Waiting times turning people away from vital screening

NHS patients are deeply frustrated by excessive waiting times to secure appointments, screenings and treatment as the UK health system continues to struggle.

That is according to a recent report by Siemens Healthineers, who found that three in five respondents stated their frustration at having to wait for a medical appointment, while 55 per cent are regularly annoyed by long waiting times for diagnoses. A similar proportion feel frustrated at waiting for the actual medical treatment following screening.  

Such concerns are preventing many from getting the help they need, with over half stating they felt discouraged from being screened for an illness and 21 per cent admitting they would be likely to miss screening due to the time taken to get an appointment.  
 
Almost half of workers had to take time off last year to attend medical appointments, missing three days of work on average. In addition to this, three in ten have had to take time out to receive treatment in the last year, taking an average extra four days off. While it’s important for workers to take time off work to maintain their personal health, the report stresses that better organisation and more resource could reduce unnecessary delays – minimising time needed away from work and subsequent productivity losses.  
 
However, patients were also able to suggest how they would like to see the health service improved. The most popular suggestion, supported by 42 per cent of patients, was easier access to appointments. Alongside seeking shorter screening and testing times, a quarter of respondents also supported having testing centres closer to their home or work. A significant minority of 19 per cent said not needing to visit a hospital for treatment and diagnosis would be a benefit.  

Peter Harrison, managing director at Siemens Healthineers GB&I, said: “Early diagnosis is crucial to stopping the spread of life-threatening illnesses and conditions, but many patients feel turned away by a system that is struggling with capacity challenges. A greater commitment to the rollout of community diagnostics could help agencies slash waiting times, transforming care delivery with a more patient-centered approach.”