It is estimated that nearly six million people forego a doctor’s visit every month because of long waiting times.
Others do not seek help because they cannot reach a receptionist or are afraid of being a strain on the overburdened NHS.
A survey of 4,494 adults by the Office for National Statistics found that 43 per cent of those who needed a doctor’s appointment in the past month said it was “difficult” or “very difficult” to get one.
One in five adults – the equivalent of 10 million Britons – who should have contacted their practice chose not to. Of these, 56 percent (or 5.6 million) blamed long waits for an appointment.
A further 26 per cent were unable to get to work and 24 per cent were worried about a strain on the NHS.
Figures show that nearly six million people stop going to the doctor every month because of long waits for a doctor’s appointment (stock photo)
Some 57 percent of those who chose not to contact their GP chose to self-treat their condition.
Another 22 percent sought advice online, 13 percent sought advice from friends or family, and 5 percent turned to private treatment.
Dennis Reed of Silver Voices, which campaigns for older people, said: “The government is failing to get a grip on the crisis around access to GPs. Surfing the internet instead of seeing a doctor can be very dangerous.”
A Department of Health spokesman said: “We are making real progress to ensure patients can see their GP quickly, with almost two million more GP appointments compared to this time last year.
“We are also increasing the number of GPs, with hundreds more GPs than last year [and] Record numbers in training.’
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
