COVID-19 concerns affecting access to medical treatments
Nearly 7 million adults are concerned about access to medical treatment[1], with lockdowns affecting access to medical treatments. 6.8 million[2] adults (13%) are worried that they won’t be able to get medical treatment if they need it, with people aged over 55 particularly concerned.
Some 3.7 million (7%) adults have experienced, or a family member has experienced, a delay to a medical diagnosis, treatment or operation. The pandemic, lockdown and fears about contracting COVID-19 has left adults feeling increasingly lonely and anxious 13.7 million adults – 26% of the adult population – say they have felt lonely or isolated over the past three months.
Over half of women (52%) have felt stressed or anxious compared to a third of men (33%). The pandemic has highlighted the importance of financial resilience and revealed just how precarious the finances of many people are, particularly those who are self-employed, and highlights the important benefits of protecting income.
Fears about the financial impact of coronavirus, impending jobs losses, disrupted education and isolation caused by lockdown are all factors behind the general population’s rising anxiety levels.
Source data:
[1] LV= surveyed nationally representative UK adults via an online omnibus conducted by Opinium in December 2020.
[2] Figure based on UK adult population of 52.6m
