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Amidst the backdrop of struggling individuals in Britain, concerns have been raised with Rishi Sunak, highlighting the inability of Universal Credit payments to adequately cover basic necessities. The dire situation has prompted doctors, health professionals, and anti-poverty advocates to voice their distress, asserting that the nation's health is in jeopardy due to the relentless pressure of rising living costs pushing vulnerable families to the brink. Addressing the Prime Minister directly in a letter, this coalition of voices depicts a distressing scenario where patients are compelled to forgo medical appointments due to unaffordable transportation costs. In an attempt to manage their meager finances, patients are also faced with the distressing choice of prioritizing medication over sustenance or foregoing essential medicines altogether to avoid prescription charges.
Among this collective are prominent entities including the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the NHS Confederation, the British Medical Association, and the Royal College of Nursing. The coalition expresses deep concern that if the persistently high costs of food and housing remain unchecked, countless families will be thrust into dire and potentially catastrophic circumstances.
Stark evidence presented by recent research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) reveals that approximately 87% of low-income households relying on Universal Credit were forced to go without basic essentials such as food or heating in the past year. The spiraling costs have led 2.7 million needy households (23%) to endure substandard diets over the last two years due to skyrocketing prices.
Unveiling an alarming disparity, the JRF's findings disclose that the weekly standard allowance of Universal Credit falls £35 short of covering the costs of essential items for a single individual. Advocates are now championing an "essentials guarantee," independently formulated to ensure that no individual is left without their fundamental needs met. The proposed guarantee is estimated to require approximately £120 per week for a single adult and £200 for a couple.
In an appeal directed at Rishi Sunak, the coalition conveyed, "It is deeply disconcerting that, despite residing in one of the world's wealthiest nations, a significant portion of the UK's population is unable to afford basic essentials such as food, household utilities, and essential travel expenses. As professionals and organizations dedicated to health and social care, we bear witness to far too many individuals grappling with the consequences of this deprivation."
The coalition urgently implores the Prime Minister to grasp the severity of this scarcity's impact on both physical and mental well-being. They underline the ripple effects that stretch healthcare and social services to their limits. The message to the Prime Minister continues, "We beseech you to acknowledge the fact that this cost-of-living crisis has evolved into a full-fledged health crisis, prompting us to advocate for the Essentials Guarantee, a safeguard that will shield the nation's health today and in the future."
This situation unfolds against the backdrop of separate research findings, which paint a grim picture of the forthcoming winter. A staggering 7.2 million households in England, accounting for 35% of all households, are projected to face higher energy bills compared to the previous year. Even more alarmingly, nearly half of these households (47%) belong to the poorest decile, as discerned from analysis conducted by the Resolution Foundation.
A representative from the Government responded by asserting, "We are cognizant of the challenges people are grappling with, which is why we are vigorously addressing inflation and furnishing unprecedented financial assistance amounting to an average of £3,300 per household. In addition, we have implemented a 10.1% increase in benefits, including Universal Credit, elevated the National Living Wage, and extended support to families for essential expenses such as food and energy. For individuals with limited incomes, assistance is available through the NHS Low Income Scheme to alleviate health-related expenses, along with an array of exemptions from NHS prescription charges, ensuring that those most in need receive appropriate care at the appropriate time.