Revealed: Brits Prioritise Pets’ Health Over Their Own

BRITS are prioritising the health of their pets over their own, a study has found. The research, commissioned by Bluecrest Health Screening found that half of UK adults (48%) pay for health checks and appointments for their pets, but just 1 in 10 (11%) would invest in a medical check for themselves.

Those polled spent twice as much money getting their pet’s health examined spending £90 on average, compared to just £46 getting their own health checked out, over a period of five years.

This is despite the majority of people (58%) worrying about their health on a daily basis.

75% of those who worry about their health confessed to spending up to half an hour every day concerned about health issues.

The research also found that more than half (51%) of British adults are reluctant to invest in their health unless there is something noticeably wrong with many feeling anxious about what the tests might reveal, while others claim to not have the time to be checked out by a health professional.  More than a 1 in 5 (21%) of British adults are simply not willing to pay for a health test. 

Even when we exclude our pets, the research also revealed the extent to which the UK population prioritise their material possessions over their health.

The majority (70%) of the 1,000 adults polled confirmed they had paid out for car MOTs, and a further 65% had paid for services and repairs to their boiler.

Peter Blencowe, Managing Director at Bluecrest Health Screening said: “Our health is our most precious asset, but this research shows just how low it is in many adults’ priorities. Most of us don’t think twice when asked to spend £100 to service our vehicle or boiler, or to pay for annual health check-ups for our pets.  But the fact we rarely check our own health shows how little we are willing to invest in ourselves.

“The NHS rightly encourage us to be more mindful about our current health status to avoid future problems. But it seems many people just aren’t aware there are preventable health conditions they may be at risk of developing – such as type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol – which could often be avoided completely through simple lifestyle changes. Whilst health MOTs are not to be relied upon as a replacement for medical treatment, they shouldn’t be avoided or feared. As part of helping to maintain a healthy lifestyle, health checks should be considered an opportunity to ensure you’re on the right track and that you know what to do if any issues do arise.

Bluecrest provides affordable and convenient health screenings to both private individuals and corporates across the UK and Ireland. It aims to help people take control of their health by empowering consumers with clear knowledge about their current health status.

Danielle Mead

For further information about Bluecrest Health Screening and its services, please click here.