Marvin OnumonuOver half of employees said NHS waiting times or limited access to treatment affected their ability to do their jobs in the last year, according to a study by Health Shield Friendly Society.
The Britain at Work report, based on a survey of 2,000 employees, showed 53% were impacted by NHS delays.
A total of 43% said they had to self-treat due to not being able to access healthcare, while 55% had difficulty getting a doctor’s appointment.
More than one in five employees said NHS waiting times or access to treatment significantly affected their ability to work.
Nearly half experienced delays in follow-up care after seeing a doctor, and 35% said they suffered due to lack of access to healthcare.
Among 18 to 27-year-olds, this figure rose to 42%.
Younger workers were most likely to miss work because they could not access healthcare.
Nearly two in five aged 28 to 35 said they had taken time off for this reason, compared to 24% of those aged 45 to 51 and 12% of over-60s.
Paul Shires (pictured), director at Health Shield, said: “Access to timely healthcare is now a workforce issue as much as a healthcare issue.
“When more than half of employees say NHS delays are affecting their ability to work, businesses cannot afford to ignore the impact on productivity, absence and engagement.
“What is particularly concerning is the effect this is having on younger workers, who are more likely to self-treat, miss work or struggle on without support because they cannot access care when they need it.”
Shires added: “Small health issues can quickly become more serious when treatment is delayed.
“Employers are increasingly recognising they have a role to play in helping bridge this gap through faster access to support, preventative healthcare and practical wellbeing benefits.”
Perry Timms, founder and chief energy officer at PTHR, said: “These findings show workplace wellbeing pressures are becoming embedded in the everyday experience of work.
“The hidden cost for employers is diminished capacity, with many employees continuing to work while struggling physically or mentally without timely support.
“Employers who respond proactively will be in a much stronger position to protect productivity, retain talent and build workforce resilience.”
Emily Jones, head of workplace wellbeing at Broadstone Financial Solutions Limited, said: “From an intermediary perspective, this reflects what we’re seeing across our clients. NHS pressure is now a business risk, impacting productivity and absence.
“Employers can’t rely on public provision alone. Access to faster care and preventative support is becoming essential, not optional.
“Our role as an intermediary is to help employers design practical, cost-effective benefits that improve access and complement the NHS.
“Those taking a proactive approach will be best placed to protect workforce health and performance.”
