Sky News Daily
What is health anxiety and is it clogging up the NHS?
Feb 13, 2025
Join health correspondent Ashish Joshi, who delves into the surge in health anxiety affecting NHS resources. He highlights the alarming rise in unnecessary A&E visits, particularly among younger patients, driven by post-COVID worries. Joshi discusses the strain on emergency departments, especially during winter, causing long waits for care. He also speaks with Dr. Adrian Boyle about potential solutions to improve A&E waiting times amidst ongoing overcrowding and infrastructure challenges that persist in the NHS.
18:55
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Quick takeaways
- Health anxiety is significantly rising among patients aged 20 to 40, leading to unnecessary visits to emergency departments and overwhelming NHS resources.
- The NHS is experiencing infrastructure challenges, with crowded hospitals and insufficient funding hindering the delivery of quality patient care and timely treatment.
Deep dives
Impact of Health Anxiety on NHS Demand
Health anxiety is becoming a significant issue, contributing to increased demand on the NHS. Many individuals, particularly aged 20 to 40, are experiencing heightened levels of concern about their health, often leading to unnecessary visits to emergency departments. This surge in health anxiety has resulted in a notable rise in patients who seek emergency care for minor ailments that previously would not have warranted a hospital visit. Health professionals report that many patients do not require emergency treatment, yet they are filling up hospital waiting rooms due to fears heightened by the recent pandemic.
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