Millions of over-50s in the UK fear they can't access healthcare

Millions of people over the age of 50 in the UK have concerns about struggling to access healthcare, according to new analysis by Age UK.

It comes as one elderly and disabled patient admitted he cannot afford to wait on hold to his GP practice for an appointment for long due to rising phone bill costs.

A new report by Age UK – It’s a Struggle to be Seen – analysed the results of a representative poll, conducted for the charity by Kantar, of 2,621 UK adults over 50, as well as its own online survey which attracted more than 17,000 responses.

The report claims less than half (48%) of people over 50 are confident their medical issue would be solved by NHS services.

Some 49% – which Age UK equates to 12.6 million people – were concerned about their ability to access their GP, while 42% were worried about access to hospital appointments.

The same proportion expressed concerns about access to emergency departments, the charity said.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “Sadly, for some older people, healthcare delayed means healthcare denied, because they do not have time on their side.

“Our new analysis highlights just how many are being subjected to distress and, in some cases, enduring pain, because of their difficulties in accessing the GP services that they need.”

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Source: Medscape. 17 June 2024