Almost four in five Britons would return to work before receiving medical clearance after an accident or injury because of financial pressure, research suggests.

A survey of 2,000 UK adults, commissioned by national law firm Simpson Millar, found that 78% would be likely to resume work sooner than medically advised if an injury left them unable to work.

Almost a third, 30%, said they would be very likely to return early because of the financial effect of taking time off. Two-thirds, 67%, were concerned about how they would cope financially if an injury prevented them from working, while 62% were worried about staying afloat after a sudden loss of income.

Financial pressure could also influence treatment decisions. Three in five respondents, 60%, said the need to return to work would make them delay or skip treatment such as physiotherapy or rest.

Of those surveyed, 16% said they would definitely delay or forgo treatment because of money worries, while 44% said they would probably do so. Almost four in 10, 39%, said they had already put their health at risk at work because they could not afford to take time off.

YOUNGER WORKERS FACE GREATER PRESSURE

The pressure appeared greatest among younger adults. Almost nine in 10 people aged 18 to 24, 88%, said they would return to work sooner than medically advised, compared with 65% of those aged 55 and over.

Almost three-quarters, 74%, of 18 to 24-year-olds said financial pressure would lead them to delay or skip treatment following an injury. The figure among those aged over 55 was 50%.

There were also regional differences. In the South West, 84% said they would return to work before being medically advised to do so, compared with 67% in the North East.

The South West also recorded the highest proportion of respondents who would delay or skip treatment because of financial pressure, at 73%. This compared with 50% in Northern Ireland.

At city level, Bristol had the highest proportion likely to return early, at 90%, while 77% said money worries would cause them to delay or miss treatment.

Women reported greater concern about the financial consequences of being unable to work, with 74% worried about how they would cope, compared with 61% of men.

Liverpool recorded the highest level of financial concern among the cities surveyed. Four in five respondents in the city, 80%, said they were worried about coping financially if an injury left them unable to work, against a national average of 67%.

Susan Vanden, partner in the personal injury team at Simpson Millar, said: “An accident or injury can happen without warning, and alongside the physical impact, there’s often a financial one too.

“Our research shows just how much money worries are shaping recovery decisions, with people returning to work too soon or delaying treatment, which can risk making a difficult situation harder.

“Nobody should have to choose between their health and paying their bills.”