should work with OfCom and telecommunications companies to ensure that hospital and GP phone numbers are part of a freephone service, so cost is never a barrier to phoning a health service.�

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What have we done with the findings (4 of 4)?

  • We have been liaising with DHSC throughout, including giving them access to the full data.
    • We had particular interest in our findings on prescription avoidance from a Special Advisor for the Secretary of State, and have inserted a new question for wave 3 to generate some more data for them.
  • We have also been keeping NHSE in the loop
  • We are aware of the limits of our research and expertise, so we have also been speaking to specialist and single issue groups/charities, such the Money and Pension Service, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and Citizens Advice

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Presentation Title Name XX-XX Month Year Location

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What support have we provided to the Healthwatch network?

We ran two webinars in late September to find out what local Healthwatch were hearing on the impact of the cost of living increases.

    • We got lots of useful insight.
    • Healthwatch requested a template survey and guidance on how to take forward the issue locally.

In December we published a template survey, guidance on how to undertake engagement and influence local service providers.

We also shared a template survey on SmartSurvey for Healthwatch to customise and share.

    • So far, at least 5 Healthwatch have developed surveys based on our template.
    • Healthwatch Hertfordshire got over 4,000 responses to their survey.

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For more information

Healthwatch England�National Customer Service Centre�Citygate�Gallowgate�Newcastle upon Tyne�NE1 4PA

www.healthwatch.co.uk

t: 03000 683 000

e: enquiries@healthwatch.co.uk

@HealthwatchE

Facebook.com/HealthwatchE