The results of the second part of the annual NHS health survey for England 2022 released today, highlights the growing prevalence of chronic conditions and the dangers of missed diagnosis and early treatment.
The survey revealed that in 2022, four-in-10 (41%) adults had at least one longstanding illness or condition. The proportion of adults with raised cholesterol was 53%, an increase of 10 percentage points from 43% in 2019.
Almost a fifth (16%) of adults reported having an acute sickness while 7% of adults reported having very bad or bad general health.
When it came to the prevalence of longstanding conditions, the most common issues were related to the musculoskeletal system (14%), mental, behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders (11%) and the heart and circulatory system (9%).
Brett Hill, Head of Health & Protection at leading independent consultancy Broadstone, commented: “Today’s survey results reveal the decayed state of the UK’s general health and a worryingly high number of people struggling with long-term health conditions.”
“Since the pandemic, there have been numerous reports of people struggling to access NHS primary care like GP services and health screenings, which offer a crucial first line of defence against more fatal or chronic conditions.
“It’s therefore unsurprising that we’re seeing a large minority of people suffering from longstanding health conditions as thousands fall through these healthcare gaps, missing out on diagnosis and treatment, and exacerbating their existing problems.”
“This worrying trend is impacting millions throughout the UK’s workforce, driving up sickness-related absenteeism and limiting productivity as employees battle with often debilitating chronic health conditions.
“We are seeing employers stepping up to this challenge with full force to protect their staff’s wellbeing and their long-term growth objectives.
“Through expanding the coverage of private medical insurance and placing prevention at the heart of their offerings via health screenings and on-site or digital primary care services, employers are catching serious conditions early on, identifying underlying health risks and helping employees stay happy, healthy, and productive.
“Boosting access to the private healthcare market is a critical solution to the NHS crisis and we hope to see the government incentivise businesses to continue their efforts in providing this access in the upcoming Autumn Statement.”
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