Tracking The Impact Of Winter Pressures In Great Britain: November 2022 To February 2023

25th April 2023

1.Main points
The following points are based on all adults in Great Britain who took part in our Winter Survey in both November 2022 to January 2023 (the previous period) and February 2023 (the latest period).

Around 1 in 20 adults (5%) reported that they had run out of food and had not been able to afford to buy more in the last two weeks, comprising 3% who persistently reported this (both in the latest and previous period) and 2% who reported this in the latest period only; 1% reported this in the previous period but not in the latest period.

Around 1 in 5 adults (20%) reported that they were occasionally, hardly ever or never able to keep comfortably warm in the past two weeks, comprising 13% of adults who persistently reported this and 7% who reported this in the latest period only; 9% reported this in the previous period but not in the latest period.

Around 1 in 5 adults (21%) reported that they were waiting for a hospital appointment, test or to start receiving medical treatment through the NHS, comprising 14% who persistently reported this and 7% who reported this in the latest period only; 7% reported they were waiting in the previous period, but were no longer waiting in the latest period.

Some groups of the population appeared more likely to persistently report difficulties over the winter period, including:

people who experienced moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms, among which 13% persistently reported running out of food and not being able to afford more in the past two weeks.

people who lived in the most deprived areas of England, among which 25% persistently reported they were occasionally, hardly ever or never able to keep comfortably warm in the past two weeks.

people aged 16 to 29 years, among which 22% persistently reported that they were occasionally, hardly ever or never able to keep comfortably warm in the past two weeks.

disabled people, among which 31% persistently reported that they were waiting for a hospital appointment, test or to start receiving medical treatment through the NHS.

Read the full report HERE