BPS responds to new report about the toll poverty is taking on the nation’s health

Responding to a new report from the King's Fund and Joseph Rowntree Foundation about the heavy toll poverty is taking on the nation's health and the NHS, Dr Roman Raczka, President-Elect of the BPS said:

"This report is further evidence of the devastating impact that poverty has on people's mental and physical health and the toll it is also taking on the health service, something which can be ignored no more.

"It lays bare the facts that people living in poverty find it harder to live healthy lives, access NHS services and are more likely to die earlier, which is simply not acceptable.  We know that children growing up in poverty are three-to-four times more likely to develop mental health problems, and the evidence is also clear about the damaging physical impact of living in poverty, creating a vicious cycle.

"It is crucial that political leaders understand the direct consequences of failing to tackle the root causes of poverty and of failing to invest in preventative services, which will see people becoming sicker and health inequalities continuing to widen.

"We need politicians to take a long-term view and invest in preventative services to help lift people out of poverty and break this vicious cycle. This will not only improve the mental and physical health of millions and prevent them needing treatment later down the line, but ultimately save the health service money."