UK patients want better access to early and accurate diagnosis of health problems, according to new survey data from the Patients Association. Nine in ten (90%) of UK patients say it should be more straightforward to get the diagnostic tests they need.
Many patients would consider paying to get tests done privately if they faced a long wait for NHS tests.
The survey, undertaken in partnership with Roche Diagnostics UK and Ireland, represents the views of more than 1,000 patients from across the UK, who had received diagnostic support from the NHS in the preceding six months.
The survey results showed patients wanted:
- Better understanding of why they were being sent for a test
- Increased speed and urgency
- Improved access
- A greater sense of empowerment when it comes to diagnostic tests, results, and subsequent treatment and care.
The findings demonstrated several challenges experienced by patients in gaining access to diagnostic tests.
- One-third of respondents (33%) said when they tried to get a test, they found there were no appointments available locally. This reflects national data on the large numbers of patients unable to access diagnostic tests and services, even before consideration is given to any waiting lists for any treatment they may need.
- Almost four in five (78%) patients felt testing facilities should be provided closer to patients’ homes to make access easier
- Seven in ten (70%) wanted a clearer understanding of how to access tests. Some respondents highlighted that services are sometimes not available as advertised.
Speed and urgency of access to testing was another significant problem identified by survey. Only one in ten (11%) of respondent said they have never had any issues getting either a test or their results, or faced no consequences if they did. For those living with long-term conditions, delays and difficulties in accessing diagnosis have had significant consequences. Nearly one in five (17%) respondents said their long-term recovery was set back significantly. Many more reported consequences for their mental and physical health, and their wider work and family life.
Respondents were also unhappy about a lack of access to, and clear explanation of, test results. Almost nine in ten (88%) patients wanted a realistic timeline for their test results to come through and a similar number (87%) called for a better explanation of what those results meant for them and their treatment.
The survey discovered patients are finding ways around the challenges they faced. For example, when asked whether they would be willing to pay to get a test done privately if they faced a long wait or if the test they needed was not available on the NHS, three in five (60%) of respondents said they would. This included patients who did not consider themselves to be ‘rich’.
The finding that so many patients would consider paying for tests shows the importance they place on getting a timely and accurate diagnosis, even if they had to pay.
The survey’s results show many patients have a clear view on how diagnostic services in the UK could be improved. Being able to test at home was seen as one way to make services more accessible. Nearly two thirds (61%) of respondents believed expanding opportunities to test at home could help speed up diagnosis. When asked about specific examples, the numbers were even higher, perhaps building on our collective experience of testing at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than three quarters (77%) said they would be happy to test themselves at home.
Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patient Association, commented: “Patients value diagnostic services – that’s very clear from the survey. Frustrations about access to tests came over loud and clear. Those taking the survey clearly value being partners in their care. And to partner with the professionals sending them for tests, patients need and want clear communication on how to get tests, why they need a test, and when they’ll get results. Healthcare professionals can improve patient-centred care when ordering diagnostic tests by explaining how, why and when.”
Click here to download the full Patient Experience of Diagnostics Report.