Healthcare on a low income

Healthwatch England’s latest research shows that people on lower incomes find it harder to access NHS services than people who are financially more comfortable.

In 2023, it reported that people were increasingly avoiding NHS appointments and prescriptions due to the cost-of-living crisis.

Two years on, rising costs, poor service availability, and a lack of support are still common themes in the experiences people share with Healthwatch across the country.

While the NHS is free at the point of delivery, people’s income and where they live can affect their care experience. Research by the King’s Fund in 2024 found people living in poverty had worse care than those with higher incomes.

Several factors contributed to this, including the cost of technology to access services online, like smartphones and broadband internet, and the costs of travelling to get care, like bus fares and parking expenses.

Healthwatch England looked at seven areas that affect those on low incomes. These are:

• The impact of where you live on access to primary care
• Having to use A&E to get healthcare
• Difficulties with affording travel to healthcare
• The cost of digital healthcare
• Services not being available through the NHS
• The complexity and lack of awareness of the NHS Low Income Scheme
• Difficulties with GPs and the benefit system

Living on a low income shouldn’t be a barrier to healthcare access. Find out what better support for people on low incomes could look like.

Read Healthwatch England’s recommendations for making care more accessible for people on low incomes.

If you are looking for support with the cost of living visit our website.