Renowned GP and broadcaster Dr Hilary Jones has joined forces with Newfoundland Diagnostics amid research revealing Brits avoid seeing their doctor due to lack of available appointments, embarrassment and lack of trust.
Newfoundland Diagnostics’ research reveals that appointments taking too long to book (28%) and embarrassment around their illnesses (15%) top the list of reasons Brits avoid seeing their doctor. Other reasons include not having time (10%), and lack of trust in the NHS or their GP (7%). Delaying care often allows conditions to worsen untreated, resulting in more severe cases that place greater strain on the NHS.
Dr Hilary believes self-testing can help overcome the barriers preventing people from seeking medical care and is encouraging the nation to get testing to help reduce strain on the overstretched NHS.
While self-testing gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still clear educational gaps that need to be addressed.
Newfoundland Diagnostics’ latest findings also reveal that more than a quarter of Brits believe at-home tests can only be prescribed by a medical professional, despite tests being readily available in major supermarkets and pharmacies across the UK.
This increases amongst men, as more than 1 in 3 believe self-tests cannot be purchased over the counter compared to 23% of women. Research also suggests younger Brits need better education on healthcare access as almost half of 16-24 year olds believe at-home tests must be prescribed compared to less than 1 in 5 of those 55 and older.
With 1 in 4 Brits resorting to A&E due to GP shortages, Newfoundland Diagnostics and Dr Hilary aim to alleviate this burden by getting the nation testing. By enabling people to easily gather data at home, self-tests can reduce unnecessary visits while ensuring patients arrive informed for quality care.
These access challenges have contributed to prolonged A&E wait times according to Government data. Patients spending over four hours in major A&E departments reached a record 50.4% in December 2022 – the first month where over half faced such excessive delays. While 2023 and 2024 saw slight improvement, performance still remains worse than pre-2022 levels.
On his role, Dr Hilary Jones, said:
“At-home testing has the potential to be a game-changer for easing the strain on our NHS, but we need more Brits to embrace self-testing. By empowering people to routinely monitor their health and identify issues early, we can significantly reduce unnecessary GP and A&E visits for conditions that could be caught sooner through self-testing. This frees up critical medical resources for those most in need of urgent care. The accessibility of at-home tests means people no longer have to delay getting checked due to challenges like appointment shortages or feeling embarrassed about their symptoms. They can take that first step through self-testing in their own home before deciding if they truly need to book an in-person visit. The key is getting the nation to adopt self-testing as that first step. Self-tests provide patients with key diagnostic information they can then share with their doctor for more informed, effective treatment plans. Catching issues like high cholesterol, fertility problems or potential cancers at an earlier stage leads to better health outcomes and potentially saving lives.”
Frederick Manduca, Co-Founder of Newfoundland Diagnostics, said: “It’s surprising how many across the country believe that at-home testing is inaccessible despite their ubiquity during the pandemic. We’re honoured to have Dr Hilary lending his trusted voice and medical expertise to drive awareness about our easy-to-use, affordable at-home tests. His advisory role will be invaluable in empowering the nation to embrace these tests as a pathway to accessible healthcare. Early identification can be life-saving.”
Top 5 reasons Brits avoid going to the doctors to test for an issue:
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Takes too long to book an appointment (28%)
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It’s embarrassing (15%)
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I would rather test at home (12%)
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I don’t have time (10%)
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I don’t trust the NHS or my GP (7%)
