A letter to the Prime Minister calling for an Essentials Guarantee
Organisations representing health professionals warn that so many people are going without the essentials it poses a serious risk to the UK’s health.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, representing medical professionals working in a range of fields, alongside the NHS Confederation, British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nursing and more, express their worry that, as the high prices of everyday essentials like food and housing persist, too many people are expected to live with what can be devastating knock-on consequences.
As well as not being able to afford enough food and other essential items, health and care practitioners say they see people forced to miss hospital appointments because they can’t afford the bus fare. Others observed people missing or reducing their medication because they can’t afford the prescription.
Many health and care services are already stretched to breaking point and preventative action to reduce future demand is woefully missing.