Study reveals exact amount that being lonely adds to your NHS bill

Lonely people cost the NHS an extra £850 per year because they book more GP and outpatient appointments, a study suggests. Researchers at the University of Exeter analysed data from more than 23,000 people including self-reported levels of loneliness, health and wellbeing, and NHS expenses. A third of participants felt lonely some of the time and 8% often.

Loneliness was linked to higher rates of mental distress and poorer physical and mental functioning. The healthcare costs associated with loneliness typically increased with age, with the exception of young adults aged 16-24 who incurred larger costs than those aged 25-49.

Lead author Nia Morrish, a postdoctoral research associate in public health economics, said: "We know that loneliness has a significant effect on health and wellbeing, particularly among older adults.

"However, we know much less about its impact across the wider population and on healthcare service use.

"We found that people experiencing loneliness, especially in younger adulthood and later life, incur higher NHS costs compared with those who are not lonely.

"Loneliness was also strongly linked with poorer health, reduced wellbeing, and lower quality of life."

The study, published in the journal PLOS One, estimated that an appointment at a GP surgery costs on average around £49. An outpatient visit to a hospital was estimated to cost £217 and an inpatient case £1,111.

The latest Community and Life Survey, commissioned by the Government, found that 7% of people in England - or around 3.1 million - often or always felt lonely between October 2023 and March 2024. Only a fifth said they never felt lonely.

Study co-author Professor Antonieta Medina-Lara said: "Our findings highlight the importance of recognising loneliness as both a public health issue and an NHS priority.

"Too often overlooked, loneliness carries substantial personal and societal costs.

"By making these visible, we hope to encourage new approaches to help people build connections, improve wellbeing, and ultimately reduce the burden on health services."