Why Are Britons Losing Healthy Years? A Personal Journey and National Crisis

We are living fewer years in good – Angie, a resident of the English Midlands, is making a significant life change. She is preparing to relocate to Bulgaria, driven largely by her ongoing health struggles. For years, she has battled multiple chronic conditions, including myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and an autoimmune thyroid disorder. Her experience visiting Bulgaria has been nothing short of transformative, convincing her that leaving the United Kingdom is the right decision. The appeal of Bulgaria extends beyond its medical services. Angie highlights the strong sense of community and the invigorating mountain air as significant factors. However, a crucial element is her perception that the Bulgarian healthcare system responds more effectively to patient needs than the British model. “You have to pay a small fee to see a doctor, but then you see one quickly,” Angie explains, recounting her positive encounters with Bulgarian medical professionals. While she expresses gratitude for the existence of the National Health Service (NHS), which offers free care at the point of use, she believes the system is underperforming. “People aren’t getting a service – particularly with chronic health issues – that actually makes a difference to their health outcomes or quality of life,” she observes. According to Angie, once a diagnosis is made, patients are often left to manage their conditions independently. “Once you’re diagnosed, that’s it, you’re left to your own devices. I’ve had to spend a fortune on private healthcare because I couldn’t get any improvements [with]in the NHS.”

Broader Trends in UK Health and Healthcare

Angie’s personal experience reflects a wider national trend. A study published in 2025 by the National Voices charity revealed that 37% of individuals with long-term health conditions felt unsupported by the NHS in managing their physical well-being. This figure stands in contrast to only 16% of those without such conditions who felt similarly unsupported. The Bulgarian system operates differently. It combines public and private elements. Workers, including expatriates, contribute a mandatory 3.2% of their pre-tax earnings to a healthcare insurance fund, with employers adding to this contribution. Nevertheless, non-emergency treatments often incur additional charges. Although Bulgaria has made strides, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ranks its health outcomes relatively low. Yet, several nations lacking tax-funded healthcare models demonstrate stronger performance metrics.

Declining Healthy Life Expectancy

Angie represents a growing demographic of Britons managing persistent poor health. Data indicates that more working-age adults are reporting long-term conditions. In early 2023, 36% of this group stated they had at least one chronic issue, an increase from 31% during the same period in 2019. Healthy life expectancy, defined as the number of years a person can expect to live in good health, has declined in the UK recently, even as it has risen in most other wealthy nations. While overall life expectancy has stabilized following the pandemic, healthy life expectancy has fallen in over 90% of UK areas, dropping below the state pension age. Consequently, Britons now spend approximately a quarter of their lives in poor health. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), healthy life expectancy between 2022 and 2024 stood at 60.7 years for men and 60.9 years for women. These figures represent decreases of 1.8 and 2.5 years, respectively, compared to the 2019-2021 period, marking the lowest levels recorded since the analysis began in 2011. The UK ranks among just five of the world’s twenty-one wealthiest countries to experience this decline. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization notes that many nations without tax-funded healthcare systems record more years lived in good health than the UK. Although healthy life expectancy is a self-reported metric and thus subject to personal perception, the Health Foundation considers it a “key measure” because it offers a deeper insight into population health than life expectancy alone. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson emphasized a shift toward prevention. “We are committed to reducing health inequalities, GP patient satisfaction is up, and waiting lists are down by 340,000 compared to July 2024,” they stated. So, what explains the UK’s downward trajectory? The country faces challenges common to its peers, including an ageing population, cost of living pressures, and rising mental health issues. However, while citizens in many other nations report health improvements, those in the UK feel the opposite. Health Foundation analysis of ONS data shows the proportion of adults rating their health as “good” or “very good” fell from 76% in late 2020 to around 69% by early 2024. This decline underscores the urgency of addressing why a system designed for equitable care is lagging behind global counterparts.