Half of Britons avoid calling GP when they are ill, survey finds

"Overall 48% of people across the UK did not bother to ask their family doctor for help either initially or at all when they got sick over the past year, a survey found. Just over a quarter (27%) opted to manage the ailment themselves or waited for it to go away, despite doctors fearing that shunning GP care could seriously damage the person's health."

"General practice is the front door of the health service, and all patients should be able to see their GP when they need to. So it is worrying to hear that some might be delaying or avoiding seeking care because they think getting an appointment will be difficult, said Prof Victoria Tzortziou Brown, the chair of the Royal College of GPs."

"A third of Britons have decided not to go to A&E in the past two years despite needing treatment, because they expected a long delay before being seen, according to separate polling by Savanta, carried out last month for the Liberal Democrats."

A survey by Ipsos for the Health Foundation reveals that 48% of UK adults did not contact their GP when ill over the past year. The primary barrier is difficulty obtaining timely appointments, with 30% not expecting suitable appointment availability and 17% finding contact challenging. Instead, 27% chose to self-manage or wait for symptoms to resolve. A separate Savanta poll found one-third of Britons avoided A&E despite needing treatment due to expected long waits. Medical professionals express concern that avoiding GP care risks serious health consequences. These findings highlight significant public anxiety about NHS service accessibility, including GP care, A&E, hospital treatment, and emergency ambulances, raising concerns about the government's plan to shift healthcare from hospitals to community settings.

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