But, even if they wanted to – 1 in 4 find it ‘difficult’ to contact their GP, according to recent data.
25% of people find it difficult to contact their GP. Photo by CDC on Unsplash
Data published at the start of March revealed that in February this year, 25% of people who were trying to get in contact with their GP found it 'difficult'.
Access to GP care is being scrutinised at the moment, with criticisms of "chronically understaffed" NHS being raised by many.
The numbers, published in the Office for National Statistics (ONS) public opinion and social trends survey were in response to a question about the ease of access to GP care across the country.
The survey also asked if they had contacted a General Practitioner in the last month, either for themselves or on behalf of someone else.
Although there was a worryingly large number of people who found it “difficult” to speak to a GP, these numbers may not even tell the whole story. In fact, there are patients in need of help who aren’t reaching out to the NHS, so they don’t become bothersome.
Helen Neale, a counsellor and educator, believes that the lack of access to GPs contributes to why patients may be feeling like a "burden" when contacting the already-strained NHS.
"It's very, very difficult to even get through the door and see somebody," Helen said. "{People] don't even bother, which is a bit of a ticking time bomb."
Helen’s mother, who passed away last year after being diagnosed with cancer, had not made an appointment with a GP until it was too late, as she didn't want to "trouble" the doctor, Helen said.
"I'm not saying it's the GP's fault because it's not," Helen explained, "but the fact that she didn't want to trouble the GP because they're really busy and she couldn't get an appointment would not have helped."
It was revealed in 2022 that in the UK, people are likely to ignore their health issues “so as not to cause a fuss.”
While there were other factors besides this that led to patients not reaching out for healthcare, including the worry that the NHS was “overstretched”, patients are contenting to ignore their health for the sake of not “bothering” doctors.
This attitude has not stopped in recent years. A YouGov poll last year revealed that the fifth most common reason Brits didn't speak to a GP was because they "didn't want to bother a GP", followed by not "wanting to put pressure on the NHS.
However, steps are being taken to ensure that individuals get the treatments and care they need. A press release from the government in March last year stated there would be £240 million “given to practises across England to embrace latest technologies” to alleviate wait times.
It still remains to be seen if it will get easier across the country.
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