A third of patients would be willing to pay for private tests to avoid serious NHS delays, polls show

Three in five patients would be willing to pay for private tests to get a faster diagnosis amid NHS delays, a report reveals.

More than 415,000 people had waited longer than the six-week target for an important diagnostic check in December, according to data from NHS England.

New research from the Patient Association now shows that people want better access to early and accurate tests and scans.

About 60 percent said they would be willing to pay to have a test done if they had to wait a long time or if the test they needed was not available in the health care system, even if they did not consider themselves “wealthy” .

More than three in five (61 percent) believe that being able to test for certain conditions at home would help speed up the process.

The Patients Association, in partnership with Roche Diagnostics, surveyed 1,177 people from Britain who had received diagnostic support from the NHS in the previous six months. It revealed ‘several challenges’ patients experience in accessing diagnostic tests and showed they also want to better understand why each check is necessary

And nine in ten (90 percent) say it should be easier to get the diagnostic tests they need.

The Patients Association, in partnership with Roche Diagnostics, surveyed 1,177 people from Britain who had received diagnostic support from the NHS in the previous six months.

It revealed ‘several challenges’ patients experience in accessing diagnostic tests and showed they also want to better understand why each check is needed.

A third of respondents (33 percent) said that when they tried to get a test, there were no appointments available locally.

Nearly four in five patients (78 percent) believed that testing facilities should be offered closer to home to make access easier.

And seven in ten (70 percent) wanted a clearer understanding of how to access controls.

Only one in ten people (11 percent) said they never had any problems getting a test or its results, and did not face any consequences if they did.

For people with long-term conditions, delays and difficulties in obtaining a diagnosis have had a significant impact.

Nearly one in five (17 percent) say their long-term recovery has been significantly delayed.

Many more people reported impacts on their mental and physical health and their wider work and family lives.

Respondents were also dissatisfied with the lack of access to and clear explanation of test results.

Nearly nine in ten (88 percent) wanted a realistic timeline for their test results and a similar number (87 percent) called for a better explanation of what those results meant for them and their treatment.

NHS figures show that 416,889 patients, 26.8 per cent of the total, waited longer than six weeks for one of 15 standard tests, including an MRI scan, non-obstetric ultrasound or gastroscopy in December, the last month available.

The figure is higher than the 375,151 (23.3 percent of the total) in November, but lower than the corresponding figure for December 2022, which was 481,924 (31.3 percent).

The NHS’s elective recovery plan sets an ambition that 95 percent of patients needing a diagnostic test will receive it within six weeks by March 2025.

Rachel Power, CEO of the Patient Association, said: ‘Patients value diagnostic services – that is very clear from the research.

“Frustrations over access to testing came through loud and clear. Those who responded to the survey clearly value being partners in their care.

“And to work with the professionals who send them for testing, patients need and want clear communication about how to get tests, why they need a test and when they will get their results.

‘Healthcare professionals can improve patient-centered care when ordering diagnostic tests by explaining how, why and when.’