Preliminary cost of living report published
Described as a ‘snapshot survey’ of more than 400 people across Cornwall, it will be used as a comparator in much broader research being published by the independent health and social care watchdog in early 2025.
More than half of respondents in the preliminary report described themselves as ‘really struggling’ or ‘just getting by’ financially.
Impacts included:
- 1 in 2 people not going to the dentist
- 4 in 10 people not going to the GP about an existing condition – rising to1 in 2 people who are ‘really struggling’ or ‘Just getting by’
- 4 in 10 people not going to the opticians
- 1 in 5 people not buying over the counter medication they usually rely on - three times more people than Healthwatch England reported in their national survey in March 2023
- 1 in 5 people delaying or avoiding a health appointment because they can’t afford travel costs - three times more people than Healthwatch England reported in their national survey in March 2023.
Debbie Gilbert, CEO of Healthwatch Cornwall, said:
“We’re very aware that cost of living pressures are getting worse and that issues like winter fuel payment cuts are likely to present more challenges for people already facing health and social care issues.
“The snapshot survey we’ve just published represents a building block for the more detailed research that’s currently underway.
“Our work is all about listening to feedback from local communities and presenting our findings to NHS decision makers and other leaders so services can improve.
“To do that, we’ve been making significant changes in the way we reach out as a team and collate personal experiences – knowing it’s more important than ever to find out what’s going on, why it’s happening and how health and social care can be made better in our county.”
Healthwatch Cornwall will be publishing ‘The Dental Crisis in Cornwall – Your Questions Answered’ in October.
For more information and to get in touch, visit www.healthwatchcornwall.co.uk or follow us on social media.
