News Focus

Around 9.1 million people in the UK will be living with major illness by 2040 – an increase of 2.5 million from 2019, according to a new report published by the Health Foundation.

The analysis finds that 19 of the 20 health conditions studied are projected to increase in prevalence, including a rise of more than 30% in the number of people living with conditions such as cancer, diabetes and kidney disease. Overall, the number of people living with major disease is set to increase from almost 1 in 6 of the adult population in 2019, to nearly 1 in 5 by 2040, with significant implications for the NHS, other public services and the public finances.

The challenges of improving care for an ageing population and enabling people to live independent lives for longer are not unique to the UK, with countries across the globe facing similar pressures on their health services. However, with the NHS already under unprecedented strain, the findings point to big changes in how care should be delivered in future.