Fewer Brits think people from different backgrounds get on and under 50% satisfied with healthcare

Aug. 14, 2024 - PRLog -- A new Government report – UK Measures of National Wellbeing – gives us a snapshot of the state of the nation. It seems we are all getting more anxious and gloomier about the society we live in and our healthcare system.

Dr Avinash Hari Narayanan (MBChB), Clinical Lead at London Medical Laboratory, says: 'This Office for National Statistics (ONS) "state of the nation" report reveals that the nation is in a bit of a state. Since Covid, people's feeling of general wellbeing seems to have fallen markedly in many areas.

'Concerningly, while last year almost 60% of us agreed or strongly agreed that people from different backgrounds get on well together in their local area, just one year later only 50.4% now believe this. The near 10% fall was recorded before the recent public unrest and perhaps gives us an insight into how the situation may have developed. Even so, 53.9% agreed or strongly agreed that they feel like they belong to their neighbourhood, exactly the same percentage as last year.

'Concerningly, fewer than half of Brits said they were satisfied with the UK's healthcare system. Just 49.4% said they tend to be satisfied with healthcare. That should concern both the Government and health professionals.

'Brits may be right to be concerned about the recent state of UK health services. The report also reveals healthy life expectancy at birth has decreased for both males and females in 2020 to 2022 compared with 2011 to 2013, when measuring began. In England, healthy life expectancy at birth was estimated at 62.4 years for males and 62.7 years for females in 2020 to 2022. This shows a long-term negative change since 2015 to 2017 for both males (63.4 years) and females (63.9 years).

'However, despite all the gloom and doom the report uncovered, there are still some causes for optimism. Around 7 in 10 adults said they tend to feel hopeful about their future and just under 9 in 10 adults are happy with their social relationships. 86.6% said that they were fairly or very satisfied with their social relationships (friends, family, neighbours and other people they know). That's a healthy sense of community and family.

'In the meantime, if people are particularly concerned about this snapshot view of the healthcare system, it's also possible to get a snapshot of their own health. For example, London Medical Laboratory's General Health Profile blood test monitors seven key areas of health. It can be taken at home through the post, or at one of the many drop-in clinics that offer these tests across London and nationwide in over 120 selected pharmacies and health stores. For full details, see: https://www.londonmedicallaboratory.com/product/general-health