**
Recent survey findings reveal a troubling trend: almost half of the British public are opting to avoid contacting their GP when feeling unwell, primarily due to concerns over appointment availability. This reluctance to seek medical help poses significant health risks and underscores deepening anxieties surrounding the National Health Service (NHS).
Public Hesitation to Access Healthcare
A comprehensive survey conducted by Ipsos for the Health Foundation think tank has unveiled that 48% of respondents refrained from reaching out to their general practitioner over the past year. This statistic highlights the pervasive belief that securing an appointment will be an arduous task. Alarmingly, just over a quarter (27%) chose to self-manage their ailments or simply waited for symptoms to subside, despite warnings from health professionals that neglecting GP care can jeopardise their well-being.
The findings reflect a growing public disillusionment with the accessibility of essential healthcare services, including A&E, GP consultations, and ambulance response times. The widespread sentiment of pessimism is echoed in the study’s results, which reveal that 30% of individuals did not anticipate being offered a timely appointment, while 17% believed contacting their GP would prove difficult.
Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, chair of the Royal College of GPs, expressed concern over this trend, stating, “General practice is the front door of the health service, and all patients should be able to see their GP when they need to. It is worrying to hear that some might be delaying or avoiding seeking care because they think getting an appointment will be difficult.”
A&E Visits Decline Amid Fears of Long Waits
The survey also highlighted a parallel issue: one in three Britons have opted not to visit A&E in the past two years due to anticipated long waiting times. This data, gathered by Savanta for the Liberal Democrats, paints a stark picture of a health system under strain, with patients frequently choosing to forego necessary treatment.
Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Helen Maguire remarked, “Patients deserve so much better. It is heartbreaking to think of elderly people or parents with sick children sitting at home in pain because they have lost faith that the system will be there for them.”
Such findings underscore the urgent need for policymakers to address the barriers that prevent individuals from accessing timely healthcare.
Government Response and Public Sentiment
In light of these alarming statistics, the Health Foundation has cautioned that the government must reconsider its strategy to shift healthcare from hospitals to community settings—a central tenet of its 10-year NHS transformation plan. Persistent concerns about accessing general practice and A&E services—the “front doors” of the NHS—may necessitate a reevaluation of current priorities.
The Ipsos survey, which included responses from 2,214 adults in December, revealed a broader discontent with the NHS. Key takeaways include:
– Only 32% of respondents believe the NHS delivers a good service on a national level.
– 42% feel that the quality of NHS care has deteriorated over the last year, while a mere 12% think it has improved.
– Nearly half (47%) are apprehensive that NHS services will continue to decline in the coming year, with only 15% optimistic about improvements.
These sentiments are likely to weigh heavily on health secretary Wes Streeting and his counterparts in Scotland and Wales, given that 54% of the public believe their governments are not pursuing effective policies to rejuvenate the health service.
New GP Contract Raises Concerns Among Health Professionals
As the government aims to tackle these issues, Streeting has announced a new GP contract outlining the care family doctors in England will provide for 2025-26. This contract mandates that GP practices accommodate all patients with urgent medical needs on the same day they seek help and has allocated £300 million to recruit an additional 1,600 doctors.
However, the British Medical Association’s GP committee chair, Dr Katie Bramall, voiced strong reservations about the contract. She argued that it sets unrealistic expectations for same-day urgent care, particularly when practices are already under pressure to remain open and avoid closures. Bramall further criticises Streeting for not engaging in negotiations with the BMA, as had been customary.
Why it Matters
The findings from this survey expose the critical challenges facing the NHS and the profound impact they have on public health. The reluctance to seek medical care, driven by fears of inadequate access and long waits, could lead to untreated conditions and further strain on healthcare resources. Addressing these issues is not merely a matter of healthcare policy; it is a vital public health imperative. As the NHS grapples with these challenges, the need for urgent reform has never been clearer, demanding immediate attention from policymakers to restore public trust and ensure that all Britons receive the care they deserve.
