Co-op Health: Brits aged 55 and over more likely to move offline as retailers open across the UK

Co-op Health: Brits aged 55 and over more likely to move offline as retailers open across the UK

• Brits aged 55 and over are least likely to continue using online services as often as they have during lockdown
• Study shows that 70% of UK adults prefer conducting their daily activities in person
• Despite this, health services such as repeat prescriptions are proving popular, with over a third (35%) now managing prescriptions online during lockdown

(PRESS RELEASE) MANCHESTER, 23-Jun-2020 — /EuropaWire/ — One of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives Co-op has released a new research conducted among 2,000 adults in UK with YouGov on behalf of Co-op Health in May 2020 as ‘non-essential’ retailers began reopening in England last week. According to the study Brits aged 55 and over are more likely than any other age group to move their daily activities offline, as a fifth (20%) say they are less likely to use online services as often.

People aged 18-22 closely follow, with a sixth (16%) eager to get out and about. Yet those aged 45-54 are most likely to continue their routines from the comfort of their home, with less than a tenth (8%) intending to use physical services.

Of those who have less intention of staying online as frequently, it’s clear that the buzz of the high street still plays a massive part in their lives, with almost three quarters (70%) admitting they prefer grocery shopping, exercising and even paying bills in person.

However, the length of time in lockdown has meant virtual services have become a way of life for many, with two-fifths of people (39%) planning to carry on as they have done, simply because they’re now used to it.

Four-fifths (79%) of UK adults intend to continue using online services more frequently, and two-fifths (44%) intend to socially distance as much as possible, even after lockdown measures ease.

Health services such as repeat prescriptions are proving popular, with over a third (35%) of people managing their prescriptions online during lockdown and they all (35%) plan to continue with this convenient way of ordering their medication once measures ease.

This holds true as Co-op Health reports that downloads of its repeat prescription app have increased by 400% since lockdown measures were introduced on 23rd March.

Neil Stewart, Pharmacy Superintendent at Co-op Health says: “We’ve seen an unprecedented surge in demand for our app across all ages and locations throughout England. People who wouldn’t normally use an app to manage their health and wellbeing needs, have realised how simple and convenient it is. For repeat prescriptions it’s simpler than ever to directly access your GP and we expect that many will take steps to do so in the future.”

Ends

Media contact:

Maya Powell
Maya.Powell@coop.co.uk
07773 096851

Emily Penkett
Emily.Penkett@coop.co.uk
07738 621201

Notes to Editors
¹Research was conducted among 2,000 UK adults with YouGov on behalf of Co-op Health in May 2020

About the Co-op
The Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives with interests across food, funerals, health, insurance and legal services. It has a clear purpose of championing a better way of doing business for you and your communities. Owned by millions of UK consumers, the Co-op operates 2,600 food stores, over 1,000 funeral homes and it provides products to over 5,100 other stores, including those run by independent co-operative societies and through its wholesale business, Nisa Retail Limited. It has more than 63,000 colleagues and an annual revenue of £9.5bn.

SOURCE: Co-operative Group Limited