Research shows that many patients leave their GP visit without discussing all concerns

A study shows that two-fifths of patients leave their GP visit without discussing anything that concerns them about their health.

The finding has led to claims that older people often feel that GPs ‘want them out the door as quickly as possible’ rather than listening to all their concerns.

Polling agency Ipsos found that while 51% of Britons were able to talk about “all” or “most of the things” they wanted to discuss the last time they saw a GP, 40% were only able to talk about “some things”, “almost nothing” or “nothing at all”.

The research showed that 72% of people want a consultation with a GP to last at least 15 minutes. One in five prefers 20 minutes instead of the current standard of 10 minutes.

Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, a membership organisation for older people, said that while “there are many wonderful GPs who take all the time needed … an increasing number seem irritated and impatient when an older patient feels the need to explain their medical history to provide context”.

He warned that patients who do not have enough time to discuss all their concerns with a GP are at “great risk of only the immediate and obvious symptoms being addressed” and that “underlying, more serious concerns can easily be missed”.

The leader of the UK’s 54,000 GPs said they were experiencing the same “frustrations” as those Ipsos often found among patients, and agreed appointments were too short, but said they were too busy and understaffed to offer more time.

“GPs share many of the frustrations of our patients outlined in this survey. In fact, a recent poll of our members found that 60% of GPs felt they did not have enough time to assess and treat patients adequately,” said Prof Kamila Hawthorne, President of the Royal College of GPs.

“We need more time during consultations, especially when a patient has complex health needs. We want to be able to treat our patients holistically and discuss all their health concerns. However, with the current workload and pressure that GPs and our teams are facing, we are struggling to give our patients the time they need and the time we want to spend with them,” she added.

Ipsos’ findings appear to contradict those of the most recent annual Survey among GP patientspublished in July. It found that 90% of patients felt their needs were met at their last GP appointment and 74% had a good experience overall.

NHS England cited that research in its response to the new poll, but acknowledged that primary care needs to do more to meet patients’ needs.

“GP teams are working incredibly hard to increase patient numbers and a recent survey found that nine out of 10 patients said their needs were met at their last appointment,” a spokesperson said. “But these findings make it clear that more needs to be done to improve patient satisfaction and experience of accessing primary care.”

An Ipsos survey of a representative sample of 1,094 respondents from the population also found the following:

• 43% have to inform the receptionist of their concerns before getting an appointment.

• 31% must first contact a GP by telephone and 22% must complete an online form.

• 56% want GPs to make it easier to get a personal consultation.

• 53% want shorter waiting times for appointments.

The findings show that access to GPs is “not acceptable”, said Rachel Power, the director of the Patients Association.

She said: “People’s mental and physical health is at risk of deteriorating if they don’t get support in time. Also, a GP appointment shouldn’t be a test of perseverance and digital skills.”

According to NHS England, every GP practice in England is contractually obliged to allow patients to walk in, call in or book an appointment online, and to offer face-to-face consultations in addition to telephone or online virtual appointments.

Kate Duxbury, director of health and social care at Ipsos UK, said the survey “shows a lack of confidence in (patients’) ability to quickly get an appointment with a GP at a time that suits them, and a desire for improvements in how easy it is to get an appointment in person, waiting times and how easy it is to book an appointment.”