Almost half of adults claim they are prepared to take on greater shared responsibility for their own health. In a sway of New Year's Eve style resolutions, a report suggests that 25 million adults accept their role in looking after their own health, signaling that we've reached a tipping point in accepting greater shared responsibility.
The Bothered Britain Report, commissioned by healthcare provider, Simplyhealth, reflects the attitudes of the nation. Following weeks of debate around the proposed Government 'shake up' of public health provision and financing, there is concern about the future costs of managing health and illness, with 54% citing it as their main motivation for reassessing their lifestyle.<!--more-->
Despite these financial concerns, of the people currently claiming to fully understand the proposed changes to Government healthcare policy (35%), three quarters (75%) believe the 'shake up' will ultimately have a positive impact on the country in the long term.
Roy Lilley says: "This report shows that people are starting to understand the role they need to play in managing their health, which can only be encouraging news for a Government that is busy reshaping the NHS around wellness and not sickness.
Years of public health campaigns have bombarded us with messages around nutrition, smoking, and alcohol and perhaps now, in light of the greater needto protect our health system, they are finally getting through."
From a regional perspective, the north south divide appears to be alive and well, with the North East (60%), Northern Ireland (58%) and Scotland (58%) taking the top three spots when it comes to taking on more responsibility. This is echoed in the list of top cities pledging to take on a more active role in managing their health, with Newcastle (60%) and Edinburgh (60%) leading the way.
As well as individuals claiming to be ready to adopt healthier lifestyles, the report suggests we are continuing to become more health savvy, with the internet playing its role as both a research and information sharing channel. Online self diagnosis is most popular among 16-34 year olds, with 29%, and the GP is the first port of call for 43% of those over 55 years.
The process of determining which condition a patient may have.
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