ONS winter survey: A damning verdict on the Government's record

EMBARGO: Immediate release

Responding to this morning's ONS survey on the winter health and cost of living crises, Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Daisy Cooper said: 

"These figures reveal the true horror of this winter of discontent. This is a damning verdict on the Government's record, from failing to tackle dangerous NHS waiting times to a complete failure on the cost of living crisis. The winter months have been a toxic cocktail of rising prices and rising hospital waiting times kicking in at the same time.

"The NHS backlog is now strangling the economy by stopping people going to work. Britain is paying the price for Government inaction and woeful mismanagement of health services. 

"Health Ministers were warned time and time again that this winter would be disastrous if they did not act. Instead, they buried their heads in the sand and arrogantly dismissed warnings. They owe the country an apology".

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

ONS figures found here:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/theimpactofwinterpressuresonadultsingreatbritainjanuary2023

Around 1 in 5 (21%) adults reported they were waiting for a hospital appointment, test, or to start receiving medical treatment through the NHS; adults experiencing moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms (48%), and those with a disability (37%) were more likely to report the wait had a strong negative impact on their lives.

Around 4 in 10 (39%) employed or self-employed adults who were waiting for NHS treatment reported that the wait had affected their work, including 26% saying they reduced their working hours and 7% went on long-term sick leave.

Almost a quarter (23%) of adults who needed to see a GP in the past month reported not being able to get an appointment; adults who experienced moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms (30%) were more likely to report this.

Almost a quarter of adults (24%) reported they were occasionally, hardly ever, or never, able to keep comfortably warm in the past two weeks; respondents experiencing moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms (44%) and people using prepayment, or "top-up", meters for energy bills (41%) were more likely to report this.