Doctors warn of 'health emergency' as Universal Credit too low to cover basics
Struggling Brits are missing hospital appointments, scrimping on medicines or going hungry as Universal Credit payments fail to cover basic essentials, Rishi Sunak has been told.
Doctors, health professionals and anti-poverty campaigners warned the health of the nation is being put at risk as cost of living pressures push needy families to the brink. In a letter to the Prime Minister today, they describe how patients are being forced to skip appointments as they can't afford the bus fare and prioritising or missing out on medicines to save on prescription charges.
The group, which includes the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the NHS Confederation, British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nursing, warned that if high prices of food and housing persist, many families will face devastating consequences.
Around nine in 10 (87%) low income households on Universal Credit went without essentials like food or heating in the last year, according to recent research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). Some 2.7 million needy households (23%) said they had a poor diet due to sky-high prices over the last two years.
The JRF found the weekly Universal Credit standard allowance is £35 less than the cost of essential items for a single person. Campaigners are demanding an "essentials guarantee", devised independently, to ensure no one goes without. They estimate it would be around £120 a week for a single adult and £200 for a couple.
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In a letter to Rishi Sunak, the group said: "It is wrong that, despite living in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, there are people in the UK unable to afford the essentials we all need to get by, such as food, household bills and essential travel costs. As health and social care professionals and health charities, we are seeing too many living with the effects of going without these essentials."
They urged the PM to accept "how seriously this scarcity is impacting people’s physical and mental health" and consider the impact on stretched health and care services. The letter added: "We’re calling on you to acknowledge the cost-of-living emergency is a health emergency and adopt the Essentials Guarantee to protect the nation’s health now and in the years to come."
It comes as separate research found more than one in three (35%) households in England – equivalent to 7.2 million homes – will see higher energy bills this winter than last year. Nearly half (47%) of those were in the poorest tenth of households, according to analysis by the Resolution Foundation.
A Government spokesperson said: “We know people are struggling which is why we’re bearing down on inflation and providing record financial support worth an average £3,300 per household.
“On top of this we have raised benefits - including Universal Credit - by 10.1%, increased the National Living Wage and are supporting families with food, energy and other essential costs.
“People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme and we have a range of NHS prescription charge exemptions to help those with greatest need to ensure that people get the right care at the right time.”
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