Nine in 10 doctors say patients are increasingly struggling to access healthcare

Doctors are growing increasingly concerned about patient access to healthcare, according to a survey conducted by Medscape.

The survey of 467 UK physicians found that nine in 10 (91%) doctors have seen an increase in the number of patients struggling to access medical healthcare services in the last five years.

This has led patients to look for care outside of the NHS, with more than half (57%) of the doctors surveyed saying they have seen a growing number of patients seek private healthcare.

92% of UK doctors say that the pandemic has impacted access to and quality of healthcare

A large majority of doctors (92%) felt that Covid-19 had impacted the overall quality of care, while a further eight in 10 (79%) believe the state of healthcare will continue to deteriorate in a post-pandemic world.

Staffing problems were thought to be a significant contributor to the mounting waiting lists and decline in standards of care, as one respondent commented: “Healthcare staff are increasingly burnt-out, cutting hours back, retiring or just leaving healthcare. The work force is tired and overworked, with no prospect of improving working conditions or a pay-rise.”

Another called for the introduction of new and improved policies, saying: “Healthcare access has been severely compromised through the non-evidence-based policies driven by public health authorities and the government.”

Pressures on the NHS “could get worse” this winter

With a previous survey finding that nearly half (45%) of junior doctors are planning on leaving the profession, Vanessa Sibbald, Managing Editor at Medscape UK is calling for a plan to tackle the “current healthcare access crisis”.

She said: “The UK healthcare system is under incredible pressure at the moment and there is worry it could get worse this winter.

“It is unsurprising yet worrying that amid rising waiting lists the number one concern of doctors is