"The consequences are increasingly visible in the labour market."
- Brett Hill - Broadstone
According to today’s ONS data on experiences of NHS healthcare services in England, many are continuing to struggle with access to NHS hospital treatment and GP support.
The data for the period of November to December 2025 found that almost a fifth (16%) of those who were on a hospital waiting list said they had been waiting for more than 12 months, while nearly half (46%) of those on a waiting list rated the overall experience of waiting for their hospital appointment as poor, and a further 30% of those waiting for treatment said that the administration of their care was poor.
Meanwhile, in GP surgeries, approximately a quarter (24%) of those who tried to make contact with their surgery were unable to do so on the same day, and more than a third (36%) of those who requested and were offered an appointment with their GP ended up declining because there were no appointments available within 2 weeks.
Brett Hill, head of health & protection at independent financial consultancy Broadstone, said of the data: "The consequences are increasingly visible in the labour market. Latest figures show 2.81 million people were economically inactive due to long-term sickness between August and October 2025 - almost one million more than in 2019 - underlining the growing link between healthcare access and workforce participation.
"In response, employers are stepping in to protect both their people and productivity. Greater use of private medical insurance and health cash plans is helping employees access treatment earlier, preventing conditions from escalating and supporting quicker returns to work.
"With progress on reducing NHS backlogs proving slow, we expect businesses will continue to play a critical role in supporting employee healthcare and filling gaps in provision throughout 2026."
