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.
They are joining the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), the Trussell Trust, and other leading charities to call for an “Essentials Guarantee”, a new law to make sure Universal credit’s basic rate is always at least enough for people to afford the essentials.
Last year, Trussell Trust food banks provided a record high number of food parcels to people facing hunger - nearly 3 million food parcels, including more than a million for children.
JRF’s own analysis shows the weekly Universal credit standard allowance is £35 less than the cost of essential items for a single person, contributing to millions of people forced to use food banks because they can’t make ends meet.
Among those supporting the call for an Essentials Guarantee include the following.
Dr Latifa Patel, Representative Body Chair, British Medical Association said: “The link between financial security and health is undeniable. When people are having to choose between paying for the very basics needed to sustain themselves and families – whether that’s to eat nutritiously; to power, heat, clean and maintain their homes; or for transport to get to work and NHS appointments – their health and wellbeing suffers.”
Andy Bell, Chief Executive, Centre for Mental Health said: “Poverty is toxic to our mental health. Not being able to afford the essentials of life puts the mental health of adults and children at risk, with serious immediate and longer-term consequences.
“And as the prevalence of mental health problems rises, it’s more important than ever that we tackle one of the biggest risk factors people face in the UK today.
Helen Barnard, Director of Policy, Research and Impact, The Trussell Trust, said: “More than two-thirds (69%) of people referred to food banks in the Trussell Trust network are Disabled. Poverty, disability and ill-health are closely connected, with people on low incomes much more likely to have long-term health conditions and to experience more severe health difficulties.
“It’s simply unacceptable that so many people are left facing hunger and hardship that damages their health. Food banks are not the answer when people are going without the essentials in one of the richest economies in the world.”
For more information and the full letter sent to the Prime Minister is see Universal credit falling so far short of the cost of essentials is putting the health of millions at risk say health bodies and charities available from jrf.org.uk.