What You Need to Know About Britons and Health

If you are passionate about Britain and its culture, or you love famous British literary figures and musicians, such as Shakespeare, you could be thinking of traveling to or living in England, Scotland, or Wales. Before you do this, though, you might want to know more about how healthy Britain is compared to the US and their healthcare options.

So, here is a guide that can tell you everything that you need to know about healthy living in Britain, including what they eat and whether they can get treatment for ongoing health conditions. 

Is Britain Healthy? 

Britain has a higher rate of chronic illness than other countries in Europe and one of the shortest life expectancies in Europe. One of the reasons for this could be that many people in Britain have sedentary lifestyles, smoke, and drink a lot of alcohol from a reasonably young age. Britain also has high rates of obesity compared to other countries in Europe due to diets that are filled with salt. Not only this, but a large number of people suffer from a mental health condition, which is not helped by long and stressful working hours, as well as a lot of screen time. 

At the same time, though, Britons generally have access to a large number of parks and green spaces, with the countryside never more than an hour or so drive away, and there is much more of a walking culture in Britain compared to the States, where a lot of people drive everywhere. This is partially because British towns and cities tend to be more compact and have many pedestrianised areas. There are also regular health campaigns to get everyone moving and made aware of the health concerns plaguing Britain. 

Does Britain Have Good Healthcare?

The British healthcare system is vastly different from that of the USA because they have the National Health Service (NHS). The NHS allows anyone to receive free at point-of-service healthcare regardless of income or age and this is funded through tax and National Insurance contributions. The NHS can ensure that people can see a doctor whenever they need to, and they can sign up for an NHS dentist with subsidised costs, even though dental and eyecare does not come under the NHS banner.

You do have to pay for prescriptions unless you have an exemption such as low income, a disability, or have had a serious health condition in the last five years. If you take a lot of medications, it is cheaper to take out a prepayment certificate and you either pay a monthly fee which is a little over the cost of one prescription, or pay for the whole year. Prescription costs are capped though, currently at £9.65 per item. 

Although there are issues with the NHS, such as long waiting times and burned-out GPs, with a lack of appointments available in some areas, this universal healthcare means that everyone can get the diagnoses and treatment that they need to thrive. 

However, if you are looking to get an alternative treatment, you will need to pay for this yourself. For instance, many acupuncture, massage and physical therapy centres across Britain can provide treatment for those for whom traditional options are not working or for those who do not want to take a lot of medication constantly. 

Is Medical Cannabis Legal in Britain? 

As well as traditional healthcare methods, which are provided by the NHS, medical cannabis is also legal in Britain. Although medical cannabis still needs to be researched to test its effectiveness for certain conditions, such as arthritis, many clinics offer this treatment to clients. Some clients have reported positive effects, although there are no guarantees. Medical cannabis might be able to help you with both mental and physical health conditions, including insomnia, stress, and IBS. Medical cannabis is available at medical cannabis clinic in the UK, where you will need to talk to a healthcare professional. 

Although medical cannabis is legal in the UK, it is recommended that you carry your prescription around with you if you need to take your medicine anywhere – just in case you need to provide evidence to the police or other authorities. 

What are British people’s diets like?

Britain eats differently from the US, and British people tend to consume smaller portions, especially in restaurants, as well as less fast food. However, although most people eat staples such as potatoes and eggs, along with starchy foods that can be warming throughout the long winter months, there is a tendency in Britain to eat too much processed and sugary food, such as chocolate, and too few fruits and vegetables. In fact, in 2019, over 10% of respondents to a single survey suggested that they eat no healthy food at all. This unhealthy consumption of food could lead to increased rates of heart disease, strokes, and some types of cancer in the future.