Britain’s ‘medieval’ health inequality is devastating NHS, experts say

<p>Exclusive: Health service estimated to be spending £50bn a year on effects of deprivation and child poverty</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jun/29/britain-in-2025-sick-man-of-europe-battling-untreated-illness-crisis">Britain in 2025: sick man of Europe battling untreated illness crisis</a></p></li></ul><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jun/29/nhs-health-policy-labour-ten-year-plan-change">Downing St has a radical change in mind for the NHS: shifting its focus from treatment to prevention</a></p></li></ul><p>Britain’s “medieval” levels of health inequality are having a “devastating” effect on the NHS, experts have warned, with the health service estimated to be spending as much as £50bn a year on the effects of deprivation.</p><p>Rising rates of child poverty have led to a growing burden on hospitals, with the knock-on cost to the NHS comparable to the annual defence budget.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jun/29/britains-medieval-health-inequality-is-devastating-nhs-experts-say">Continue reading...</a>