Britons living fewer healthy years, seeking care abroad as NHS faces criticism

Healthy life expectancy in the UK has declined, with Britons now spending a significant portion of their lives in poor health. While overall life expectancy has recovered post-pandemic, the number of years individuals can expect to live in good health has worsened, particularly in deprived areas.

This decline has led some, like Angie, to seek healthcare solutions abroad. Angie, who suffers from chronic conditions, is preparing to move to Bulgaria. She finds the Bulgarian healthcare system more responsive, despite requiring small fees for doctor visits, contrasting it with her experience of the free-at-point-of-use NHS.

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People aren't getting a service - particularly with chronic health issues - that actually makes a difference to their health outcomes or quality of life.

"People aren't getting a service - particularly with chronic health issues - that actually makes a difference to their health outcomes or quality of life," Angie stated, describing her frustration with the NHS. She has resorted to private healthcare due to a lack of improvement within the public system, incurring significant costs.

Data supports these concerns, with a 2025 study finding that 37% of people with long-term health conditions felt unsupported by the NHS in managing their physical health. This situation is occurring as more working-age adults report long-term health conditions, a trend that has steadily increased since 2019. While Bulgaria's overall health outcomes are ranked lower by the OECD, the perceived responsiveness and effectiveness for chronic conditions are drawing some Britons to seek care there.

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I've had to spend a fortune on private healthcare because I couldn't get any improvements [with]in the NHS.