Listen: Dr Dawn Harper on our health knowledge

Half of Brits (49%) have no idea what their blood type is, and more than half (55%) admit they’re unaware of any family history of major diseases such as cancer, diabetes or heart problems. 

Even more worryingly, a quarter (25%) don’t know if anyone in their immediate family is taking any medication, with half ( 49%)  admitting they wouldn’t be able to tell a paramedic or doctor what medications their loved ones are taking. 

The survey, commissioned by health-tech platform MiCode*, has laid bare just how little the nation knows about its own health and that of loved ones with seven in ten (70%) saying they don’t carry their emergency medical information, or emergency contacts, with them when they are out.

Aston spoke to TV’s Dr Dawn Harper and James Ohene-Djan, creator of MiCode & professor of computing at Goldsmiths University.