Don't Delay: GPs Report A Third Of Serious Illness Cases Could Have Resulted In Better Outcomes

·         GPs reveal men are the worst culprits for delaying booking an appointment

·         People delay visiting their GPs for illnesses as serious as flu, pneumonia, respiratory disease, heart disease and cancer

·         Time for a “new year new you” health focussed mindset – 24 per cent of people waited a month or more before booking a doctor’s appointment

New research from Direct Line Life Insurance¹ reveals people shouldn’t wait to book a doctor’s appointment if worried about their health, as General Practitioners (GPs) believe over a third (35 per cent) of serious illness cases could have resulted in a better outcome if the patient had visited them sooner.  One in nine people² (11 per cent) waited a month or more last time they thought something was wrong with their health before booking an appointment with a medical professional and 13 per cent didn’t book an appointment at all.

GPs believe almost one in three (31 per cent) patients delay visiting them when they have a potential medical issue, even when they have symptoms indicating something serious. The most common health concerns GPs say patients delay visiting them about are influenza and pneumonia (53 per cent), respiratory diseases (48 per cent), heart disease and cancer (both 26 per cent).

The reasons people delay booking an appointment with a GP in the first place vary, with over a third of people (36 per cent) not thinking the illness was serious enough, while a quarter (26 per cent) were worried because they didn’t want to waste a GPs time. Emotions also play a big part in many decisions to delay. Some 4.6 million people (nine per cent) didn’t see a doctor because they were worried about receiving bad news, while a similar proportion didn’t go because they felt their medical problem was embarrassing.

Table one: Reasons why people have delayed visiting the doctor

Source: Direct Line Life Insurance 2020

According to doctors, men are most likely to delay visiting them even if they are displaying symptoms indicating a potentially serious illness. Two thirds (66 per cent) of GPs report that it is men who leave it the longest before having a medical problem seen to.

GPs also believe there are distinct differences between men and women in terms of why they delay treatment for a medical issue. The most common reasons holding men back seem to be a preference to pretend it isn’t happening (71 per cent) combined with not worrying about the consequences (57 per cent) and not caring enough about their health (56 per cent). Women seem to be held back by a fear of knowing the truth (58 per cent) combined with thinking they know how to treat it (55 per cent) and worrying about what treatment will involve (50 per cent).

Table two: Reasons why people have delayed treatment  

Source: Direct Line Life Insurance 2020

Chloe Couper, Business Manager at Direct Line Life Insurance, commented: “The pressures of modern life mean millions of people feel overwhelmed with work pressure, social calendars and the business of their daily life, so are likely to put health on the backburner while other things take priority. This could be a potentially risky approach, as health concerns not attended to by a doctor are likely to get worse the longer they are left untreated.

“We strongly encourage anyone worried about a potential medical issue not to delay and seek the advice and treatment they may require. Why not see the new year and new decade as an opportunity to look after yourself? It’s always better to have peace of mind and know what you are facing. Plus, as GPs point out, if people see a doctor early then the likelihood of a positive outcome is higher. There are also protection options available, like critical illness cover, to help you financially should you fall seriously ill, as well as life insurance, which shouldn’t be ignored as it can provide your loved ones with added security.”

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Notes to Editors

¹          Research conducted by Pure Profile among 100 General Practitioners

²       Research conducted by Opinium among a nationally representative sample of 2,002 UK

                adults between 10^th – 13^th January 2020

For further information please contact:

Chelsey Wheeler

PR Manager

Direct Line Group

Tel: 01651 832 095

Email: Chelsey.Wheeler@directlinegroup.co.uk

Alannah Sims

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Tel: 0207 025 6563

Email: Alannah.sims@citigatedewerogerson.com  

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel, pet and life insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

Direct Line life insurance policies are underwritten by Legal & General, registered office: One Coleman Street, London EC2R 5AA. Legal & General Assurance Society Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under number 117659. You can check the FCA register at www.fca.org.uk/register or call the FCA on 0800 111 6768. Legal & General will introduce customers who select the Funeral Benefit Option to Dignity Funeral Services, who are members of the National Association of Funeral Directors.

Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0800 145 5522 or visiting www.directline.com/life-cover